Dr. Camie Heleski

Dr. Camie Heleski received her Ph.D. in animal science with an emphasis in equine behavior and welfare from Michigan State University; her M.S. was also in animal science with an emphasis on equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She worked at Michigan State University for 25 years as Coordinator of their Horse Management Program. During that time, she coached the collegiate horse judging team for 16 years and the introductory dressage team for six seasons.

In 2016, Heleski began teaching at the University of Kentucky in the Equine Science and Management program, where she teaches Equine Industry Issues, co-teaches the Equine Senior Capstone course, and teaches the multi-species Animal Behavior & Welfare class. Her applied research interests revolve around equine behavior and welfare, horse-human interactions, sport horse welfare issues, and working equids in developing regions of the world.

Heleski has been actively involved with the International Society for Equitation Science as a council member and Honorary Fellow. One of her recent publications was a co-authored piece in Sustainability: “Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare through the Lens of ‘Social License to Operate’—With an Emphasis on a U.S. Perspective.” This article led to multiple invited speaking opportunities, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Heleski was fortunate to grow up on an Arabian horse farm, where she helped her family with training, showing, breeding, and managing horses. As part of her Ph.D. dissertation, she helped establish the annual Animal Welfare Judging & Assessment competition. This led to receiving the AVMA Humane Award for Non-Veterinarians.  Camie has been a member of the FEI Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission since its inception in June of 2022.