Qualifications and Previous Employment

• BSc (Hons) Equine Studies, Nottingham Trent University.
• MSc Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare, University of Edinburgh.
• Equine Research Technician, WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition.
• Equine Research Assistant, University of Southampton
• Research Assistant, University of Lincoln – evaluating space requirements of laying hens

Current Position

Research Assistant developing distance learning courses for horse owners and equine science students, this project is sponsored by a grant from Bransby Home of Rest for Horses.

Research Interests and Activities

PhD Research - Choice feeding in the domestic horse

The aim of this project was to understand the cues that horses use to select between different foods.

It has often been assumed that horses base their food selection upon a food’s orosensory cues (flavour, texture). However, Cairns et al., (2002) showed that irrespective of flavour cues horses can discriminate between foods on the basis of their energy content. This study builds upon these findings by evaluating whether horses can discriminate between foods when the nutrient content is varied and the energy content is held constant.

Cairns, M.C., Cooper, J.J., Davidson, H.P.B., & Mills, D.S. (2002) Association in horses of orosensory characteristics of foods with their post-ingestive consequences. Animal Science, 75, 257-265.

Conference Publications

2007 S.E. Redgate, S. Hall, J.J. Cooper, P. Eady and P.A. Harris. Dietary experience changes feeding preferences in the domestic horse. In Proceedings of the 20th Equine Science Society, 5th-8th June, pp. 120, Maryland, USA.

2006 S.E. Redgate, S. Hall, J.J. Cooper, P. Eady and P.A. Harris. Post-ingetive feedback on diet selection in horses (Equus caballus); dietary experience changes feeding preferences. International Society for Applied Ethology International Conference, August 8th-12th, Bristol, United Kingdom.

2004 S.E. Redgate, A.L.Ordakowski-Burk, H.P.B. Davidson, P.A. Harris and D.S. Kronfeld A preliminary study to investigate the effect of diet on the behaviour of weanling horses. International Society for Applied Ethology August 3rd-7th, Helsinki, Finland

2004 J.J. Cooper, M.J.Albentosa, S.E. Redgate The 24 hour activity budgets of hens in furnished cages. British Poultry Science 45:1 S38-S39

2003 A.L., Ordakowski, H.P.B., Davidson, S.E., Redgate, P.A., Harris, D.S., Kronfeld. Characteristics of foal feeding behaviour. Waltham International Science Symposium. Bangkok, Thailand.

2003 S.E. Redgate, N.K. Waran, H.P.B. Davidson, C. Morgan. The effects on the behaviour of the presence or absence of a familiar horse during feeding. Annual meeting of the European Association for Animal Production 31st August – 3rd of September, Rome, Italy.

2003 S.E. Redgate, N.K. Waran, H.P.B. Davidson, C. Morgan. Too close for comfort? Social facilitation and diet selection in the horse. International Society for Applied Ethology Regional Conference March 24-26, York, UK.

2001 H.P.B. Davidson and S.E. Redgate, “Activity in your stable?” Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group/European Society for Veterinary Clinical Ethology Study day: April 4th Birmingham, UK.

2000 H.P.B. Davidson and S.E. Redgate. The uncovered ‘secrets’ of stable life International Society of Applied Ethology International Conference, Florianopolis Brazil.