Contact details +64 (06) 356 9099

Dr Michaela Gibson BSc, MSc, PhD

Lecturer in Animal Science

School of Veterinary Science

I am a researcher and lecturer in Animal Science at Massey University, working across equine science, animal production, and epidemiology. My primary research focuses on catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses, particularly how early-life bone development influences injury risk. This builds on my PhD in bovine growth and development. I bring a systems-level perspective to linking growth patterns with clinical fracture outcomes. My teaching focuses on equine production, nutrition and lower limb anatomy.

Professional

Contact details

  • Location: 3.23, Vet Science Building
    Campus: Manawatu

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Genetics - Massey University (2016)
  • Master of Science, with Merit in Animal Science - Massey University (2018)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - Massey University (2022)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Equine

Thoroughbred racing

Growth and development

Epidemiology

Production

Bone

Thematics

Health and Well-being

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences (070000): Animal Growth and Development (070202): Animal Nutrition (070204): Animal Production (070200): Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology (070702): Veterinary Epidemiology (070704): Veterinary Parasitology (070708): Veterinary Sciences (070700)

Keywords

Equine

Thoroughbred racing

Growth and development

Epidemiology

Production

Bone

Research Outputs

Journal

Legg, KA., Gibson, MJ., Gee, EK., & Rogers, CW. (2025). Turf track surface interaction with speed and musculoskeletal injury risk in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Veterinary Journal.
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Wehrle-Martinez, AS., Lawrence, KE., Back, PJ., Rogers, CW., Gibson, MJ., & Dittmer, KE. (2025). Insights into the pathogenesis of catastrophic spontaneous humeral fractures in first-lactation dairy cows. Animal Production Science. 65(7)
[Journal article]Authored by: Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Lawrence, K., Rogers, C., Wehrle Martinez, A.
Chin, YY., Sneddon, NW., Gibson, MJ., Legg, KA., Gee, EK., & Rogers, CW. (2025). The genetic parameters of racing success and longevity in the New Zealand Thoroughbred racing industry. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. 68(4), 816-828
[Journal article]Authored by: Chin, Y., Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C., Sneddon, N.
Gibson, MJ., Sneddon, NW., Rogers, CW., Back, PJ., Dittmer, KE., & Martín, NP. (2025). The Relationship Between Stature and Live Weight of Dairy Cows Between Birth and Maturity. Ruminants. 5(1)
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Martin, N., Rogers, C., Sneddon, N.
Anderson, LT., Legg, KA., Gibson, MJ., Chin, YY., & Rogers, CW. (2025). Life after racing: descriptors of rehomed thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. 68(4), 808-815
[Journal article]Authored by: Chin, Y., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Rogers, CW., Back, PJ., Dittmer, KE., Wehrle-Martinez, A., Dalley, DE., . . . Woods, RR. (2025). The intrauterine effects of a maternal winter diet of either kale or fodder beet on measures of calf stature and bone morphology at birth. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. 68(4), 673-688
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Rogers, C., Wehrle Martinez, A.
Gibson, MJ., Legg, KA., Gee, EK., Smet, A., Medd, J., McMullen, C., . . . Rogers, CW. (2024). Incidence and risk factors for limb fracture in greyhound racing in Western Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal. 102(11), 543-549
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Legg, KA., Gee, EK., Chin, YY., & Rogers, CW. (2024). Career profile and pattern of racing for Thoroughbred jumps-racing horses in New Zealand. Animal Production Science. 64(7)
[Journal article]Authored by: Chin, Y., Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Hempstead, MN., Waghorn, TS., Gibson, MJ., Sauermann, CW., Ross, AB., Cave, VM., . . . Sutherland, IA. (2023). Worms and welfare: Behavioural and physiological changes associated with gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in lambs. Veterinary Parasitology. 324
[Journal article]Authored by: Corner-Thomas, R., Gibson, M., Hempstead, M.
Gibson, MJ., Legg, KA., Gee, EK., & Rogers, CW. (2023). Risk Factors for Horse Fatality in Thoroughbred Jumps Racing in New Zealand. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 129
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Rogers, CW., Legg, K., Gibson, M., & Gee, EK. (2023). Commercial equine production in New Zealand 4: welfare implications of the New Zealand production systems. Animal Production Science. 64(1)
