Brian Hampson 
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Co-founder The Australian Brumby Research Unit and Ph.D. candidate in feral hoof studies
 
Brian is nearing the completion of a Ph D study at the University of Queensland under the supervision of Professor Chris Pollitt, a world renowned equine laminitis researcher. Brian and Chris founded the Australian Brumby Research Unit four years ago with the vision of unlocking some of the mysteries of the wild horse. Brian’s Ph D thesis is titled “Improving the foot health of the horse’s foot” and draws on the information gained by studying the feral horse foot. 
 
Brian left high school and spent 12 months in officer training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He left to pursue a career in the medical sciences and completed a Bachelor Degree in Human Movement Studies at The University of Queensland, majoring in biomechanics and exercise physiology. While working part time as an exercise physiologist, he completed a physiotherapy degree at the University of Sydney and spent 15 years as a human physiotherapist working in sports and neurological rehabilitation. He spent the last few years as a physiotherapist making artificial limbs in outback Australia, developing many contacts in isolated outback locations.  
 
A love for horses and an interest in their management lead Brian to a 2 year Masters of Animal Studies (Animal Physiotherapy), which he completed in 2006. During this time Brian met Chris Pollitt and their common love for the Australian outback and a desire to solve some of the mysteries of the feral horse formed a relationship which was destined to study the Australian Brumby in great detail. The Australian Brumby Research Unit is a team of scientists who are also experienced bushmen and horsemen. Brian is hoping to spend the rest of his working life with the team working with the wild horses. Brian starts and trains his own team of campdraft, cutting and reining horses, bred from the cross of the Australian Stock Horse with the American Quarter Horse. He lives in the country outside of Brisbane, Queensland, with his wife and 2 teenage children, 13 horses and a few working dogs.