Tracy Bye

Biography 

Tracy graduated from the University of Central Lancashire (Myerscough College) in 2006 with a BSc (Hons) in Equine Science and Management. She went on to work practically in the equine industry as a rider, coach, and trainer of young horses until she joined the team at Bishop Burton College as a Lecturer in Equine Science in 2011. Tracy worked at Bishop Burton for just short of nine years, and in that time led on numerous initiatives to support student learning and development, including the annual Equine Performance Conference.

Alongside her full-time job Tracy completed her MSc in Equine Science, graduating from the University of the West of England (Hartpury College) in 2018. Tracy went on to work at the University of Oxford, as the Deputy Director of Education in the Department of Oncology, where she was responsible for overseeing the development of new suite of MSc programmes, until she joined the RAU as a Lecturer in Animal Science in September 2023.

Tracy is currently completing her PhD, on a part time basis, at Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. Tracy’s research focusses on posture and balance in dressage riders, and the biomechanics horse-rider interactions though the saddle and stirrups.

Tracy is also an External Quality Advisor for the University of Chester and a member of the Saddle Research Trust Communications Committee.

 

Research
  • Equine biomechanics
  • Performance analysis
  • Effect of tack and equipment
  • Horse-rider interactions

Publications

Publications

  • Bye T. and Martin, R. (2022) Static postural differences between male and female horse riders on a riding simulator. Comparative Exercise Physiology 18(1), pp. 1–8
  • Bye, T. and Lewis, V. (2021) The relationship between laterality and postural asymmetry in amateur dressage riders. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 102, p.103618. 
  • Robinson, N. and Bye, T.L. (2021) Noseband and poll pressures underneath bitted and bitless bridles and the effects on equine locomotion. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 44, pp.18-24. 
  • Bye, T. and Lewis, V. (2020) Saddle and stirrup forces of equestrian riders in sitting trot, rising trot, and trot without stirrups on a riding simulator. Comparative Exercise Physiology 16 (1) p75-85 
  • Bye, T. and Chadwick, G. (2018) Physical fitness habits and perceptions of equestrian riders. Comparative Exercise Physiology 14 (3) p183-188

Selected conference papers 

  • Smart, B., Brassington, R. and Bye, T. (2022) Does wind surgery improve performance in the thoroughbred racehorse? (Oral) 11th International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology, June-July 2022, Uppsala, Sweden 
  • Brassington, R., Hardy, R. and Bye, T. (2022) Effect of treatment type on return to work in horses with impinging dorsal spinous processes (Poster Podium- three minute presentation) 11th International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology, June-July 2022, Uppsala, Sweden
  • Bye, T., Skinner, R and Young, P. (2021) Effect of Heart Bar Shoes on Forelimb Stride Kinematics (Poster) Saddle Research Trust Conference, Dec 2021, Online
  • Bye, T. (2021) It’s in your hands: The impact of bits, bridles, and nosebands on welfare of the ridden horse (Plenary) Equine Performance Conference, July 2021, Online 
  • Holwell, A., Lacy, S., Brassington, R. and Bye, T. (2018) An investigation into the knowledge of horse owners surrounding equine musculoskeletal therapy and practitioners (Poster) Saddle Research Trust Conference, Dec 2018, Nottingham, UK. 
  • Ure, K., Bye, T. and Brewer, D. (2018) Kinematic analysis of rider position on a dressage simulator compared to a live horse (Oral) 14th International Society for Equitation Science Conference, Sept 2018, Rome, Italy 
  • Bradley, N., Brassington, R., Bye, T. and Benoist, C. (2018) Quantifying the stress response of horses bitted for the first time (Oral) 14th International Society for Equitation Science Conference, Sept 2018, Rome, Italy
  • Bye, T (2018) Investigating the Origins of Rider Asymmetry (Plenary). Equine Performance Conference, July 2018, Bishop Burton, UK 
  • Bye, T., Walker, R., Shaw-Webster, C.A. and Brewer, D. (2017) A preliminary investigation comparing rein tension between bitted and bitless bridles (Poster) Conference: Horses Inside Out Conference 2017, Feb 2017, Grantham, UK.