Conference 2027
Wellness and Welfare
Supporting Equine Care, Training and Performance
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February 2027
Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, LE11 3GR
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Conference Overview
Wellness and Welfare is the focus for our 2027 horse conference.
This CPD conference is ideal for equestrians from all disciplines, riders, therapists, coaches, saddlery professionals, farriers, podiatrists, dentists, lecturers, students, vets, breeders, career grooms, equine business owners, managers and anyone interested in the health and welfare of the horse.
Presenters
Why Attend?
Learn from world-leading experts
Discover the latest equine scientific research
Be inspired by new ideas
Immerse yourself in your passion
Discover new products and the latest thinking in the bonus material section
Update your CPD
View the online scientific poster area
Timetable
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Speakers
Dr Sue Dyson
Independent. Consultant and Lameness Specialist
Sue Dyson graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1980. After an internship at the University of Pennsylvania and a year in private equine practice in Pennsylvania. Sue returned to Great Britain to the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket.
Sue ran a clinical referral service for lameness and poor performance, attracting clients from all over the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe for 37 years.
Sue is a former President of the British Equine Veterinary Association and is currently scientific advisor to the Saddle Research Trust and Moorcroft Rehabilitation Centre. Sue is also a rider, and has produced horses to top national level in both eventing and show jumping. Sue holds the Stage 5 Coach and Stage 5 Stable Managers Certificates of the British Horse Society.
Sue currently works as an independent consultant advising on non-veterinary aspects of equestrianism, drawing on her observations of many years as a hands-on horse person.
Dr Chris Pearce
Veterinary Surgeon and Dental Specialist
Chris is an RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Dentistry, and the founding director of Equine Dental Clinic Ltd (EDC). As well as performing advanced referral treatments, Chris teaches, lectures and examines widely on equine dentistry in the UK and worldwide.
He is past chairman of the BEVA/BVDA examining committee for EDT exams, past BEVA Council representative for equine dentistry and chairman of the BEVA Dental Working Party for political aspects relating to dentistry. In 2011 he was winner of the Pet Plan Vet of the Year Award, an achievement that the judges awarded in recognition of Chris’s work in equine dentistry and the beneficial effect on equine welfare.
Chris is the current President of the European Veterinary Dental College, the authority that trains and regulates veterinary dental specialists across Europe. Chris is dedicated to advancing the science of equine dentistry and is particularly interested in novel restorative and preservative treatments. This has placed Chris at the forefront of equine dentistry worldwide.
Dr Andrew Hemmings
Associate Professor of Equine Research Leadership- Royal Agricultural University
Andrew’s research into equine behavioural neuroscience began with post mortem brain analysis focussing on the neurotransmitter dopamine, and it’s links to stereotypic behaviour. More recent work is centred around non-invasive behavioural and cognitive indicators of brain activity for use in the living horse.
Andrew pioneered the use of blink rate assessment to gain further insights into the functioning of dopaminergic systems. A technique that is now used throughout the equine science community.
Long-term research goals include development of brain-focussed indicators of equine welfare status, cognitive profile, temperament and even predictors of competition performance in equine athletes.
Andrew is also well known for engaging knowledge exchange events during which the findings of research are communicated to horse owners, such that the welfare of animals in their care may be maintained and improved.
Jenny Hagen
Veterinarian, scientist and certified farrier
Dr. Jenny Hagen is a veterinarian, scientist and certified farrier. She is specialised in equine orthopedics, rehabilitation and training and is still in the position as an associated professor at the Leipzig University. After her study of veterinary medicine, she did her doctoral thesis and post-doc thesis at the Leipzig University, where she established the research group “Equine biomechanics and orthopedics”.
From 2011 to these days, she and her group examined several practical relevant topics about the effect of trimming, shoeing and training on the biomechanics of the distal limb and the equine gait pattern. 2003 to 2018 Jenny also did her farrier education and was employed at the horse clinic and farrier school at the Leipzig University.
More recently, she did several specialisations in different manual therapy techniques, gait analysis and rehabilitation training of horses. Since 2020, Jenny has been self-employed in her practice for equine orthopaedics and rehabilitation in the middle of Germany. In addition, she is a professional speaker at national and international congresses, symposiums and workshops.
Tamzin Furtado
Lecturer in Human Behaviour Change for Animal Welfare
Tamzin is a social scientist with a specific interest in the interconnections between human and animal health and wellbeing. She completed a PhD at the University of Liverpool studying how we can improve the management of obesity in horses, particularly focusing on horse-human relationships and human behaviour change
She works closely with Horse Trust on the WeighToWin programme, rewarding healthy body condition in showing classes. She now works on projects covering a wide range of aspects of understanding human behaviour in order to improve companion animal welfare, and in using social sciences to find out more about how we can help people to change.
Roly Owers MA MSc VetMB MRCVS
Vet and Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare
Roly is a qualified veterinary surgeon and has been Chief Executive of the charity World Horse Welfare since 2008. He graduated from Cambridge University in 1992 and acquired his Masters degree in Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1997. His previous veterinary roles included the Blue Cross and Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
Roly plays an active role in much of World Horse Welfare’s work supporting the horse-human relationship, and as a Director of the British Horse Council he regularly liaises on policy with Defra, the devolved administrations and Ministers. He also advises the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on horse Welfare, as well as other national federations.
Roly is currently Treasurer of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), Chairman of the UK Equine Disease Coalition, a Director of the British Horse Council, a Board member of the European Horse Network and Treasurer of the World Federation for Animals.
Dr Meriel Moore-Colyer
Professor in Equine Science and Nutrition Specialist
Professor Meriel Moore-Colyer holds a personal chair in Equine Science, and since completing her PhD in Equine Digestive Physiology at the University of Edinburgh in 2000, she has specialized in equine nutrition. She has published over 120 scientific articles, 4 text books and numerous popular press articles.
Meriel’s research focus includes fundamental digestive physiology, forage quality and feeding systems for promoting health and welfare for stabled horses. She is a registered Animal Scientist with the Royal Society of Biology and chair of the European Workshop for Equine Nutrition Association.
Meriel is passionate about knowledge exchange and disseminating research to the horse industry. Her enthusiasm and engaging presentations are supported by genuine practical knowledge (she has competed British Dressage - Small Tour and is a BHSII), and this experience helps her to relate to veterinarians, industry professionals and horse owners alike. She regularly gives talks at international conferences and industry CPD days across the Globe. She continues to work with numerous UK and International feed companies underpinning new innovations with science to improve the health and welfare of performance horses.