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RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

My academic career enables me to conduct a variety of research projects in the fields of equine behaviour, welfare and nutrition. This is important to the industry as it allows us to develop our knowledge of more horse-friendly management and training practices that benefit the welfare of both horses and their owners.

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My research interests include:

  • natural behaviour

  • enrichment 

  • equine cognition and learning

  • the effects of nutrition on behaviour

  • ethical equitation

  • stress

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As an academic, I follow current research and apply this to my practice as both a behaviourist and as a lecturer across the undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses on which I teach.

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Publications

Written Articles (Peer-reviewed)
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Abstracts presented as oral communications

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  • Nash, J.E., Lancaster, B., Slater, L. Verwijs, R. and Ellis, A.D. (2022) 'Effect of environment on nocturnal time budgets in domesticated horses' Proceedings of the  European Workshop on Equine Nutrition, 23-25 August. 

  • Nash, J.E., Lancaster, B., Slater, L. Verwijs, R. and Ellis, A.D. (2022) 'Investigation into equine nocturnal behaviour between the field and stable', Proceedings of the 18th International Equitation Science Conference, August 9-12. 119-120.

  • Osborn. S. and Verwijs. R. (2021) 'Co-operative care protocol using protected contact and positive reinforcement to facilitate simulated veterinary intra-muscular injections in horses', Proceedings of the 17th International Equitation Science Conference: Advancing Equestrian Practice to improve Equine Quality of Life (online), October 20-21. 52. 

  • Osborn. S. and Verwijs. R. (2021) 'Co-operative care protocol using protected contact and positive reinforcement to facilitate simulated veterinary intra-muscular injections in horses', Proceedings of the 16th Annual UFAW Student Animal Welfare Conference (online), 12th May 2021.

  • Spencer, K., Verwijs, R., and  Williams, J. (2019) ‘Evaluation of whip use in British Showjumping’, Proceedings of the 15th International Equitation Science Conference: Bringing Science to the Stable, August 19-21. Guelph, Ontario: University of Guelph, 46.

  • Spencer, K. and Verwijs, R. (2019) ‘Evaluation of whip use in British Showjumping’, Proceedings of the 9th Alltech-Hartpury Conference, Hartpury University, Gloucester, UK, 8th May 2019.

  • Campbell, A. and Verwijs, R. (2019) ‘The effect of three types of head restraint on behaviour and pressure on horses’, Proceedings of the 14th Annual UFAW Student Animal Welfare Conference, Moulton College, Northampton, UK, 1st May 2019.

  • Slater, L. and Verwijs, R. (2091) ‘An investigation into two nocturnal housing environments and their effect on locomotion and social facilitation’, Proceedings of the 14th Annual UFAW Student Animal Welfare Conference, Moulton College, Northampton, UK, 1st May 2019.

  • Cuthbert, C. and Verwijs, R. (2018) ‘The effect of separation on equine behaviour, heart rate and heart rate variability whilst exercised on a horse walker’, in S. McDonnell, B. Padalino and P. Baragli (eds.) ISES Proceedings of the 14th International Conference, Rome, 21-24 September 2018. Pisa: Pisa University Press, 33.

  • Cuthbert, C. and Verwijs, R. (2018) ‘The effect of isolation on equine behaviour, heart rate and heart rate variability whilst exercised on a horse walker’, Proceedings of the 13th Annual UFAW Student Animal Welfare Conference, Writtle University College, Essex, 21st March 2018.

  • Braybrook, Z. and Verwijs, R. (2017) ‘An investigation determining whether there is a relationship between different equine types and their reactivity to a novel startle test’, Proceedings of the Equine and Veterinary Physiotherapy Mini-Conference, Writtle University College, Essex, 26th April 2017, pp. 11.

  • Gohery, L. and Verwijs, R. (2017) ‘The effect of laterality on stride parameters in cantering equines determined by hair whorl (Trichoglyphs) direction’, Proceedings of the Equine and Veterinary Physiotherapy Mini-Conference, Writtle University College, Essex, 26th April 2017, pp. 6.

  • Murphy, N. and Verwijs, R. (2017) ‘The impact of isolation on equine behaviour and heart rate when loading onto a horsebox’, Proceedings of the Equine and Veterinary Physiotherapy Mini-Conference, Writtle University College, Essex, 26th April 2017, pp. 9.

  • Bouquet A., Amory J., Thompson A. and Verwijs R. (2016). Evaluation of two modified Butanol-HCL methodologies for the analysis of free condensed tannins in conjunction with their quantity occurrence in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) dried at various temperatures’, Advances in Animal Bioscience, pp. 130. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

  • Bouquet, A. and Verwijs, R. (2015) ‘Evaluation of two modified Butanol-HCL methodologies for the analysis of free condensed tannins in conjunction with their quantity occurrence in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) dried at various temperatures’,  Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science. University of Chester 6 –7 April 2016.

