UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A team of Penn State students, accompanied by faculty from the College of Agricultural Sciences and educators from Penn State Extension, earned honors for their research at the 2025 Equine Science Society Symposium, which was held in Fort Collins, Colorado, in early June.
The international conference brings equine scientists together biannually to present research and participate in workshops focused on equine sciences and education. It is a cornerstone for advancing equine research and education, as well as connecting equine researchers, students and industry professionals.
The presentations stood out for their innovation and practical impact, according to Danielle Smarsh, associate professor of equine science.
“These awards reflect the dedication and expertise of our students, supported by the mentorship of our faculty and extension colleagues,” she said.
Molly Friend, a doctoral candidate in the integrative and biomedical physiology program who is advised by Smarsh, earned second place for her presentation in the equine biosciences graduate student section.
She also received the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science Graduate Student Publication award, which recognizes the top two graduate students who present research at the symposium and submit their research for publication in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science within six months of the symposium. Friend presented research focused on identifying inflammatory changes in complete blood count outputs and characterizing ranges of inflammatory indices in horses.
Siera Hall, a doctoral candidate in the integrative and biomedical physiology program who is advised by Burt Staniar, associate professor of equine science, earned third place for her presentation in the equine production and management graduate student section.
Hall’s research examined dietary and exercise practices associated with inflammation in horses across Pennsylvania, identifying areas of interest for future research and providing information about the Pennsylvania equine population.
In the undergraduate research category, Cydney Suber, a veterinary and biomedical science major who is pursuing the equine science minor, earned second place for her presentation on research conducted with Staniar. She investigated the role of and need for shade in equine management, evaluating how physiological measures such as heart rate, body temperature and salivary cortisol were impacted by access to shade structures.
Suber’s research was completed as a part of her participation in “Bridging the Gap: Training Next Generation Scientists Using Animal Health Technologies,” an Education and Workforce Development program focused on Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Her experience was further enhanced through her participation in the Summer Research Opportunities Program at Penn State.
Emily McGaffigan, an animal science major with a minor in equine science, also presented her research in the undergraduate research category. Her project, conducted with Smarsh, focused on the effect of sample handling practices on complete blood counts, providing an evidence-based foundation for how samples used in the lab’s research are processed.
USDA-NIFA and Hatch Appropriations supported the students’ research.
Penn State Extension educators Laura Kenny and Olivia Watson also presented at the conference. Kenny presented information about an Extension-led needs assessment of the equine industry in Pennsylvania. Watson discussed educational strategies the equine industry could use to bridge the gap between traditional and online classrooms.
In addition to the group’s academic accomplishments at the conference, Staniar took second place in the 5K run. Penn State will host the next Equine Science Society Symposium, scheduled to take place in Harrisburg in the summer of 2027.