Thank you to Writtle University College

I have been awarded an honorary degree by Writtle University College for distinction in the equine industry. On Friday 29 October I attended the graduation ceremony at Chelmsford Cathedral alongside Khadijah Mellah, the first is the first British Muslim woman to compete in competitive British Horse racing and Ros Canter, Olympic reserve and world champion eventer who also accepted honorary degrees. I feel very proud to be honoured alongside two such inspirational women.

It is particularly significant for me to receive this award from Writtle University College as the equine behaviour team is leading the way with research-led practice. Their BSc (Hons) in Equine Behavioural Science is the first course of its kind – not only teaching evidence-based theory but also training the students how to apply that knowledge in practice. Thank you to everyone at the university for this honour – especially to the dedicated equine team. I am extremely grateful to Caroline Flanagan and Rosa Verwijs for their support and for giving me the chance to work in such a progressive environment.

Why is studying equine behaviour is so important? A good understanding of the principles and practice of equine behaviour is crucial if we want to manage, train and interact with our horses to the best of our ability. We need to understand how they learn, what motivates them and how their physical and psychological needs should be met. Armed with this knowledge we can provide the best life we can, improving their welfare and wellbeing. We can recognise and reduce stress, solve behaviour problems and improve performance.