  • Bouquet, A. and Verwijs, R. (2015) ‘Evaluation of two modified Butanol-HCL methodologies for the analysis of free condensed tannins in conjunction with their quantity occurrence in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) dried at various temperatures’,  10th UFAW Annual Student Animal Welfare Conference, Moulton College, Northampton, UK, 27th March 2015.

  • Maru, C. and Verwijs, R. (2015) ‘An investigation into the relationship between intelligence and dominance rank in a herd of young horses’, 10th UFAW Annual Student Animal Welfare Conference, Moulton College, Northampton, UK, 27th March 2015.

  • Howie, J. and Verwijs, R. (2013) ‘The effects of lavender oil and peppermint oil on stress in horses’ 9th UFAW Annual Student Animal Welfare Conference, Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, UK, 15 May 2013.

  • Foster, R. and Verwijs, R. (2012) ‘Positive versus Negative Reinforcement: The effects of target training on measurable equine fearfulness towards a novel stimulus’, RASE Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, UK, 11 November 2012.

  • Verwijs, R. (2012) ‘Bringing teaching into the field – Futurity, young horses and integrating industry practice’, CASTLe Learning and Teaching Conference, Writtle College, Chelmsford, United Kingdom, 18 July 2012.

  • Verwijs, R. (2010) ‘The use of an extinction-learning paradigm to measure equine stereotypic perseveration’, Equine Science Research at Writtle, Writtle College, Essex, UK, March 2010.

  • Tracey, S., Verwijs, R., Whitaker, T. C. and Bland, I. (2005) ‘Social organisation and dominance in relation to resource ascendancy within a selected group of weaned foals’, BSAS Applying Equine Science: research into business, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, UK, 20-21 September 2005, 36.

 

Abstracts presented as poster communications

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  • Dede, T. & Verwijs, R. (2023) 'Evaluating the effect of reinforcer valence on equine response rate of an operant task with respect to interspecies social bonding', Proceedings of the 12th Alltech-Hartpury Conference, Hartpury University, Gloucester, UK, 10th May 2023, 42.

  • Laurence, L. & Verwijs, R. (2021) 'Evaluation of the ability of horses to be trained using operant conditioning to discriminate a non-conspecific odour', Proceedings of the 10th Alltech-Hartpury Conference, Hartpury University, Gloucester, UK, 30th June -1st July 2021 (online), 46.

  • Losonci, O. and Verwijs, R. (2021) 'Investigating the possible presence of learned helplessness in horses (Equus caballus)', Proceedings of the 10th Alltech-Hartpury Conference, Hartpury University, Gloucester, UK, 30th June -1st July 2021 (online), 83.

  • Spencer, K. and Verwijs, R. (2019) ‘Evaluation of whip use in British Showjumping’, Proceedings of the 14th Annual UFAW Student Animal Welfare Conference, Moulton College, Northampton, UK, 1st May 2019.

  • Youngs, E. and Verwijs, R. (2017) ‘A comparison between the bitted bridle and bitless bridle to determine stress levels, using infrared thermography, and behaviour, using an ethogram, during a standard exercise test’, Proceedings of the Equine and Veterinary Physiotherapy Mini-Conference, Writtle University College, Essex, 26th April 2017, pp. 23.

  • Crockett, L. and Verwijs, R. ‘A comparison of four hay nets in relation to feed intake and welfare in adult horses (Equus caballus)’ 9th UFAW Annual Student Animal Welfare Conference, Writtle College, Essex, UK, 28 March 2014.

  • Rice, R. and Verwijs, R. ‘An investigation into the effect of essential oils on behaviour and stress in rescue horses and ponies’ 9th UFAW Annual Student Animal Welfare Conference, Writtle College, Essex, UK, 28 March 2014.

  • Pardue, H. and Verwijs, R. ‘An investigation into the effects of different girths and girth sleeves on the behaviour and stress elicited by leisure horses in the UK whilst being tacked up’ 9th UFAW Annual Student Animal Welfare Conference, Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, UK, 15 May 2013.

  • Meehan, R. and Verwijs, R. (2012) ‘The effect of a commercial calming supplement on the behaviour and heart rate of horses during a temperament test’, 8th UFAW Annual Student Animal Welfare Conference, Moulton College, Northampton, UK, 23 May 2012.

  • King, H. and Verwijs, R. (2012) ‘ Using a pseudoisochromatic plate test to identify colour vision deficiencies in horses’, 8th UFAW Annual Student Animal Welfare Conference, Moulton College, Northampton, UK, 23 May 2012.

 

 

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