My Research
I completed my PhD at Central Queensland University in the school of psychology. My research covered horse-related safety, horse welfare and behaviour, plus rider satisfaction and motivation.
My inspiration for completing this research was to help make equestrian sport safer and more enjoyable for all participants - horses and humans.
Research with real-world impact
My first paper was published on Christmas Day 2021 - definitely one of my best Christmas presents!
This paper was very well received and twelve months later, New insights into ridden horse behaviour, horse welfare and horse-related safety was among the top 5 downloaded papers in the prestigious journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
Then, in 2023, I was lucky enough that my paper, Bit use and its relevance for rider safety, rider satisfaction and horse welfare in equestrian sport also achieved the same top 5 most downloaded paper, again this paper was published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science
You can download all of my papers using the links below.


2024
Horses and Humans: The Role of Horse Welfare and Human Motivation in Rider Safety and Rider Satisfaction
Investigating the Motivational Priorities Underlying Equestrians’ Horse-Keeping and Training Practices
2023
How equestrians conceptualise horse welfare: Does it facilitate or hinder change?
Untangling the Complex Relationships between Horse Welfare, Rider Safety, and Rider Satisfaction
Bit use and its relevance for rider safety, rider satisfaction and horse welfare in equestrian sport
Does a Working Knowledge of Learning Theory Relate to Improved Horse Welfare and Rider Safety?
2022
New solutions need new thinking: toward scientific diversity in animal welfare research
Exploring ridden horse behaviour and rider satisfaction: a pathway for improving horse welfare and rider safety?
The role of learning theory in horse welfare and rider safety (time for a re-think?)
A new approach to horse welfare based on systems thinking
2021