Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award

Have you got the student? We’ve got the award.

Does one of your students deserve special recognition? If so, why not enter them for the prestigious Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award.

Now in its tenth year, the Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award, sponsored by Merial Animal Health, a world leading innovation-driven animal health company, is made by the Royal Agricultural Society of England each year to recognise academic achievement in the equestrian field and to showcase the best academic research to the equestrian industry, and as a result the standard and quality of entry is exceptionally high.

A shortlist of students will present their theses to a panel of judges and an audience of industry-based professionals during Your Horse Live, at Stoneleigh Park on Friday 7th November 2008. During a 3-course lunch reception, the winner will be presented with a £500 cheque, a piece of silverware, a 5-year membership of the Royal Agricultural Society of England and certificate. The Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award not only demonstrates the quality of the UK’s equine students but all the hard work that the colleges and universities put in to educate such students.

In previous years the shortlisted theses have received press coverage in Horse & Hound, Equestrian Trade News, Equine World UK, Equestrian Business Monthly, Equine Student magazine, Vet Times, Veterinary Review, UK Vet, and Farmers’ Guardian. Successful students have also had the opportunity to present their work at the prestigious National Equine Forum.

The winner of the 2007 award was Soraya Morscher from the University of Limerick with her thesis titled ‘An analysis of peri-parturient and postnatal events in Thoroughbreds’. The judges were Professor Graham Suggett (British Equestrian Federation), Dr Pat Harris (MARS Horsecare), Dr Emma Batson (Merial), Alison Bridge (Horse & Rider) and Rachel Kay (2006 winner).

The deadline for submitting theses is Friday 25th July 2008 and the final shortlist will be announced in early September. We request that you send seven hard copies of the entered thesis to Chris Taylor, Membership Department, Royal Agricultural Society of England, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ and one electronic copy to chris@rase.org.uk.

We hope that you will submit an entry for the 2008 award (please note, entries will be limited to one per establishment and can only be from first degree students on Honours Bachelor’s courses). If you have any queries please contact Chris Taylor on 02476 858252.