Kate is a lecturer in equine science and her interests focus on equine behaviour, training and welfare. Following many years in industry, riding competitively, training horses and coaching riders, Kate returned to university to study equine science and then completed her PhD in horse behaviour and training (the University of Sydney). Her PhD project, the Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) is the only validated horse behavioural assessment tool available to all horse owners around the world. As a citizen science project, the E-BARQ database continues to expand and forms a useful benchmarking tool for horse owners and riders. The E-BARQ data is also available for researchers and students to engage in collaborative projects investigating horse behaviour, training, maintenance and welfare.
Kate's work on the council of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) has revealed the importance of translating the sciencific findings to the grassroots horse owners and riders that are looking to improve rider safety and horse welfare.
Journal Article: Development of a Humans Factors Approach to Equine-Related Human Accident Analysis, and Preliminarily Evaluation with Simulated Incidents
Chapman, Meredith, Fenner, Kate and Thomas, Matthew J. W. (2022). Development of a Humans Factors Approach to Equine-Related Human Accident Analysis, and Preliminarily Evaluation with Simulated Incidents. Safety, 8 (4) 72, 72. doi: 10.3390/safety8040072
Journal Article: A review of The Ridden Horse pain Ethogram and its potential to improve ridden horse welfare
Ladewig, Jan, McLean, Andrew N., Wilkins, Cristina L., Fenner, Kate, Christensen, Janne W. and McGreevy, Paul D. (2022). A review of The Ridden Horse pain Ethogram and its potential to improve ridden horse welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 54, 54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2022.07.003
Journal Article: The reported use of tongue-ties and nosebands in thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing—a pilot study
Weller, Dominic, Franklin, Samantha, White, Peter, Shea, Glenn, Fenner, Kate, Wilson, Bethany, Wilkins, Cristina and McGreevy, Paul (2021). The reported use of tongue-ties and nosebands in thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing—a pilot study. Animals, 11 (3) 622, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/ani11030622
The Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ)
Projects available investigating horse behaviour, training and management.
Chapman, Meredith, Fenner, Kate and Thomas, Matthew J. W. (2022). Development of a Humans Factors Approach to Equine-Related Human Accident Analysis, and Preliminarily Evaluation with Simulated Incidents. Safety, 8 (4) 72, 72. doi: 10.3390/safety8040072
A review of The Ridden Horse pain Ethogram and its potential to improve ridden horse welfare
Ladewig, Jan, McLean, Andrew N., Wilkins, Cristina L., Fenner, Kate, Christensen, Janne W. and McGreevy, Paul D. (2022). A review of The Ridden Horse pain Ethogram and its potential to improve ridden horse welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 54, 54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2022.07.003
Weller, Dominic, Franklin, Samantha, White, Peter, Shea, Glenn, Fenner, Kate, Wilson, Bethany, Wilkins, Cristina and McGreevy, Paul (2021). The reported use of tongue-ties and nosebands in thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing—a pilot study. Animals, 11 (3) 622, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/ani11030622
Anzulewicz, Ashley, Fenner, Kate, Hyde, Michelle, Heald, Susan, Burattini, Bibiana, Romness, Nicole, McKenzie, Jessica, Wilson, Bethany and McGreevy, Paul (2021). The impact of the sex of handlers and riders on the reported social confidence, compliance and touch sensitivity of horses in their care. Animals, 11 (1) 130, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/ani11010130
Equine responses to acceleration and deceleration cues may reflect their exposure to multiple riders
McKenzie, Jessica, Fenner, Kate, Hyde, Michelle, Anzulewicz, Ashley, Burattini, Bibiana, Romness, Nicole, Wilson, Bethany and McGreevy, Paul (2020). Equine responses to acceleration and deceleration cues may reflect their exposure to multiple riders. Animals, 11 (1) 66, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/ani11010066
Associations between owners’ reports of unwanted ridden behaviour and in-hand behaviour in horses
Romness, Nicole, Fenner, Kate, McKenzie, Jessica, Anzulewicz, Ashley, Burattini, Bibiana, Wilson, Bethany and McGreevy, Paul (2020). Associations between owners’ reports of unwanted ridden behaviour and in-hand behaviour in horses. Animals, 10 (12) 2431, 1-18. doi: 10.3390/ani10122431
