Equestrians, politicians, academics and a zookeeper set to explore the world ‘Through the horse’s eyes’

On Friday 21st November, speakers from across the globe will take a look Through the horse’s eyes at our annual conference. Experts ranging from elite riders to veterinarians to researchers and even a zookeeper will explore what makes a horse a horse and the implications for how we should manage our relationships with them. Alongside in-person attendance, the conference will be streamed live to enable attendees from across the globe to take part, with live French and Spanish interpretation available for virtual viewers.

Our Chief Executive, Roly Owers, says:

“We all like to think we give our horses what they need to have a good life, but how much do we really consider how they experience the lives we create for them? Over the past decade, we’ve learned so much and now a mountain of evidence is challenging many of our beliefs about what a good life for a horse should look like.

“Our speakers will explore what we now know about how horses think and feel, what they consider important, what they are capable of and what they are not capable of. In short, what might the world look like through a horse’s eyes and what does that mean for how we care for them? 

“I’d urge anyone who’s ever wondered about their horse’s perspective on the lives we give them to sign up to attend – and to reflect afterwards on the insights we gain from this year’s speakers.”

The conference will be chaired by Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, with the discussion panel chaired by David Eades, who spent three decades as a frontline presenter and broadcaster for the BBC. The speakers set to explore what the world looks like Through the horse’s eyes include:

• Janne Winther Christensen, Associate Professor in ethology at the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
• Dr Syed Saad Bukhari, Postdoctoral fellow (Animal Welfare and Data Science) in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, Hong Kong
• Pippa Funnell MBE, Olympic eventer and World Horse Welfare Patron
• Rick Hester, Director of Animal Care and Wellbeing at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado
• Sam Tibbetts, Equine Veterinary Nurse and founder of Loddington Coppice Equine Healthcare

The discussion panel features:

• Imogen Burrows MRCVS, BEVA president and FEI Eventing official veterinarian
• Sarah Jenkins, Horse & Hound Editor-in-Chief
• Rt Hon Liz Savills Roberts, MP
• Zara Tindall MBE, Olympic eventer and World Horse Welfare Patron

Our conferences now attract more than 800 in person and virtual guests from the UK and around the world.  Anyone interested in attending this year’s conference virtually can find out more and register their interest on our Conference page.