Hartpury University proudly hosted the 14th Alltech-Hartpury Student Conference on 7 May 2025, welcoming students, supervisors, and industry experts to its Gloucestershire campus for a day of networking, inspiration, and research dissemination.
This annual event provides higher education students with a unique opportunity to experience the full research process—from writing and submitting an abstract, undergoing review and revisions, to delivering a theatre presentation or producing a scientific poster.
Designed to introduce students to the world of scientific conferences in a safe and supportive environment, the Alltech-Hartpury Student Conference allows participants to present their research to peers, supervisors, and a select group of industry professionals. This year, nearly 70 student abstracts were submitted, resulting in 10 theatre presentations and over 40 poster presentations. Topics ranged from equine behaviour and welfare to rider performance, therapy and rehabilitation, and the equestrian “Social Licence to Operate” or “SLO”. The quality of student presentations continues to rise year after year, showcasing the impressive talent of both undergraduate and postgraduate researchers.
The conference featured engaging keynote presentations and lively discussions, offering students the chance to network with leading experts. The morning session, chaired by Hartpury University lecturer and Head of Inclusivity Dr. Linda Greening, began with a keynote by Associate Professor Simon Daniels from the Royal Agricultural University, who explored the horse’s gut microbiome and tools for understanding equine gut health. Student presentations followed, covering diverse topics such as Thoroughbred stallion performance in India, equine masticatory kinematics, and showjumping competition analysis.
The afternoon session, chaired by Associate Professor Simon Daniels, included a keynote by Dr. Linda Greening on equine sleep hygiene, followed by postgraduate oral presentations from South East Technical University, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Edinburgh, Hartpury University, and the University of Nottingham. Research topics included equestrian menopause and its impact on human-animal interaction, and burnout experiences among dual-career equestrian athletes. The day concluded with an inspiring keynote by Gillian Higgins, founder of Horses Inside Out, who shared her journey in equine anatomy and biomechanics education.
Prizes for the best student theatre and poster presentations were awarded by keynote speakers and Alltech representatives. Charlotte Hurst from the Royal Agricultural University won the undergraduate theatre presentation prize for her research on equine kinematics and girth strap pressure relief, while Martyna Iruretagoyena Jankowska from the University of Nottingham received the postgraduate prize for her AI-based study on monitoring sleep behaviours in stabled horses. Poster presentation awards went to Sian Beeley from University Centre Askham Bryan for her study on reproductive success rates in Arabian mares, and Georgia Tobin from South East Technological University for her investigation into mental health among Thoroughbred horse racing trainers and stable staff.
The Conference highlighted the benefits of student involvement in research dissemination, offering a platform to share findings, gain valuable feedback, and build confidence in presenting to an audience. Students also had the chance to network with industry experts and peers, fostering connections that could shape their future careers.
Hartpury University and Alltech extend their gratitude to all participants, keynote speakers, and the review team for their contributions to making this event a resounding success.
The institution looks forward to welcoming delegates back for the 15th Alltech-Hartpury Student Conference on May 13, 2026.
