Hilary M. Clayton, is a veterinarian, researcher and horsewoman. For more than 40 years she has performed innovative research in the areas of locomotor biomechanics, lameness, rehabilitation, conditioning programs for equine athletes, and the interaction between rider, tack, and horse. She has published seven books and more than 200 scientific articles on these topics. Clayton served as the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine from 1997 until she retired from academia in 2014. She continues to perform collaborative research with colleagues in universities around the world. Clayton is a charter diplomate and past president of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is an Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Equitation Science and has been inducted into the International Equine Veterinarians Hall of Fame, the Midwest Dressage Association Hall of Fame, and the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame. She is a lifelong rider and has competed in many equestrian sports, most recently focusing on dressage in which she trains through the Grand Prix level and has earned U.S. Dressage Federation bronze, silver, and gold medals.

Dr Joyce Harman graduated in 1984 from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, then completed her membership exam into the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1985. In 1990 she became certified in veterinary acupuncture, and in 1994 certified in veterinary chiropractic. She has completed advanced training in homeopathy, and herbal medicine and is currently working a masters degree in Chinese medicine. She is the author of Pain Free Back and Saddle fit book and Homeopathic First Aid for Horses.

She has published over 60 articles in professional journals, textbooks and lay magazines. She has served on many board of directors, is past president of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, current president of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association. She was the chairman of the Alternative Medicine (Therapeutic Options) committee for the American Association of Equine Practitioners when that organization created their first set of guidelines. She was a member of the task force on alternative medicine for the American Veterinary Medical Association. In her spare time she rides a Connemara cross and photographs nature.

Kay has been a saddler for over 50 years. Initially working on the bench making saddles and bridles, she started to specialise in saddle fitting in the early ‘70s having seen the effect quite minor changes to the saddles had on her show jumping horses.  She is a Master saddler, Master Saddle Fitter and Fellow of the Society of Master Saddlers (UK) Ltd.  She is also a Liveryman with The Worshipful Company of Saddlers.  Semi-retired from regular saddle work, she spends her time teaching and speaking on the subject of saddle fitting, both in the UK and overseas.

Russell MacKechnie-Guire holds a PhD in Equine Biomechanics, graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2019. Russell’s thesis was titled ‘The Relationship between Saddle and Rider Kinematics, Equine Locomotion, and Thoracolumbar Pressures in Sports Horses’. Russell is based at Centaur Biomechanics, a company which he founded in 2006. He has extensively researched the effect that tack (saddle, bridle and girth) and the rider has on equine health and performance. Russell holds a post at Hartpury University as a Reader in Equine Biomechanics. Russell’s current area of research is horse-saddle-rider interaction, spinal kinematics in horses when ridden over ground, the effect that rider asymmetry has on equine back movement, and from a rehabilitation perspective, the effect that training aids and pole work exercise has on back movement. In addition, Russell collaborates with researchers on various research projects associated with equine health, rehabilitation and performance. Russell is a consultant for the British Equestrian Federations World Class, Team GBR programme and is a member of Team GBR’s Scientific Advisory Group. Russell also sits on the Society of Master Saddlers Scientific Advisory Group, and is part of the executive committee for the International Task force on Laterality in Sports Horses. Russell is also a Pilates instructor, Intrinsic (Human) Biomechanics Trainer, a BHSI equestrian coach, and a keen competitor in dressage and show jumping.