Jodie Smith is a Charles Sturt University Master's Research student looking to increase participation in her online survey, which is researching the distribution of asymmetric locomotory responses in horses under saddle.

"What we are researching," says Jodie, "is the effect of our horse's natural motor bias and our motor bias when in partnership.  The aim is the explore the relationship between the motor preferences and to see if we are inadvertently training a motor bias into our horses.  Participants are being recruited from a variety of disciplines that are over 16 years of age and have been in a partnership with their horse for 12 months or longer."

"I am looking to attract as many participants as I can to determine if there is a relationship, which will allow for further research to rectify the causes, which will reduce behavioural wastage in the industry and for horse and rider safety."

Attached is the participant information sheet that is required to be read prior to starting the survey as there are two parts to the survey – a compulsory and non-compulsory segment.  It also outlines the aims of the study, the researchers, contact details and that the research has been ethically approved.