STUDENTS at Askham Bryan College are helping carry out new research into a range of equine issues.

Alongside staff at the college, the students are helping to run a field trial on certain nutritional supplements, already used in humans, dogs and cats to treat arthritis, to establish the results for horses.

Loni Loftus, manager for the foundation degree course in equine science and management, is organising the trial, which involves more than 30 horses.

She said: "Carrying out the research is benefitting students at all levels, either involved in the academic protocols or in carrying out the necessary procedures, such as weighing horses and collecting data.

"They are incredibly enthusiastic and are volunteering to be involved, even coming in on their days off, to gain what is very valuable experience."

Ms Loftus is also an "equine behaviourist" involved in a number of research projects, including equine euthanasia. She is due to begin a new project on stereotypic behaviours in racehorses and their effect on performance in the New Year.

She was also recently a speaker at a British Horse Society event entitled "Misbehaving or Misunderstood" at the society’s headquarters in Kenilworth.

The event was designed to examine how an evidence-based approach to horse management and training could be promoted to achieve safer and more humane interactions with horses.

She said: "I had lots to feedback to students on the latest thinking about why horses need educated owners. So often we see behavioural issues which are a reflection of one or more management methods used by those working with the horse and this event pinpointed why education is so important."

Askham Bryan College hosts frequent competitions, dressage and jumping clinics and events including affiliated British Eventing Horse Trials and Point-to-Points, all of which students help to organise, getting hands-on experience of running equine events.