Everyone is invited to view (for free) online presentations of studies short-listed for coveted prize.
The four finalists for the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Equine Thesis of the Year award have been named.
This year’s subjects, studied by undergraduates as part of their degrees, explore novel ideas.
Topics include the physiological effects of music on horse and rider, shim design to reduce pressure under girth straps, the detection of Equine Arteritis Virus (EVA) and a fresh perspective on equine tapeworm.
The finalists will present their theses to a panel of judges during an online event from 2pm on Sunday 26 October. The winner and runner-up will be announced immediately afterwards.
Every year, BETA invites UK and Irish universities and colleges offering equine-related degrees to submit one entry each. The following have reached the final of the 2025 BETA Equine Thesis of the Year:
● CAFRE College - Amy Rowlands – An investigation into the physiological effects of music on the rider and the potential impact on the horse.
● Royal Agricultural University – Charlotte Hurst – Exploring the effects of shim design to reduce peak pressure under the girth straps in equine kinematics
● University of Limerick – Giorgia Monti - Diagnostic validation of an indirect ELISA for the detection of Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV) antibodies for screening purposes.
● Aberystwyth University – Morgan Leesing – Investigating the fatty-acid binding protein family in equine tapeworm, anoplocephela perfoliata.
“The Equine Thesis of the Year award highlights important subjects that are topical and relevant, and this year’s final four are no exception,” says Claire Williams, executive director of BETA.
“The competition celebrates undergraduates and the work they’re doing. It’s a great barometer of the equestrian industry’s exciting future talent too.”
The judges of the BETA Equine Thesis of the Year are:
• Dr Georgina Crossman – a research consultant and owner of GK Crossman Consultancy.
• Dr Katie Williams – an equine nutritionist with 25 years’ experience, technical and product development manager at Dengie.
• Dr Edd Knowles, a vet and Global Science & Nutrition Director, Mars Horsecare and Head of the Equine Studies Group - Waltham Petcare Science Institute.
• Eleanor Jones, News Editor at Horse & Hound.
To watch the finalists’ presentations live, and hear the results, join the zoom link at 2pm on Sunday 26 October. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87021286818?pwd=oN1yzrwiBc05wP9Znnaj2EDcCrQzJk.1
