Animal & Veterinary Sciences

Background

Petra graduated Veterinary Science from Massey University, New Zealand in 1988. She completed her equine medicine and surgery internship with distinction (Sydney, 1991), followed by a residency in large animal medicine and surgery (Sydney, 1994). She was awarded a Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies in 1995 for her studies on acute diarrhoea in horses. Petra then spent some time as Veterinary Officer with NSW Department of Primary Industries  prior to joining Charles Sturt University in 1995.
In 1998 Petra obtained membership of the Australasian College of Veterinary Scientists by examination in Equine Surgery.

Since then, her interest in a population approach to equine health has led to research involving equine internal parasites, shin soreness in racing thoroughbreds, stereotypies in stabled horses (collaborative), and the role of non-veterinary equine therapists. Most recently, she completed a longitudinal study of the Health and Performance of Pony Club horses, obtaining her PhD in Epidemiology in 2009 (UQ). Petra has published in national and international journals.

Her particular interests are assisting the owners of pleasure horses in achieving optimal health and performance of their horses.

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General Research Interests

• Epidemiology
• Horse health and performance
• Horse misbehaviour
• Equine welfare

Ongoing projects

• Sore backs in Pony Club horses
• Lameness in Pony Club horses
• Misbehaviour of Pony Club horses
• Pasture based laminitis
• Health care of Pony Club horses
• Role of veterinarians in the health of recreational horses

Future projects

• Effects of exercise on misbehaviour (with Dr Raf Freire)
• Applying learning theory to riding and handling of recreational horses

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Research Publications

• Ecke P, Malik R & Kannegieter NJ (1991). Common atrioventricular canal in a foal. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 39, pp.97-98.
• Kannegieter NJ & Ecke P (1992) Reconstruction of the parotid duct in a horse using an interposition polytetrafluorethylene tube graft. Australian Veterinary Journal, 69, pp.62-63.
• Ecke P & Hodgson DR (1996). A survey of the incidence of acute colitis in horses in Australia. Australian Equine Veterinarian, 14, 4, p.180-181.
• Ecke P, Hodgson DR & Rose RJ (1997) Review of oral rehydration solutions for horses with diarrhoea. Australian Veterinary Journal, 17, pp.417-420.
• Ecke P, Hodgson DR & Rose RJ (1998) Induced diarrhoea in horses part 1: Fluid and electrolyte balance. British Veterinary Journal, 155, pp.149-159
• Ecke P, Hodgson DR & Rose RJ (1998) Induced diarrhoea in horses part 2: Response to administration of an oral rehydration solution. British Veterinary Journal,155, pp.161-170.      
• Buckley P, More SJ, Dunn T (2000). Health and performance of Pony Club horses. RIRDC Publication UCS-24A.     
• Buckley, P, Dunn, A., & More, S (2004) Owners’ perceptions of health and performance in pony club horses in Australia. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 63, 121-132.
• Clegg HA, Buckley P, Friend M A, et al. (2008). The ethological and physiological characteristics of cribbing and weaving horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 109, 1, 68-76.
• Freire R, Clegg HA, Buckley P, Friend MA, McGreevy PD (2008). The behavioural effects of virginiamycin in the diets of stereotypic horses. The Veterinary Record, 14,413-417.
• Freire R, Clegg HA, Buckley P, Friend MA, McGreevy PD (2008). The effects of two different amounts of dietary grain on the digestibility of the diet and behaviour of intensively managed horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117, Issues 1-2, 69-73..
• Freire R, Buckley P, Cooper JJ (2008). Effects of different forms of exercise on post-inhibitory rebound behaviour and unwanted behaviour in stabled horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 41,5,487-492.

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Conference Presentations

• Buckley, P, Morton, J, Coleman, GT. 2007. Lack of veterinary healthcare of Pony Club horses in regional Australia. Proceedings of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Scientific Meeting, Equine Chapter.
• Buckley, P, Morton, ., Coleman, GT. 2007. A longitudinal study of naturally occurring laminitis in Pony Club horses in regional Australia. Proceedings of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Scientific Meeting, Equine Chapter.
• Buckley, P, Morton, J., Coleman, GT. 2008. Risk Factors for misbehaviour in Pony Club horses: methodological challenges encountered in a longitudinal study. Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Scientific Meeting, Epidemiology Chapter, Gold Coast, Australia.
• Buckley, P, Morton, J, Coleman, GT. 2008. Risk Factors sore backs in Pony Club horses: methodological challenges encountered in a longitudinal study. Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Scientific Meeting, Equine Chapter, Gold Coast, Australia.
• Buckley, P, Morton, J, Buckley, DJ, Coleman GT. 2009. Misbehaviour as a cause of poor performance in pleasure horses. International Symposium on Equitation Science, Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.

Scientific Abstract/Poster Presentations

• Brockwell MY, Ecke P and Rolfe, P (1998) A survey of equine gastrointestinal parasites in the Wagga Wagga district of NSW. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production, 22, pp.334.
• Buckley, P, Morton, J, Coleman, GT. 2006. Challenges of conducting a longitudinal study of Pony Club Horses in regional Australia. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.
• Buckley, P, Morton, J, Coleman, GT. 2006. Health care of Pony Club horses in regional Australia. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.
• Freire, R, Buckley, P, Cooper, JJ. 2009. Effects of different forms of exercise on post-inhibitory rebound behaviour and unwanted behaviour in stabled horses. International Symposium on Equitation Science, Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.

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