Ashley Ward has a PhD from the University of Aberdeen and Scotland’s Rural College, where she researched pasture-associated laminitis: the management, the microbiome and the metabolites involved.
Her other educational accomplishments include a BSc (Hons) from Glasgow Caledonian University, where she studied Biomedical Science; a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 3 Equine Care, Riding and Management; and a Modern Apprenticeship in Horse Care and Management.
At present, she works as a Food Security Challenge Centre Administrator.
Ward is particularly interested in the hindgut microbiome of the horse and understanding the technology used to investigate it. In her PhD, she undertook studies to evaluate the methodology for equine fecal sample preservation for downstream microbiota analysis. She later applied these methods to investigate the fecal microbiota of ponies at risk of laminitis due to their breed type.
Ward is also drawn to the study of human behavior in equine care and management. She believes understanding the human-animal relationship can play a key role in helping minimize a range of health risks for horses.
Outside of work, her life revolves around feeding and cleaning up after her WB x TB gelding, Otis, and walking and running with her pointer, Monty.
Ward may be contacted at: Ashley.Ward@sruc.ac.uk.
Ward’s Recent Research
Ward AB, Harris PA, Argo CM, Watson C, Neacsu M, Russell WR, Ribeiro A, Collie-Duguid E, Heidari Z, Morrison PK. (2023) Homemade Nucleic Acid Preservation Buffer Proves Effective in Preserving the Equine Faecal Microbiota over Time at Ambient Temperatures. Animals 13(19):3107. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193107
Ward AB, Harris PA, Argo CM, Watson CA, Burns NM, Neacsu M, Russell W, Grove-White D, Morrison PK. (2023) Confidence does not mediate a relationship between owner experience and likelihood of using weight management approaches for native ponies. PLOS ONE 18(10): e0292886. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292886
Ward AB, Stephen K, Argo CM, Harris PA, Watson CA, Neacsu M, Russell W, Grove-White D, Morrison PK. (2021) COVID-19 impacts equine welfare: Policy implications for laminitis and obesity. PLoS ONE 16(5): e0252340. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252340
Ward AB, Stephen K, Argo CM, Watson C, Harris PA, Neacsu M, Russell W, Grove-White D, Morrison PK. (2021) The Human Aspect of Horse Care: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted the Wellbeing of Equestrian Industry Stakeholders. Animals 11(8):2163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082163
