My Role

As Honorary President of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES), I collaborate with the Junior and Senior Vice-Presidents to lead our global organization. Serving as chief executive officer and official spokesperson, I preside over Council meetings and guide ISES strategic direction alongside the Presidential team. My role uniquely positions me to provide continuity and strategic expertise to support the organization's long-term growth and impact in advancing horse welfare through science.

Beyond administrative duties and with a dual focus on rigorous science and real-world implementation, the presidential council actively promotes the translation of research findings into practical applications that benefit horses and their welfare worldwide.

About Me

I completed my PhD in horse behaviour, training and welfare at the University of Sydney under ISES founding members Paul McGreevy and Andrew McLean. My research produced the Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ), a validated citizen science tool that provides free benchmarking and monitoring capabilities for horse owners worldwide, while generating crucial longitudinal data for equitation science researchers.

As a board member of Pony Club Australia, I champion evidence-based training through the ISES Training Principles, ensuring horse welfare remains central to youth equestrian education. At my training facility, Kandoo Equine in rural Queensland, I bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application, helping horse owners implement equitation science principles in their daily training and handling practices. This dual role as researcher and practitioner allows me to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible, welfare-focused training methods for the broader equestrian community.

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kate-Fenner/research

University Profile:  https://agriculture-food-sustainability.uq.edu.au/profile/9895/kate-fenner

Dr. Merkies received her PhD in animal science from the University of Guelph before taking a faculty position at Lake Erie College in Ohio. She later returned to Canada to develop and implement Canada's first and only equine degree program - Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management degree in Equine Management at the University of Guelph. Dr. Merkies teaches undergraduate courses in equine event management, equine reproduction, equine trends and issues and equine industry topics. She has a small research program focusing on equine behaviour, particularly relating to horse-human interactions, equitation science, and equine welfare. She has trained and competed up to international levels in dressage, earning the title of Canadian National Champion in 1999. She also avidly applies learning theory in dog training, teaching at a local obedience school and competing with her dog Gambol in rally obedience, obedience and dock diving.

I am a Lecturer and Post-Doctoral Fellow in Equine Science at the University of Charles Sturt in Australia.  I am currently involved in a range of research projects including emotions in racehorses, the welfare of dressage and rodeo horses and research ethics in equitation science.  I currently supervise PhD and honours students in equine science and have been a guest lecturer at universities in the UK and Australia.  I have previously worked in animal welfare law enforcement, vocational education, equestrian and arts event management and run my own equitation science based horse training and coaching business.  My research interests include horse behaviour, emotions and welfare, animal welfare, applied cognitive and affective neuroscience and research ethics. 

J

Janet Douglas – Treasurer – MA, Vet MB, MSc, PhD, MRCVS

My role:  

As treasurer, I am responsible for managing all aspects of ISES’ finances, keeping accurate financial records, and, together with the presidents, creating a budget each year. Because this position is a trustee role, I also contribute to many aspects of the charity’s decision-making in both trustee and council meetings. If you have any questions for the treasurer, please email me at [email protected].

About me:

I am an equine veterinarian with a background in clinical work, research, education, communication, and equine welfare. I currently work with the charity, World Horse Welfare, in a role that focusses primarily on equestrian sport and that allows me to work with scientists, regulatory organisations, and a range of equestrian stakeholders, both nationally and internationally, to increase awareness and understanding of what good equine welfare looks like and how this might be achieved. I also teach veterinary students at the University of Nottingham in England, volunteer with Pony Club UK, and am a member of British Eventing’s Equine Welfare Committee.

ISES personal email address: [email protected]

I am a recently retired health practitioner regulator from Australia. I hold a Masters degree in health policy but I am most proud of my 2023 Diploma of Equitation Science. I have administered research activities for many years before that at two specialist medical colleges. I am now a near daily rider. I compete in dressage occasionally but mostly trail ride in the bush near my home in rural Victoria. I am on the governance board of the local Neighbourhood House and contribute to the running of the local Adult Riders Club. I have been involved with horses all my life and look forward to contributing to spreading the word about equitation science.

My role: I  am responsible for representing the student view at ISES Council Meetings, and work alongside Council members to develop the Society's educational and outreach activities. I gather and disseminate information via the ISES website and post-secondary institutions for students detailing career prospects in connection with equitation science, assist students with gaining information about how to align their research with pertinent issues in Equitation Science, and provide support for students submitting research or grant applications to ISES. 

About me: 

I am currently studying a part-time PhD in Biological Sciences at Aberystwyth University. My research is focusing on equine cognition and behaviour with a view to establishing the equine depressive phenotype. As such, I have a strong interest in the fields of Animal Welfare and Behaviour. Prior to this, I also completed an MRes in Biological Sciences (specialising in Exercise Physiology) and published my research findings, which you can find via my ResearchGate profile below. I have also previously lectured in various academic institutions in the UK up to postgraduate level in Equine Science and Equestrian Performance, and I am a BHS Intermediate Stable Manager, Stage 4 Coach on the flat and Stage 3 Coach - Complete. I also have over seven years' experience professionally training international event horses and working as yard manager for various Olympic riders across Europe.

