14 - 16 March 2024

 

14 - 16 March 2024

                                             14 - 16 March 2024

 

Register your interest

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Upload your abstract

Deadline for submission of Abstracts will be around 31st October 2023

Reviewing completed and Authors informed of outcomes: December 2023

Upload now!

 

About A Good Life for Horses

Alongside the development of animal welfare science and more specifically equitation science, is an increasing appreciation of the need to justify the use of animals, whether for research, production, therapy, sport or leisure. Surveys of public and equestrian stakeholders such as those carried out by equine sport industry groups (e.g. the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission (EEWC) recently established by the FEI to address Social License to Operate related to horse involvement in sport and the Thoroughbred Racing Industry), alongside other surveys by animal welfare agencies, government advisory bodies, and equine researchers, highlight the growing unease of the public and equestrians alike, with questions regarding the ethics of horse use and concerns about equine welfare.

Register your interest

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Evolving public views and increased knowledge about equine welfare suggest that to continue to justify equine involvement in sport and leisure and maintain a social license to operate, there is an urgent need to understand and address the changing views, equine welfare concerns, and to ensure horses involved in sport and leisure can live a Good Life.

 

ISES New Zealand 2024 will provide an opportunity for a gathering of equine researchers, veterinarians and practitioners involved in different disciplines including Thoroughbred Racing, Eventing, Show-jumping, Dressage, Pony Club coaching, Horse therapy and many others, to explore the concept of a Good Life for Horse specifically addressing questions such as:

Upload your abstract

Deadline for submission of Abstracts will be around 31st October 2023

Reviewing completed and Authors informed of outcomes: December 2023

Upload now!

 

Why a Good Life is necessary for horses, and whether it is possible?

 

What a Good life is for a horse involved in sport and leisure? – What do we know, what more do we need to know?

 

How a Good Life can be provided for horses in sport and leisure?

The conference and themes

 

The ISES NZ 2024 conference will be run over three days, with the first two days being research presentations and posters (invited and free papers) and the final day (after the conference dinner and dancing!) being a ‘field’ day – where we will have the chance to develop our collective understanding of the assessment of a Good Life in relation to the different life experiences of horses.

Papers are invited in relation to specific session themes organised in relation to the key priority areas identified by the EEWC through their surveys of equestrians as well as new areas of research and free (related) papers:

  • Measuring the impact of Tack and Equipment
  • New directions in Training and Riding
  • What happens in the ‘Other 23 Hours’ (Outside of Competition and Training)
  • Understanding Equine Emotions
  • Safe Human- Horse Interactions
  • Setting the Horse up for Success (Early experiences, weaning, a second life)
  • Sustainable Equine Management and Practice
  • New directions in equine welfare and equitation science
  • Free papers

The conference and themes

 

The ISES NZ 2024 conference will be run over three days. The first day and third day will feature keynote speakers and scientific presentations and the second day will be a ‘field’ day – where we will have the chance to develop our collective understanding of the assessment of a Good Life in relation to the different life experiences of horses. The conference dinner and dancing will be held on the final night. 

Papers are invited in relation to specific session themes organised in relation to the key priority areas identified by the EEWC through their surveys of equestrians as well as new areas of research and free (related) papers:

  • Measuring the impact of Tack and Equipment
  • New directions in Training and Riding
  • What happens in the ‘Other 23 Hours’ (Outside of Competition and Training)
  • Understanding Equine Emotions
  • Safe Human- Horse Interactions
  • Setting the Horse up for Success (Early experiences, weaning, a second life)
  • Sustainable Equine Management and Practice
  • New directions in equine welfare and equitation science
  • Free papers

Getting to the conference

The Conference will take place in the Waikato region of New Zealand, the land of a group of Iwi (tribes) named the Waikato Tainui, who are the Kaitiaki (guardians) of the area. The conference venue will be based in the attractive town of Cambridge (Kemureti in Māori), the 'equine capital' of New Zealand, famous for its “Trees & Champions" and situated next to the mighty Waikato river in the heart of New Zealand’s world famous thoroughbred racing country. The thoroughbred studs around Cambridge have produced many champion horses, a number of which are celebrated in the Equine Stars ‘Walk of Fame’ on the main street through a series of mosaics in the town’s pavements. Not surprisingly, some of New Zealand’s premier equine veterinary practices are based in the Cambridge/Hamilton area, as well as being home to a number of New Zealand’s international equestrian stars

Travel to Cambridge is an easy 1.5 hour drive by (hire) car, or there are buses, from Auckland where most international flights arrive. There is also a local domestic airport in Hamilton only 25 minutes from Cambridge by taxi or bus. There is ample affordable accommodation available around the town, including the motorhome sites for those who want to hire a motorhome to spend time before and/or after the conference having a look around the many tourist attractions (including Hobbiton nearby in Matamata, the magical landscapes and lakes in Rotorua and Taupo less than two hours from Cambridge, The Horse of the Year Show held in the Art Deco twin cities of Napier and Hastings in sunny Hawke’s Bay, the National Dressage Championships in Taupo, local wineries and of course Auckland -the ‘City of Sails’). Information about the conference venue in Cambridge and local accommodation will be made available through the conference website.

Travel to Cambridge is an easy 1.5 hour drive by (hire) car, or there are buses, from Auckland where most international flights arrive. There is also a local domestic airport in Hamilton only 25 minutes from Cambridge by taxi or bus. There is ample affordable accommodation available around the town, including the motorhome sites for those who want to hire a motorhome to spend time before and/or after the conference having a look around the many tourist attractions (including Hobbiton nearby in Matamata, the magical landscapes and lakes in Rotorua and Taupo less than two hours from Cambridge, The Horse of the Year Show held in the Art Deco twin cities of Napier and Hastings in sunny Hawke’s Bay, the National Dressage Championships in Taupo, local wineries and of course Auckland -the ‘City of Sails’). Information about the conference venue in Cambridge and local accommodation will be made available through the conference website.

Extra information

 

Companion Animals Satellite meeting: An additional opportunity for delegates is to attend the satellite meeting being held by Companion Animals New Zealand with the theme– A Changing World for Companion Animals will take place the day before the ISES conference (13th March) nearby Hamilton providing another opportunity for delegates to present their companion animal research findings related to this theme, and/or to attend other talks. More information about this conference and the special package for ISES delegates will be provided on the website.

 

Please keep a look out for further information and first calls!

Nau Mai, Harae Mai !

We look forward to welcoming you to Aotearoa - "land of the long white cloud"

A Good Life for Horses

14-16 March 2024

A Good Life for Horses

14-16 March

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