Maddie Knight, a former student of Aberystwyth University, was awarded second place in the Undergraduate Thesis of the Year Award 2024 for her groundbreaking research into equine colour perception. Drawing from a lifetime of passion for animals, Maddie's love for horses was fostered by her father, a Police Dog Handler, and her mother, who worked for Guide Dogs For the Blind. This upbringing naturally led Maddie to pursue a career in animal science, with a particular focus on understanding the sensory capabilities of horses.

 

The Thesis: Exploring Horses' Colour Perception

Maddie’s thesis, titled The Impact of Dichromatic Colour Perception on Jumping Performance in Horses, investigated how horses perceive colours differently from humans, specifically in the context of show jumping. The idea for the research came from a personal experience when Maddie was riding a horse and noticed it spooking at a person in a yellow jacket. This incident sparked her curiosity about how horses perceive colour and how this might affect their behaviour in competitive environments.

The study revealed that horses, being dichromatic, perceive colours differently from humans, particularly in the red-to-yellow spectrum. Maddie found that horses made fewer mistakes when jumping yellow poles compared to red ones. Spectrometry tests confirmed that red poles fell outside of the visible spectrum for horses, while yellow poles were within their visible range. This research has significant implications for equine welfare and training, suggesting that altering jump colours could improve performance and reduce stress for horses.

 

Overcoming Challenges and Valuable Insights

Maddie encountered several challenges during her research, particularly in integrating qualitative behavioural observations with quantitative data. The individual differences in horse temperaments required careful consideration, but these variations also contributed to the richness of the study’s findings. Despite these challenges, Maddie’s research provides valuable insights into how a better understanding of horses’ colour perception can enhance training practices and welfare standards. The study encourages the design of environments and training methods that align with horses' sensory limitations, ultimately improving both performance and well-being.

 

Recognition and Future Aspirations

Receiving second place in the Undergraduate Thesis of the Year Award was a moment of immense pride for Maddie. The recognition validated the hard work and dedication she invested in her research. Looking ahead, Maddie has been accepted into the accelerated graduate entry program for veterinary science at the University of Bristol, with the goal of becoming a wildlife vet, focusing on rhino conservation in Africa.

 

Advice for Future Thesis Candidates

For those considering submitting their thesis for future awards, Maddie offers straightforward advice: “Just press submit!” The most important step is ensuring your work is considered. She also emphasized the importance of starting early, even if it’s just bullet points to begin with, allowing ample time for revisions and improvements.

Maddie believes that the future of animal science will be shaped by technological advancements, particularly AI, which is already contributing to sustainable livestock farming and advances in genomics. Maddie hopes to be part of this evolution, particularly in wildlife conservation and addressing zoonotic diseases.

Maddie Knight’s award-winning thesis not only advances our understanding of equine colour perception but also highlights the significance of considering animal welfare in both research and practice. Her work is an inspiring example of how a passion for animals, combined with scientific inquiry, can lead to meaningful contributions in the field of animal science.