About us

Horse Connexion is an international website about the practical applications of scientific equine research.

Why do we need Horse Connexion?
In recent years, it has been realized that ordinary horse owners/riders, even those working in the equine industry, can find it very difficult to access and apply the valuable recommendations arising from equine research. The gap between scientists and practical horse people makes it very difficult for research results to be put into practice.
 

Horse Connexion aims to improve horse welfare and equitation through knowledge transfer to riders, riding teachers and horse owners.

Horse Connexion provides a platform for horse scientists all over the world to disseminate their results to a wide public.
 

Horse Connexion is produced in English and Swedish, and presents the results of published equine research and provide information about ongoing research projects. We will also include news items, for example about books, seminars and other interesting activities taking place in Europe. Interested persons can receive an e-mail every time the web-site is updated. The website is self-sustainable in terms of funding.
 

Who’s behind Horse Connexion?

The website is an initiative of Mari Zetterqvist Blokhuis. Mari is an international riding instructor (Level 3) with long experience of teaching riding. She has a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences. For the last ten years, Mari was teaching pedagogy and didactics in the education of riding teachers at the National Equestrian Centre in Strömsholm, Sweden. Recently she also studied didactics in horse riding and interaction between horse and rider.

Horse Connexion is supported by Horse Connexion Scientific Committee that proof read the abstracts before they are put online. Below is a presentation on the members of the Scientific Committee:

Kathalijne Visser-Riedstra is a member of Horse Connexion Scientific Committee. Kathalijne finished her PhD `Horsonality´ in 2002 at the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Utrecht. At present she is working as an equine scientist at the Animal Sciences Group in the Netherlands.

Eva Søndergaard has been a scientist at the University of Aarhus from  2003 to 2009 and is now senior consultant at AgroTech A/S working with business development and knowledge transfer in the field between biology and technology. She graduated in Animal Science from The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University.  Eva undertook PhD studies in handling and housing of young horses and, since obtaining her PhD in 2003, has been working on various aspects of equine behaviour and welfare.

Andrea Ellis has a PhD in Equine Nutrition and has worked in the Netherlands as a scientific researcher in equine nutrition, husbandry and welfare for the last 4 years. She is now working as a senior lecturer in Equine Science at Nottingham Trent University. She is also a member of the Scientific Committee.

Horse Connexion is also supported by a reference group of equine scientists from different countries.
 

If you want to contribute to Horse Connexion or if you have any further questions, please contact Mari