Dr. David Marlin has a background in equine exercise physiology.  He was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions about what he does and how he got there.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
Probably 75%. As well as my work, my son used to ride and my daughter still does and I sometimes go to watch friends compete, although avoid offering advice unless they specifically ask. I go racing at Newmarket as well. I enjoy photography and horse events make great opportunities for taking pictures.

What is it exactly that you do?
My background is in physiology, biochemistry and computing with some experience in electronics. I started off doing my degree at Stirling University and then spent a few years in different jobs before I saw that the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket was setting up a unit to study equine exercise physiology. I managed to get a PhD with David Snow and Roger Harris who were running the group and ran the first study in the UK on a high-speed treadmill.

Then I worked for Newmarket racehorse trainer Luca Cumani for 3 years before going back to the AHT. Around 18 years ago I setup Science Supplements and 15 years ago I setup my own consultancy business. I work or have worked for many different clients including:

• the IOC, FEI and DEFRA,
• charities such as the BHS, World Horse Welfare and Redwings,
• commercial companies such as Spillers, Polar, Arioneo, Haygain and Equilibrium Products
• as well as private owners, riders and trainers.

Essentially I either help design or conduct studies, evaluate studies, advise on products and services, help with marketing, get involved with new product development, and help sort out problems. I also have another working life separate from horses in human sport and healthcare involving physiological monitoring and respiratory diagnostics.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
Yes, it has been for me.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I think to some extent I was in the right place at the right time.  Before university I was interested in fish farming. I learned to ride at University and then spent some time training with rider, coach and judge Judy Harvey. When I started at the AHT there were small computers around but no software. I wrote my own software and so that really helped me progress.

I also used to make a lot of my own kit for studies as you couldn’t buy it. The 1990’s was a great time for equine research – grant money was fairly easy to come by. I also had the opportunity to work with some great scientists; David Snow, Roger Harris, Eric Hultman, Birgitta Essen-Gustavsson, Bob Schroter, Frank Kelly, Ed Robinson, David Poole, Howard Erickson, Hal Schott, Petra Reinhold. Too many to name.

For me, collaboration with talented people who have a similar interest but perhaps complimentary skills has been something I strived for.

Favourite horse memory?
Just one? There are so many. There are two I can’t really separate. Working with Mary King and King William is one. I remember traveling with the British 3DE team to Rome in 1995 when they had to qualify for Atlanta. I took a weighbridge and discovered KW didn’t drink after cross-country. He had a reputation for being high up in the dressage and XC and then dropping 10-20 places in the SJ. We discovered once he was rehydrated that he jumped a lot better.

The other top moment was when the Queen asked to come and visit the AHT to hear about my research into heat and humidity for Atlanta 1996.

Future goals?
I’ve been involved in many aspects of horse welfare, including climate management of World Equestrian Games and Olympics and I’m keen to carry on in this area. I’m working on WEG 2018 in Tryon and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but I also have welfare related projects in endurance and eventing.

I’m also particularly interested in performance analysis.  I have recently published work on endurance and show jumping with long-term collaborator Dr Jane Williams at Hartpury. Jane and I also share an interest in psychology and we’ve been investigating horse owner behaviour. First study to be presented in Rome in September which might cause a few raised eyebrows

Best thing about your sport/profession?
I like to think some of the things I do have an influence on horse welfare. Horses are phenomenal animals but can be so open to abuse by a small number of riders, owners or trainers, either for financial gain or ignorance. So education is very important to me.

I really enjoy working collaboratively with others and seeing some of the next generation of young equine scientists emerge. The past year I’ve been working with Lorna Cameron at Sparsholt on a very exciting project with one of her undergraduate students, Ella Bartlett. Ella has a real talent for research.  Helping such people to develop as researchers gives me a lot of pleasure. It’s competitive being a scientist in the horse world but hard work, persistence and talent usually pay off eventually.