Dr Barbara Padalino graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bari (Italy) in 2002 and in 2017 completed her PhD entitled “Transportation of horses and the implications for health and welfare” at the University of Sydney, Australia. She is currently an Associate Professor of Animal Science at the University of Bologna, Italy, a member of the Animal Health and Welfare panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and a Diplomate of the European College in Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law. Horses have characterised her life; she has been a rider, a driver, a Standardbred horse breeder, an equine veterinarian and an equine scientist! This is the reason why she has carried out a number of research projects aiming at safeguarding horse welfare. However, her research interests span a number of topics from animal behaviour and welfare to equine internal and sports medicine. She has written more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed international journals and conference proceedings on those topics. She is currently leading several research projects aiming at enhancing animal health and welfare worldwide and she is very excited to be the Veterinary Liaison Officer for the International Society of Equitation Science

Susan Kjærgård, born in 1976 in Denmark, is a former international showjumper who competed in top-level events and ranked in the FEI World Top 80. Seeking better horse welfare, she turned to Equitation Science in 2008 and has since focused on evidence-based training.

She now runs Blue Berry Hill, offering instructor education and retraining for horses with physical or behavioural challenges. With over 55 approved instructors, BBH blends theory and practice to improve welfare and performance.

Susan teaches Applied Learning Theory at Aarhus University and the Danish Bereiter programme. She is a popular clinician known for making science accessible and practical.

My role:

As the Media Officer, my primary responsibilities are to work with the Media Manager, and other members of Council, to ensure we are providing current and relevant information to our members and other interested parties through the ISES Website, and our social media channels. If you send an inquiry through the website form, I am the one who will first see the inquiry, and either answer it myself, or direct it to someone who can provide the needed information.

About me:

I am a Professor and Extension Specialist at Purdue University, which is located in Indiana, in the United States. My research is focused on human aspects of horse welfare, and includes research questions around what people believe about horse welfare and training, and how we can create human behavior change to increase the use of evidence based practices in  horse training and thereby improve horse welfare. I have a special interest in translating the current science into information that can be used by horse owners and enthusiasts to better understand and care for their horses, and a line of research inquiry that explores how we can use education and communication strategies to increase make the science accessible and useful to the equestrian community. I currently own the gray Irish gelding Cappakeel Billy (Hugo), and train and compete primarily in dressage.

Email contact: [email protected]

Chloe, a graduate from Writtle University College in Essex, UK, holds a BSc in Equine Behavioural Science. Currently based in Hertfordshire, UK, she works as an equine behaviourist, specialising in resolving equine behavioural issues through evidence-based practices. Additionally, Chloe actively contributes to the equestrian industry by generating articles centered around the application of horse behavioural science, which can be accessed on her website.

She is currently completing a Master's degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Lincoln and is a funded PhD candidate with Scotland's Rural College in Edinburgh.

Before embarking on her journey as an equine behaviourist, Chloe garnered experience in various sectors of the industry, including equestrian charities, racing, show jumping, and breeding. Her prior career involved working as an international show jumping groom, participating in prestigious CSI 5* shows across the UK, Europe, and Africa.

Natalie gained a BSc (Hons) in Zoology and her PhD in Cambridge. She led and participated in a wide range of research activities extending from welfare issues associated with agricultural animals to the assessment of conditions for companion, laboratory and zoo animals. Natalie has directed the Masters in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare in Edinburgh. She is first or co-author of more than 100 scientific publications and editor of a book on the welfare of horses.

Natalie has owned, trained and competed horses for eventing at advanced level and has an interest in dressage.

Andrew is a clinical and forensic ethologist with specialist academic areas in animal cognition, equine learning/training and welfare science.

As an independent scientist, Andrew has authored and co-authored in excess of 80 research and review papers and conference presentations and ten horse and elephant training texts. In 2020, he co-authored the most recent Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare, focusing on human-animal interactions. Andrew has been co-winner of the Eureka Science award and the Premio Flambo Award for Animal Welfare (Italian Equestrian Sports Federation). In 2014, he was awarded the John H Daniels Fellowship from the USA National Sporting Library, Virginia and in 2016, he was King Scholar invitee at the University of Arkansas.

Andrew has dedicated the past couple of decades to teaching evidence-based horse training and management in workshops across Western Europe as well as the USA, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. In doing so, he has coached four Olympic medalists, seven National Equestrian Federations and in 1996 he coached the Indian Eventing team to win its first ever medal in international competition using techniques the he derived from learning theory. Andrew founded and directed the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre in 1995 and is currently the CEO of Equitation Science International. He is Patron of Pony Club Australia and as a former Director, he has instigated a revolutionary syllabus that leads the world in equestrian education for young riders. Andrew is also Founder of the Human Elephant Learning Programs Foundation, a not-for-profit charity that delivers evidence-based training and management across South and Southeast Asia and is supported there by various government organisations.