Age-related changes in the behaviour of domestic horses as reported by owners
Burattini, Bibiana, Fenner, Kate, Anzulewicz, Ashley, Romness, Nicole, McKenzie, Jessica, Wilson, Bethany and McGreevy, Paul (2020). Age-related changes in the behaviour of domestic horses as reported by owners. Animals, 10 (12) 2321, 2321-17. doi: 10.3390/ani10122321
Fenner, Kate, Matlock, Sarah, Williams, Jane, Wilson, Bethany, McLean, Andrew, Serpell, James and McGreevy, Paul (2020). Validation of the Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ): a new survey Instrument for exploring and monitoring the domestic equine triad. Animals, 10 (11) 1982, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/ani10111982
Fenner, Kate, Dashper, Katherine, Serpell, James, McLean, Andrew, Wilkins, Cristina, Klinck, Mary, Wilson, Bethany and McGreevy, Paul (2020). The development of a novel questionnaire approach to the investigation of horse training, management, and behaviour. Animals, 10 (11) 1960, 1-11. doi: 10.3390/ani10111960
Fenner, Kate, Hyde, Michelle, Crean, Angela and McGreevy, Paul (2020). Identifying sources of potential bias when using online survey data to explore horse training, management, and behaviour: a systematic literature review. Veterinary Sciences, 7 (3) 140, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/vetsci7030140
Fenner, Kate, Dashper, Katherine, Wilkins, Cristina, Serpell, James, McLean, Andrew, Wilson, Bethany and McGreevy, Paul (2020). Building bridges between theory and practice: how citizen science can bring equine researchers and practitioners together. Animals, 10 (9) 1644, 1-11. doi: 10.3390/ani10091644
The reported use of nosebands in racing and equestrian pursuits
Weller, Dominic, Franklin, Samantha, Shea, Glenn, White, Peter, Fenner, Kate, Wilson, Bethany, Wilkins, Cristina and McGreevy, Paul (2020). The reported use of nosebands in racing and equestrian pursuits. Animals, 10 (5) 776. doi: 10.3390/ani10050776
Aune, Anna, Fenner, Kate, Wilson, Bethany, Cameron, Elissa, McLean, Andrew and McGreevy, Paul (2020). Reported Behavioural Differences between Geldings and Mares Challenge Sex-Driven Stereotypes in Ridden Equine Behaviour. Animals, 10 (3) 414, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/ani10030414
It's all about the sex, or is it? Humans, horses and temperament
Fenner, Kate, Caspar, Georgina, Hyde, Michelle, Henshall, Cathrynne, Dhand, Navneet, Probyn-Rapsey, Fiona, Dashper, Katherine, McLean, Andrew and McGreevy, Paul (2019). It's all about the sex, or is it? Humans, horses and temperament. PLoS One, 14 (5) e0216699, 1-18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216699
Behavioral, demographic, and management influences on equine responses to negative reinforcement
Fenner, Kate, Freire, Rafael, McLean, Andrew and McGreevy, Paul (2019). Behavioral, demographic, and management influences on equine responses to negative reinforcement. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 29, 11-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2018.08.007
Fenner, Kate, Mclean, Andrew N. and McGreevy, Paul D. (2019). Cutting to the chase: how round-pen, lunging, and high-speed liberty work may compromise horse welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 29, 88-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2018.05.003
The anthropomorphic application of gender stereotypes to horses
Dashper, Katherine, Fenner, Kate, Hyde, Michelle, Probyn-Rapsey, Fiona, Caspar, Georgie, Henshall, Cathrynne and McGreevy, Paul (2018). The anthropomorphic application of gender stereotypes to horses. Anthrozoös, 31 (6), 673-684. doi: 10.1080/08927936.2018.1529349
Effects of pre-conditioning on behavior and physiology of horses during a standardised learning task
Fenner, Kate, Webb, Holly, Starling, Melissa J., Freire, Rafael, Buckley, Petra and McGreevy, Paul D. (2017). Effects of pre-conditioning on behavior and physiology of horses during a standardised learning task. PLoS One, 12 (3) e0174313, 1-17. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174313
The effect of noseband tightening on horses' behavior, eye temperature, and cardiac responses
Fenner, Kate, Yoon, Samuel, White, Peter, Starling, Melissa and McGreevy, Paul (2016). The effect of noseband tightening on horses' behavior, eye temperature, and cardiac responses. PLoS One, 11 (5) e0154179, 1-20. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154179
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
The Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ)
Projects available investigating horse behaviour, training and management.