ISES Sweden 2010
The 6th Conference of the International Society for Equitation Science was held at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and practical demonstrations took place at the Swedish National Equestrian Centre.
The Conference was appropriate as Sweden has a thriving horse industry with a deeply rooted tradition of horse management and breeding and is a country with one of the highest numbers of horses per head in Europe.
Horse welfare and human safety: the importance of learning, training and education was the main theme of the conference.
Nearly 200 equine scientists, veterinarians, trainers, teachers and students from 16 European countries and the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand participated in the conference. The keynote speakers on the first day were Dr Andrew McLean (a leading equine ethologist from Australia), Dr Lars Roepstorff and Dr Marie Rhodin (world class Swedish biomechanics researchers). On the last day, Prof Jan Ladewig gave a background on accidents with horses and humans involved and how these accidents could be prevented not only by using safety equipment but also, for instance, by training the horse to be obedient to the stop signal applied from the reins or the lead rope.
Throughout the rest of the conference the latest research in the field of equitation science (the science of horse riding and horse training) was presented in about 70 oral and poster presentations, highlighting the importance of a thorough understanding of learning theory and physical capacities of the horse to safeguard horse welfare and human safety. The presentations were of a high quality and many fruitful discussions and debates took place during the conference that, without doubt, emphasized the important link between science and practice.
One of the take-home messages from the panel discussion at the end of the conference was that new technology can be used to support the practical training of horses and riders to promote the welfare of both horses and riders which will ultimately improve performance. Science can enhance understanding between horse and rider but there is a need to be open minded and humble as we identify the gaps in the complex puzzle of interaction between the two species. It is important that equitation science is included in the education of riders and trainers to improve the welfare of horses. Judges in horse sport need to be involved since what is rewarded in competitions will influence the training of horses and riders. It is already possible to use objective measures for instance of rein tension during dressage competitions to judge the lightness of the horse to support the subjective judging. We should not resist the introduction of any technology that helps to guarantee the welfare of sport horses.
The abstracts from the conference are available for download (PDF).
Mari Zetterqvist Blokhuis |
Elke Hartmann |
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Chair of Local Organising Committee |
Representative of ISES |
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Organising Committee ( from left to right): Göran Dalin, Cajsa Erikson, Elke Hartmann, Mari Zetterqvist Blokhuis, Kristina Dahlborn, Carolina Fransson |
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THANK YOU
From the ISES Sweden 2010 Local Organising Committee to our Sponsors
for supporting the Conference and in helping to make ISES Sweden 2010 a success.
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Ulla Håkansons Stiftelse
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