CONFERENCES		1st International Equitation Science Symposium  hosted by the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre (AEBC), Australia, 26-27 August 2005
The Symposium intended to pursue the discussions held at the Equitation Science Workshop in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2004. 90 delegates from 7 countries attended the Symposium at the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, showing interest in the scientific understanding of the processes of horse training. The following peer-reviewed papers were presented.
PROCEEDINGS
Speakers		Oral Presentations
Frank Ödberg, Belgium		The evolution of schooling principles and their influence on the horse’s welfare
Andrew McLean, Australia		Defining the terms and processes associated with equitation
Amanda Warren-Smith, Australia		A low cost device for measuring the pressures exerted on domestic horses by riders and handlers
Paul McGreevy, Australia		Breed differences in equine retinae
Lucy Rees		Synchronised movement in horses: dominance or voluntary coordination?
Natalie Waran, New Zealand		Equestrianism and horse welfare: The need for an ‘equine centred’ approach to training
Amanda Warren-Smith, Australia		The use of head lowering in horses as a method of inducing calmness
Paul McGreevy, Australia		Epidemiology of horses leaving the Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing industries
Amyeline de Cartier d’Yves, Belgium		A preliminary study on the relation between subjectively assessing dressage performances and objective welfare parameters