Meet the student researcher: Skye Kenny

Skye Kenny just graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BSc (Hons) in Animal and Conservation Biology. As a nature lover and passionate of all things equine, Skye chose to focus her AWF-funded student project on the Relationship between Habitat Biodiversity and Donkey Welfare investigating the impact of current pasture management practices on the welfare of UK donkeys.

Q: Tell us a bit about you

I studied BSc (Hons) Animal and Conservation Biology at Edinburgh Napier, graduating with First-class honours this summer. I spend as much time outdoors in nature and with animals as I can - either at the stables, running, or cycling, so the course seemed a perfect fit! I’ve always had a passion for horses, particularly equine behaviour and welfare, and I think my background with horses mixed with my degree in conservation has made me quite curious for natural and sustainable management strategies to the benefit of working animals. Thinking ahead, I hope to go into post-graduate study, and I hope to keep linking my interests with my studies. I’m currently doing a running challenge as part of a fundraiser for the SPANA charity too.

It was a great opportunity to see whether research was something I’d want to do in the future (which it definitely is!)

Q: How did you hear about the AWF student grant and what made you apply?

My undergraduate dissertation gave me the chance to learn about working equids and their value to rural communities across the globe, but I really wanted to get more experience with donkeys because, in researching for my dissertation, I gained such an appreciation for these animals and all the ways they contribute to local communities. I started looking for funding that would allow me to develop a better understanding of their welfare, give me some experience learning from both ecologists and welfare advisors, and hopefully have some meaningful impact in the end. I found this grant from AWF, and it seemed like the perfect challenge for me to plan out and organise my own project. It was a great opportunity to see whether research was something I’d want to do in the future (which it definitely is!)

Q: Why did you choose this project to work on?

I started reading about the ecological role and behaviour of donkeys during research for my dissertation, which focused on the donkey skin trade. It seemed like there was a lot still to learn in terms of nutritional requirements and how to manage diet without compromising welfare. The nutritional needs of donkeys in the UK have been researched in recent years and I think there’s better guidance for owners now, but I wanted to understand how well these guidelines could work alongside sustainable management practices which consider the natural browsing behaviour of donkeys.

Q: What did you hope to achieve?

I wanted to understand if donkeys can benefit from having more biodiverse pastures. Being browsers, they have evolutionary adaptations which aren’t always considered/ can be compromised with common field management strategy. I used an interdisciplinary approach to compare donkey welfare with habitat biodiversity indicators to assess whether higher habitat biodiversity might relate to lower rate of obesity and contribute to better donkey welfare.

Q: What did you enjoy the most about your project?

So difficult to pick just one part! The fieldwork was great – I got to travel with The Donkey Sanctuary Welfare Advisors for most of my site visits and I learned so much from both them and the donkey owners I met. It was wonderful to see the care and bond between owners and their donkeys, I think that was a real motive for me to see that people were really interested to hear what my project was about and wanted to know about the results. I also loved the research and planning that went into creating my first proposal, coming up with quite an interdisciplinary project. Everyone at The Donkey Sanctuary, Edinburgh Napier, and the University of the West of England supported me and ensured I felt confident with what I was doing at each stage.

Q: What did you find challenging (if anything)?

Since the project was a real crossover with equine welfare and ecology, I needed training from various people, time in the field fitting around people's busy lives, and time in the lab. It was hard to schedule in time to do everything since I was working full-time hours alongside it. I just wish I had more time! There was so much to learn from everyone involved, and I really think I learnt a lot just from visiting different sites and meeting people. The owners had so many more questions that could’ve easily turned this into a yearlong project, but I had to stick to the research question I’d set out to answer.

Q: What have you learned from your project and this experience?

It really helps to make connections and keep an open mind. I’m really grateful to have met everyone who got involved and offered their time to help because the project benefited so much from getting a range of perspectives and expertise. I loved the varied days, and it was great for me to experience how I learn best so that I can take that into consideration for next time.

Q: Finally, what advice would you give to students wanting to apply for an AWF grant?

When I found this grant, I really didn’t think my idea would be good enough and I didn’t know how I’d go about answering my question. You’ve got to make the connections and ask people for help. I think projects are better with the input of people with different areas of expertise, so just network with organizations or people you find interesting, and then the ideas will follow!