Olivia Curry

Thesis title: Developing Behavioural Tools for the Assessment of Pain in Horses

Project activity

My PhD has integrated behavioural science and social science to improve pain assessment in horses, combining detailed observational data from clinical cases with qualitative research into how veterinary professionals recognise and use pain assessment tools. I have analysed expressive pain behaviours alongside clinician perspectives to generate evidence-based insights aimed at enhancing both the welfare of horses and clinical practice.

Conference details

I have delivered oral presentations of my research on equine pain assessment, behaviour, and the use of pain assessment in veterinary settings at the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) conferences in New Zealand (2024) and the USA (2025), as well as at EVCBMAW 2025 in Finland. My work has explored not only behavioural indicators of pain but also how clinicians and caregivers understand and apply pain assessment in practice.

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