A winner of the Advanced section of the famous Gawler Three-Day-Event in 1989, Andrew has enjoyed a decorated equestrian sport career and has represented Australia in three-day eventing and competed in State and National titles in FEI dressage, eventing and showjumping. He was an Olympic Academy delegate in 1991 and was Australian Champion in Tetrathlon in 2018. In addition, Andrew was the founding President of the Victorian Event Riders Association.

Camie Heleski received her Ph.D. in Animal Science with an emphasis in equine behavior and welfare; her M.S. was also in Animal Science, with an emphasis in equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She worked at Michigan State University for 25 years as Coordinator of their two-year Horse Management Program. In 2016, she began teaching and advising at the University of Kentucky in their Equine Science and Management program. Her applied research interests have revolved around equine behavior and welfare, horse-human interactions and working equids in developing regions of the world; more recently she has begun examining issues related to the Thoroughbred racing industry. She was actively involved with the International Society for Equitation Science as a Council member for 12 years.  She served as the Scientific Chair for the NFACC Canadian Equine Welfare Code Committee, and has travelled to Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Egypt and Mali in support of her research/outreach with working equids.  Dr. Heleski grew up on a horse farm where she and her family raised, trained and showed horses. She enjoys riding her Arabian gelding in the discipline of dressage. Camie and her daughter have recently adopted an Off the Track Thoroughbred, named Abu.

Hayley graduated with a BSc (Hons) Biology and Psychology in 1990, and gained her PhD in Animal Science on cattle in 1995 at Exeter University, UK.  Hayley has worked in higher education for over 20 years, delivering on a range of animal, welfare, statistics and more recently equitation science subjects to a variety of students in a number of institutions over the world.  Hayley has led a number of projects to develop academic land-based programmes which closely align with contemporary industry needs.  Hayley has also done extensive work on Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance on a national level and has undertaken expert witness work specialising in horse behaviour.  Hayley is a regular and frequent reviewer for a number of high impact animal and veterinary journals and has examines PhDs internationally. In 2007 Hayley became one of the inaugural members of the International Society for Equitation Science Council and has held the roles of Hon. Secretary and all of the President roles. She is regularly involved in the Scientific committee for the annual ISES international conference, and chaired these in 2012, 2016 and 2017.  She was one of the main organisers of the very successful ISES 2017 conference looking at Equitation Science in Practice:  Communication, Collaboration and Change at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.  Hayley is currently involved in a number of projects investigating quality of life in equids.   She is currently enjoying her role as Associate Head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Charles Sturt University.  Any spare time is spent working with a collection of project horses, two young kelpies and a border collie and her son Harley - a dirt bike mad tweenager. 

Janne Winther Christensen is Associate Professor at the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark. In her early career, Janne studied behaviour of Przewalski horses in the Askania Nova Reserve in Ukraine, and the fascination of wild equids and the similarities in behaviour between wild, feral and domestic horses has formed the basis for her research. She holds a licentiate degree from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (2006), and a PhD in ethology from Copenhagen University (2008). Janne has conducted a number of research projects in relation to horse welfare, stress and fear reactions, habituation, learning and training. Her current research focuses on (i) maternal influence on the development of behaviour and stress sensitivity in foals, (ii) behaviour and welfare in relation to housing and management, and (iii) human-animal interactions. 

Professor Katherine Houpt received her veterinary and PhD degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She is Professor of Animal Behaviour at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and has been studying horse behavior and welfare, investigating flehmen, environmental preferences, welfare issues of tethered mares and cribbing. She directs the Animal Behavior Clinic and has written a textbook Domestic Animal Behavior. She is a horse-crazy girl who never grew up and has ridden badly on five continents. She trail rides on an Arabian horse.

Professor Jan Ladewig holds a PhD degree in Animal Behaviour from University of California, Davis, USA. He worked as a research associate in Germany, conducting research on behavioural and physiological reactions to stress in cattle, pigs and horses, as well as measurement of motivation in pigs by operant conditioning procedures. He is now a Professor in domestic animal behaviour and welfare at the Copenhagen University, Denmark.  Jan has been an active rider since childhood. He is particularly interested in the scientific background of training horses, as it relates to riding safety and horse welfare.

Kathalijne gained her Msc (Hons) in Animal Sciences at Wageningen University and her PhD on Horse personalities in 2002 at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She has been a pioneer in horse personality research. She has executed and led several national and international research projects on horse welfare, horse personalities and animal welfare during transport and slaughter. With special interest in the effects of the human-animal interactions on the welfare of dogs and horses she has been appointed a position as Professor Human-Animal Interactions at the Aeres University of Applied Sciences in 2021. In 2022 she became member of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission for the FEI, chaired by Nat Waran.

Kathalijne has been on ISES council from 2007 till 2017 as Research Officer. In her term she developed, with others, the ISES research strategy including the opportunities for young scientists to present their work at ISES conferences through student prizes.

In 2011 Kathalijne was chair of the organising committee of the ISES Conference at Academy Bartels, Hooge Mierde, the Netherlands. Together with the other members of the organising committee this was a landmark for ISES, being the first ‘stand alone’ conference without ISAE and partnering with the Global Dressage Forum that took place following the ISES conference.