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Legg, KA., Gee, EK., & Rogers, CW. (2023). The Reporting of Racehorse Fatalities in New Zealand Thoroughbred Flat Racing in the 2011/12–2021/22 Seasons. Animals. 13(4)
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Legg, KA., Gee, EK., Breheny, M., Gibson, MJ., & Rogers, CW. (2023). A Bioeconomic Model for the Thoroughbred Racing Industry—Optimisation of the Production Cycle with a Horse Centric Welfare Perspective. Animals. 13(3)
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Wehrle-Martinez, A., Lawrence, K., Back, PJ., Rogers, CW., Gibson, M., & Dittmer, KE. (2023). Osteoporosis is the cause of spontaneous humeral fracture in dairy cows from New Zealand. Veterinary Pathology. 60(1), 88-100
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Lawrence, K., Rogers, C., Wehrle Martinez, A.
Gibson, MJ., Hickson, RE., Dittmer, KE., Back, PJ., & Rogers, CW. (2022). Measures of Bone Morphology in the Medial and Lateral Condyles of the Metacarpus in Beef Cross Dairy Cattle at 8–12 and 24 Months of Age. Ruminants. 2(3), 297-307
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Rogers, CW., Pettigrew, EJ., Pain, SJ., Dittmer, KE., Herath, HMGP., . . . Back, PJ. (2022). The Effect of Artificial Rearing on Live Weight Gain and Bone Morphology of the Tibia in Lambs Prior to Weaning. Ruminants. 2(1), 101-111
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Pain, S., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Adams, BR., Back, PJ., Dittmer, KE., Herath, HMGP., Pain, SJ., . . . Rogers, CW. (2022). Increased Dietary Protein to Energy Ratio in Pre-Weaning Lambs Increases Average Daily Gain and Cortical Bone Thickness in the Tibia. Ruminants. 2(4), 478-486
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Kenyon, P., Morel, P., Pain, S., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Adams, BR., Back, PJ., Hickson, RE., Dittmer, KE., & Rogers, CW. (2022). Live Weight and Bone Growth from Birth to 23 Months of Age in Holstein–Friesian, Jersey and Crossbred Heifers. Dairy. 3(2), 333-344
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Legg, KA., Gee, EK., & Rogers, CW. (2022). Race-Level Reporting of Incidents Using an Online System during Three Seasons (2019/2020–2021/2022) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand. Animals. 12(21)
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Legg, KA., Gee, EK., & Rogers, CW. (2022). Race-Level Reporting of Incidents Using the New Online System During Two Seasons (2019/2020–2020/2021) of Harness Racing in New Zealand. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 119
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Legg, KA., Bolwell, CF., Gee, EK., Gibson, MJ., & Rogers, CW. (2022). Risk factors for horse falls in New Zealand Thoroughbred jumps racing. Veterinary Journal. 289
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Bolwell, CF., Gee, EK., Legg, KA., & Rogers, CW. (2022). Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand. Animals. 12(8)
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Legg, K., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Roca Fraga, FJ., Bolwell, CF., Gee, EK., & Rogers, CW. (2022). Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Harness Racing in New Zealand. Animals. 12(4)
[Journal article]Authored by: Gee, E., Gibson, M., Rogers, C.
Gibson, M., Dittmer, K., Hickson, R., Back, P., Wehrle-Martinez, A., & Rogers, C. (2021). The Mid-Diaphysis Is a Poor Predictor of Humeral Fracture Risk Indicating That Predisposing Factors Are Recent. Ruminants. 1(1), 23-30
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Rogers, C., Wehrle Martinez, A.
Gibson, M., Hickson, R., Back, P., Dittmer, K., Schreurs, N., & Rogers, C. (2021). The effect of sex and age on bone morphology and strength in the metacarpus and humerus in beef-cross-dairy cattle. Animals. 11(3), 1-10
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Rogers, C., Schreurs, N.
Gibson, M., Dittmer, K., Hickson, R., Back, P., & Rogers, C. (2020). Bone morphology and strength in the mid-diaphysis of the humerus and metacarpus in dairy calves prior to weaning. Animals. 10(8), 1-10
[Journal article]Authored by: Back, P., Dittmer, K., Gibson, M., Rogers, C.
Gibson, MJ., Lawrence, KE., Hickson, RE., How, R., Gedye, KR., Jones, G., . . . Pomroy, WE. (2020). Effects of Theileria orientalis Ikeda type infection on libido and semen quality of bulls. Animal Reproduction Science. 214
[Journal article]Authored by: Draganova, I., Gibson, M., Lawrence, K.
Lawrence, KE., Gibson, M., Hickson, RE., Gedye, K., Hoogenboom, A., Fermin, L., . . . Pomroy, WE. (2018). Experimental infection of Friesian bulls with Theileria orientalis (Ikeda) and effects on the haematocrit, live weight, rectal temperature and activity. Veterinary Parasitology Regional Studies and Reports. 14, 85-93
[Journal article]Authored by: Draganova, I., Fermin, L., Gibson, M., Lawrence, K.