A Symposium on Systems Biomechanics of the Horse

We are continuing to add speakers, and please check back for updates. The detailed schedule may be found here. 

In addition, there will be a number of demonstrations in the AMEC covered arena with horses!

Featured Speaker: Dominique Barbier. At the age of 15, Dominique attended Crabbett Park Equestrian Centre in West Sussex, England, where he certified as a British Horse Society Assistant Instructor (BHSAI). He then attended the renowned Talland School of Equitation in Cirencester under the instruction of Mrs. Molly Siveright, FBHS, DBHS, attaining his British Horse Society Instructor (BHSI) designation. After eight years of riding across Europe, Dominique based himself in Portugal for two years to study with the legendary Mestre Nuno Oliveira. 

Kirsten Sundquist is the owner of Sundquist Classical Training in Desert Hills, AZ. She has nearly three decades of experience training with Dominique Barbier and nearly five decades of riding experience. Her stables boast four of her own Lusitanos, alongside a diverse array of other breeds she trains in the art of classical dressage. A dedicated student of the discipline's history, Kirsten integrates the revered techniques of legendary mestres, such as Nuno Oliveira, into her training methods.

Laura Miller is a Professor of Mathematics and an Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona. She has nearly 30 years experience working in the field of systems biomechanics, using experimental, computational, and theoretical techniques to understand how animals move. She has recently launched an integrative research project on horse movement and breathing at the UA Al Marah Equine Center, which is the inspiration for this symposium.

Paige Poss is a highly skilled horse farrier and educator based in Tucson, AZ, known for her expertise in hoof care and biomechanics. Alongside Jenny Edwards, she co-created Anatomy of the Equine, a platform dedicated to sharing their extensive knowledge in hoof care, leveraging Paige's skills in dissection, photography, and education. Paige is recognized for her innovative approach to farriery, emphasizing a thorough understanding of hoof anatomy to improve equine welfare and performance. 

Nick Battista is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the College of New Jersey. He is a mathematical biologist who has used mathematical modeling to map cardiac flow in different stages of heart development and to understand how aquatic organisms move around their fluid environments. He is interested in applying tools from mathematical biology to problems in systems biomechanics of the horse.

Matea Santiago received her Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the University of California at Merced. Her work straddles the intersection between mathematics, physics, biology, and computer science, and interdisciplinary collaboration is central to her interests. She is broadly interested in applying numerical methods to real-world interdisciplinary problems.  She seeks to understand organismal morphology and behavior through the lens of organism interactions with air and water.

​Barbara Collier, BSN, ​LPC, SEP, trained as a nurse and worked in the Intensive Care Unit in the early and mid-nineties. She has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and several post graduate three-year training certificates. She uses her of knowledge of biology, physiology, psychology and somatic approaches, as she works with children, adults and families to build resilience and capacity within their systems. She partners with the wisdom that animals have taught her over five decades to join with and support clients in deepening and broadening their connection with Nature in honor of our mammalian heritage.

Christina Hamlet is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Bucknell University. Her research focuses on using mathematical modeling and computational techniques to model animal locmotion problems. Some recent research projects include jellyfish feeding, lamprey locomotion and nematocyst firing. Each of these systems presents interesting challenges in modeling how animals interact with their environment, shedding light on basic physical principles that influence behavior as well as insights into bio-inspired designs.

Mandy Mankin is the creator of BalanceWork, which is a unique and different form of bodywork for horses. The horse guides the process telling us what hurts and when the soreness is alleviated. Communication with the horse through feel and body language is the key to finding the source of the pain.

Dr. Santhanakrishnan (pronounced “Sun - thAH - nuh - krISH - nun”) directs the Applied Fluid Mechanics Lab at Oklahoma State University. His research interests include biofluid mechanics, fluid-structure interaction, and flow control. He will present on his work using computational fluid dynamics to understand how different types of breathing affect mixing in the human airway.