
At 30, I had a mid-life crisis – an early one! I was the classic horsey teenager, who loved the idea of working with horses but wasn’t creative about knowing what was out there, and my parents said, “You need a proper job”, with horses as a hobby.
So I did a normal person’s degree, and ended up working in human health research. I had a great job, and loved it. But I wished I was working with horses. So I spent my Christmas bonus on degrees, in equine science and advanced animal behaviour, and when I was 30, said, “I’ve either got to change this year or stop moaning.”
I looked at animal-related research and because I had skills from human health, and the animal stuff, I qualified for a PhD at Liverpool University. I started working on that, to do with horses, and it was like a dream come true.
I haven’t looked back.
Liverpool was looking for someone to research equine obesity and I had the skills from human research; it was a gift. I had a fat Welsh cob, so I had the experience too! That finished in 2019, the year we did the Weigh to Win body condition showing awards, which went really well.
Esta historia es de la edición April 04, 2024 de Horse & Hound.
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Esta historia es de la edición April 04, 2024 de Horse & Hound.
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Super Sonic steps up
Oakley Nash lands a 128cm double with \"wild\" project pony and a determined 138cm rider is in flying form

Townend takes two
A familiar face and a potential future star triumph for Oliver Townend, as the eventing season gets under way

Last-minute dash ends in triumph
A change of plan leads to victory and a home-bred star proves that talent runs in the family

William's the Lad
It's back-to-back victories in the hunt race he sponsors for a delighted – and generous – William Fox Grant

Saving Britain's in-hand show tradition
Kim Wilson investigates how Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain is tackling the decline of in-hand classes and working to secure the future of youngstock

'This unspoilt hunting heaven
A visit by the RS Surtees Society to Northumberland provides a showcase for the Percy hounds and their hunting country

Local hero is all heart
A Borders team lifts Scotland's richest hurdle for the second year with a gutsy six-year-old and a £1,000 purchase richly rewards a patient owner

Access all areas Gavin Cromwell
The former farrier is sending his strongest team of Cheltenham Festival runners yet. Jennifer Donald meets the team behind a remarkable success story

Saffron Cresswell
The young event rider, who suffered a serious spinal injury in a fall last year, talks to Pippa Roome about her journey so far and what the future holds

Daphne
This contrary mare may spin like a top and be uncatchable in the summer, but she's \"terrifyingly brave\" and absolutely brilliant in the hunting field