Dr Natasha Hamilton has a unique science horse related role.  She is the director at the Racing Australia Equine Genetics Research Centre and has kindly answered some questions about her profession.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
This depends on how you classify relating to horses. 100% of what we do revolves around horses; however because we perform laboratory work we don’t actually get to work WITH the horse, only their samples (we extract DNA from their hair).

However, most of us in the lab have a ‘horsey’ background. My second post-doctoral job (after graduating with my PhD) was based on studying sheep genetics, but my boss used to tell me they were just small woolly horses to try and keep my attention!

What is it exactly that you do?
I oversee the day to day running.  This is as well as long term planning and development for the Racing Australia Equine Genetics Research Centre. Our core business is to perform the DNA based parentage verification for the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. We also perform parentage verification for many other horse studbooks in Australia.  This is as well as diagnostic DNA tests for genetic diseases and traits of interest (such as coat colours and patterns). While we are just starting up we are focusing on developing the procedures to carry out these tests with the highest possible level of accuracy and as efficiently as possible.

Once we have the procedures fully developed and tested, we will also perform genetics research. I am interested in anything to do with genetics and horses.  However, I am particularly focused on the impact genetics has on racehorse soundness and durability, as well as any other factor that might impact welfare in racehorses. Our staff also have different research interests which we would like them to develop as they work here.

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
This job is more of a laboratory position that happens to be in horses, so it is certainly possible to make a living doing this job; but positions like this are very difficult to come by. I feel incredibly lucky to have been given this opportunity by Racing Australia.

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I think the most important step is to gain relevant scientific qualifications. My first degree was a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, then I completed a PhD in horse genetics. There was very little practical horse work during my studies.  But I still found this fascinating because it was focused on horses.

Luckily, I was also able to get involved with some teaching of Veterinary Students in horse handling.  So I was still able to get my horse fix doing that. My PhD involved doing lots of laboratory work.  So I could develop the practical skills I needed for my current position; in addition to the research side of things – learning how to find and critically evaluate information and develop a research idea into a peer-reviewed paper. Genetics research has come a long way in a short time, so in the future less laboratory skills are required.  And instead a better understanding of how to analyse large amounts of biological data, such as whole genome sequence is more important.

Favourite horse memory?
So how do you pick just one??!! I have also worked at the racetrack as a swab collection official for over 20 years so I get to know racehorses a little better than most. I have been lucky enough to see such horses as Octagonal, Tie the Knot, Lonhro & Sunline, as well as Black Caviar & now Winx.

Because I am a huge horse racing fan my favourite horse memories are racing related.  And often they relate to the personalities of the horse in question. About 15 years ago I was a huge fan of a horse called Clangalang because he was just the sweetest colt you could ever come across. Him winning the Australian Derby was amazing. When Red Cadeaux visited Sydney, I got to meet him and feed him carrots – one of my favourite memories.

I also just purchased a very small share in a super cute little filly last year. Her winning her first race as an early 2 year old late last year is one of my best horse experiences yet.  But I hope there are more to come with her!

Future goals?
To own lots more fast racehorses 😊.  Professionally, I would like to contribute to our understanding of how genetics influences a horse’s soundness and career length. I would also like to do more to promote the Thoroughbred as an all-round great breed of horse. Thoroughbreds are kind, generous, brave, athletic, tolerant and generally well exposed to many of the day to day husbandry procedures that other horses get upset about (e.g. getting their teeth & feet done, floating).

At the ripe old age of 42, I am currently learning to ride on off-the-track TBs.  And they will do everything they can to stop me from falling off (and I am quite bad!). I understand that while some TBs do have personalities that make them unsuitable for beginner riders like myself, there are very few that can’t turn their hand to anything with the right training.  It is the rider that limits these amazing animals, not the horse.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Everyone is always talking about horses.  Whether it be the performance of their own racehorse at some country track, or the latest Winx demolition job. Also, our lab is based in Scone NSW – horse country. It’s an absolutely beautiful place to go and work, although some rain certainly wouldn’t go astray.