Posted: 16th May 2018 | Back to news feed
Students Shine at Eighth Alltech-Hartpury Conference
The eighth Alltech-Hartpury Equine Student Conference took place at University Centre Hartpury, Gloucester.
This annual conference is aimed at higher education students, providing an opportunity to experience writing and submitting an abstract, going through the review and revision process, through to delivering a theatre presentation to a full conference audience or producing a scientific poster to present.
Around 100 delegates attended representing more than 15 colleges and universities from the UK and Europe, with 12 theatre presentations and 30 poster presentations covering a vast range of topics.
The standard of presentations from the students was very high and they were rewarded with engaging discussion from both the student delegates and the keynote speakers with whom they were able to network over the poster sessions and coffee breaks.
Equine Scientific Consultant, Dr David Marlin, chaired the morning session that was opened by an informative presentation by Dr David Davies, founder of Silage Solutions Ltd, on ‘Producing Haylage for Horses – The Do’s and Don’ts to Achieve a Quality and Safe Feed’.
The morning’s keynote presentation was followed by presentations from students from University Centre Hartpury, University Centre Sparsholt, University Centre Reaseheath, Myerscough College and the Royal Agricultural University. Topics presented included, ‘Evaluating the Ability of an Equine Movement Sensor to Monitor Stabled Horse Activity’ and ‘Does Veterinary Physiotherapy Influence the Outcome of Horses Returning to Full Work Post Kissing Spine Surgery?’
Dr David Davies, chaired the afternoon session which opened with the postgraduate section, with oral presentations from McTimoney College of Chiropractic, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Primorska, Slovenia. Topics presented included a preliminary study in to leg and trunk, muscle activation patterns of horseback riders at walk, trot and canter, and a case-controlled evaluation of falls in Irish hurdle racing.
Following the afternoon poster and oral sessions, Dr David Marlin rounded of the day with an inspiring and entertaining talk entitled ‘Managing Equestrian Events in Challenging Climates a Quarter Century on from the Barcelona Olympics’.
Posters on topics such as, ‘Over-rugging and the Effects of Rugging on Clipped, Stabled Horses’, ‘Pre-competition Dietary Habits and Nutritional Knowledge of Affiliated Showjumping Riders’, and ‘Whether Equine Dissections have a Positive Impact on People within a Learning Environment’, were displayed throughout the day.
Prizes for the best student theatre and poster presentations were awarded at the close of the conference by the Conference Organiser Kirsty Les ?niak and Dr Helen Warren from Alltech, who sponsor the conference.
The best theatre presentation went to Victoria Sly from University Centre Sparsholt, for her talk on ‘An Initial Investigation in to the Prevalence of State Anxiety, in Students Riding in the Educational Environment.’ The prize for the top poster went to Writtle College student Rosemary Lawrence for her study entitled ‘The Effect of the Rider Weight on the Stride Length, Fetlock Drop and Stance Duration in the Sitting Trot’.
In honour of the late Dr Pearse Lyons, founder of Alltech who sadly passed away earlier this year, the conference also awarded an additional prize for the most novel project idea; this too went to Victoria Sly from University Centre Sparsholt.
Both Alltech and University Centre Hartpury would like to offer their sincere thanks to all involved, especially the expert keynote speakers and the review team for their efforts in making this, once again, a very successful event.
The Lifeforce Range of all-natural, daily digestive aid supplements from Alltech is designed to benefit horses of every stage of life, from breeding stock to pleasure and performance animals.
For further information please visit www.lifeforcehorse.co.uk or telephone 01780 764512.
The Equestrian Index newsfeed is compiled from articles submitted by advertising members and expresses the opinions of those members. Watsons Directories Ltd shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies or mis-statements therein.