This World Book Day, Hartpury University is celebrating the wide-ranging contributions that its staff, students and alumni are making to books across fields including equine welfare, sport science, agriculture, psychology, veterinary humanities and elite sport.
From pioneering research publications to upcoming memoirs, the breadth of work reflects Hartpury’s commitment to advancing knowledge and influencing professional practice worldwide.
Many of these publications can also be found within Hartpury’s new University Learning Hub (ULH), which is home to the university’s modern library and study spaces. Open 24 hours a day, the ULH provides students with access to academic books, e-books and specialist resources to support learning and research, alongside quiet study areas and collaborative workspaces. The facility brings together the library with key student support services and contemporary teaching spaces, creating a central hub for academic development and discovery on campus. Many of the books can also be purchased online.
Learn more about the Hartpury team on Pure, check out staff profiles and see the full range of published work and research activities from the university.
A blueprint for better equine welfare in sport
Senior Lecturer Lisa Ashton has recently released a new book, Welfare Horse Sports: A Blueprint for Positive Change.
The book explores a fundamental question: what if horse sports were designed around welfare rather than simply including it?
Drawing on evidence-based research and practical experience, Lisa proposes a new model for equestrian sport where horse welfare sits at the centre of training, coaching and competition. Through a practical “welfare map”, the book provides guidance for riders, trainers and coaches looking to adopt more ethical and sustainable approaches to working with horses.
Rather than positioning welfare as an add-on, she argues for a future in which equestrian disciplines are structured around equine wellbeing from the outset.
Hartpury researchers contributing to advances in organic farming
Hartpury PhD researchers have also contributed to the academic book Advances in Organic Farming, edited by L. P. Awasthi. The publication brings together critically reviewed research on key aspects of organic agriculture, offering a science-based resource for researchers, educators and industry professionals.
Several Hartpury researchers contributed chapters exploring sustainability and plant science topics:
· Wing Ng - Land-use Carbon Changes and Monitoring
· Sito-Obong Udofia - Importance of Vegetation Cover in Organic Systems
· Tahira Batool - Advances in Plant Disease Detection in Organic Farming Systems
Professor Matt Bell, Professor of Agriculture at Hartpury University, contributed to all of these chapters.
Exploring behaviour, welfare and sport environments
Hartpury Reader and Lecturer Chris Pawson is also contributing to an upcoming publication. Animal Behaviour, Welfare, and Interactions in Sports and Recreational Environments, co-authored with John T. Hancock and Ros C. Rouse, will be released in 2026.
The book will explore the complex interactions between animals, humans and sporting environments, examining welfare considerations and behavioural science in recreational and sporting contexts.
Contributions to sport science and athlete nutrition
Dr Matthew Cole, Hartpury’s Head of Student Experience, has contributed chapters to several major sport science publications covering athlete nutrition and performance.
His work appears in titles including:
· Integrative Sport and Exercise Nutrition: A Health-Feeds-Performance Perspective
· Nutrition and Supplements in Cycling
· Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer
· The Science and Practice of Middle and Long Distance Running
· Performance Cycling: The Science of Success
These chapters explore topics such as sports nutrition strategies, macronutrients for training and racing, and fuelling endurance athletes.
Psychology research influencing teaching and practice
Professor Tracey Devonport, Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, has also contributed several chapters to Applied Psychology: A Practical and Easy-to-Understand Introduction to Applied Psychology.
Endorsed by the British Psychological Society, the book is widely used as a core undergraduate text and will support teaching on Hartpury’s new psychology programmes launching in 2026.
Her work covers topics including psychological skills interventions, cognitive and biological factors influencing sport performance, and social and developmental influences in sport and exercise psychology.
Professor Devonport has also contributed research on emotional eating in elite sport, an area with relatively limited published work, in the book Feelings in Sport: Theory, Research, and Practical Implications for Performance and Well-being.
She is also the author of Stress and Coping: From Theory to Practice.
Equestrian performance research
Hartpury researchers have previously contributed to the equestrian science text Training for Equestrian Performance. The book was jointly edited by Professor Jane Williams, Head of Research at Hartpury University.
Chapters were written by several Hartpury experts including:
· Professor Jane Williams (Head of Research)
· Jenni Douglas (Senior Lecturer)
· Jo Winfield (Principal Lecturer)
· Professor Meriel Moore-Colyer (Equine Professor)
· Dr Gillian Tabor (Senior Lecturer)
· Nicola Potter (Continuous Improvement Director)
· Dr Linda Greening (Head of Inclusivity and Senior Lecturer)
The publication explores the science behind optimising horse and rider performance.
Veterinary humanities and interdisciplinary thinking
Dr Carol Gray is also co-editor of the forthcoming book An Introduction to Veterinary Humanities, which will be published in April.
The book explores the emerging field of veterinary humanities, bringing together perspectives from veterinary science, ethics, social science and the humanities to better understand the human–animal relationship within veterinary practice.
Understanding zoo animal welfare
Professor Vicky Melfi is co-author of the widely used academic text Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management, and Welfare, alongside Geoff Hosey and Sheila Pankhurst.
The book examines the challenges of managing animals in zoological environments, combining behavioural science and practical management approaches to improve welfare and support conservation efforts.
From Hartpury to the international rugby stage
Hartpury alumni are also contributing to the literary world.
England and Red Roses rugby star Ellie Kildunne will release her memoir Game Changer on 9 April 2026.
The book tells the story of her journey from a young player in Yorkshire to becoming one of the world’s leading rugby players, reflecting on resilience, injuries, World Cup success and the continued growth of women’s rugby.
