Building Bridges between Theory and Practice: How Citizen Science Can Bring Equine Researchers and Practitioners Together.
Authors: Fenner Kate, Dashper Katherine, Wilkins Cristina, Serpell James, McLean Andrew, Wilson Bethany, McGreevy Paul
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Building Bridges between Theory and Practice Equine researchers increasingly rely on online surveys to investigate training, management and behaviour, yet horse owners and practitioners—who possess invaluable detailed knowledge of their animals—often lack motivation to participate in such data collection. Fenner and colleagues consulted 747 respondents across four stakeholder categories (academics, professionals, practitioners and enthusiasts) using a brief three-question survey to identify which data-gathering tools would best encourage engagement with equine research. Three hypothetical tools were evaluated: a standardised behavioural measurement instrument, a regular training and behaviour logbook, and a comparison chart allowing individuals to benchmark their horse's behaviour against population norms. Responses revealed marked differences in how useful stakeholders perceived each tool, with qualitative feedback highlighting substantial knowledge gaps and inadequate dissemination of existing scientific findings to the practitioner community. These findings directly informed the development of the Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ), a longitudinal tool investigating relationships between management practices and behaviour, and underscore the importance of offering accessible feedback mechanisms and open-access publication to foster meaningful collaboration between researchers and equestrian professionals.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Different types of feedback tools appeal to different segments of the equestrian community—consider offering multiple options when requesting data from horse owners and riders to maximise participation.
- •Horse owners and riders identify real knowledge gaps between scientific research and practical applications; sharing research findings in accessible formats can improve engagement and trust.
- •Participation in research can be incentivised through tools that directly benefit individual practitioners, such as personalised behaviour comparison charts or training logbooks, rather than purely altruistic appeals.
Key Findings
- •Stakeholders showed differential preferences for three proposed data collection tools: standardised behaviour measurement, logbook recording, and comparative population charts.
- •Significant differences existed among stakeholder categories (academics, professionals, practitioners, enthusiasts) in perceived usefulness of survey tools.
- •Free-text responses identified knowledge gaps and a need for improved dissemination of scientific findings to the equestrian community.
- •The consultation process informed development of the E-BARQ questionnaire and identified effective incentives for encouraging horse owner participation in equine research.