2026 International Conference
21st International Conference
Billund, Denmark
August 11th-13th
Key information
Theme: The Nature of Horses
Venue: LEGOLAND® Conference Centre, Billund, Denmark
Dates: 11–13 August 2026
Join us in Denmark for the 2026 International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) Conference, exploring “The Nature of Horses.” This year’s event will bring together researchers, practitioners, and equine professionals to share the latest insights into equitation science, behaviour, and welfare.
Key Dates:
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Registration open now: Early bird registration closes 15th May
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Abstract submissions now closed
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Travel grant submissions now closed
Contacts:
- Registration, venue, accommodation, conference tours: Emma Bonde Stanek [email protected]
- Abstracts: ISES Scientific Committee: Paul McGreevy [email protected]
- Sponsoring and exhibition spaces: Eva Sondergaard [email protected]
- Programme and other questions: Janne Winther Christensen [email protected]
- Pre-conference tour: ISES Practitioner Representative, Susan Kjærgaard [email protected]
Hotel Legoland (Conference Hotel)
Please book your accommodation at Hotel Legoland here.
Use the discount code: 110826AARH (1040 DKK per night incl. breakfast.
Add 200 for each additional person in the same room)
Airport Hotel
Hotel Svanen
The Lodge
Lalandia
Airbnb, Billund
Optional conference tours
Conference tours are available on a ‘first come - first serve’ basis. You can select your desired tour when you book your conference ticket.
Tour buses will depart from the conference venue after lunch Wednesday August 12th and return in time for the conference dinner. An alternative option is to visit the Legoland Park. Free tickets are available for conference delegates.
NOTE: Please choose only one tour as they run at the same time!
Waiting list for Exmoor and Koniks:
Are the tours to Exmoor and Konik horses already full? Don’t panic! Send an email to [email protected] and you will be signed up for a waiting list. It will be possible to arrange additional tours to other groups located 45-60 min by bus from the venue.
Tour option 1: Konik stallions and the Old Grocery Store
In the beautiful Vejle Valley, a group of Konik stallions plays an important role for landscape maintenance. This tour will take you on a unique visit to the area and hopefully allow you to have a close-up meeting with these amazing horses that roam freely in the area year-round.
The valley stretches from Vejle Fjord to the area around Spjarup and was formed by the last 2 ice ages – where especially the last one (the Weichsel Ice Age, from 115,000 to 15,000 years ago) had great significance for the formation of the landscape.
The tour will also include a visit to the nearby and charming Old Grocery Store (Bindeballe Gamle Købmandsgård), which has been preserved as it appeared in 1897. The Grocery Store was situated next to a now abandoned railway, and the barn behind the store contained a stable where local travelers could leave their horse while they continued their journey by train to Vejle. The place is famous for its museum, small store, cakes and beautiful surroundings.
Pack your best walking shoes and clothing suitable for the weather (the weather in Denmark in August can be highly variable and may be somewhere between 15 °C and rain or 30 °C and sunshine!). The tour includes transport, coffee/tea and snacks/cake.
Maximum 40 participants (2 groups of 20) (approx. 15 min by bus from the conference venue).
Price: 200 DKK/person
Tour option 2: Exmoor ponies at work for improved biodiversity
At Asbøl, traditional farming land in the middle of an important nature area has been transformed into a biodiversity hotspot with grasslands, a lake and scrub forest, providing a home for many rare species. A reproducing group of Exmoor ponies plays an important role for biodiversity restoration in the area.
Find your best walking shoes and join us for an exciting tour to the area, where you will learn more about the area and the horses. We will also spend time observing the behaviour of the horses. Your guide has spent many hours observing the group for a research project and will share her knowledge about the horses.
Bring clothing suitable for the weather (the weather in Denmark in August can be highly variable and may be somewhere between 15 °C with rain and 30 °C with full sunshine!). The tour includes transport, coffee/tea and snacks/cake.
Maximum 20 participants (approx. 35 min by bus from the conference venue)
Price: 200 DKK/person
Tour option 3: Konik harem group at work for biodiversity
Join a tour to the rewilding project at Tirsbæk Bakker in Vejle. The horses’ positive impact on the landscape is remarkable. The area is a prime example of how quickly a place can transition from relatively uniform to wild and varied nature when left unmanaged and large herbivores are introduced. Areas that were previously covered with nettles and tall grass are now being transformed into species-rich and varied nature.
Join a guided tour with a biologist with specialized knowledge about the area, the project, and the horses. Remember to pack your best walking shoes and clothing suitable for the weather (the weather in Denmark in August can be highly variable and may be somewhere between 15 °C with rain and 30 °C with full sunshine!). The tour includes transport, coffee/tea and snacks/cake.
Maximum 20 participants (approx. 40 min by bus from the conference venue)
Price: 200 DKK/person
Tour option 4: Icelandic horses in the beautiful Vejle River Valley
Were you hoping to go to Iceland for the ISES conference? It did not turn out that way (at least not in 2026). However, you still have the opportunity to experience a group of Icelandic horses. The group grazes a nature area in the beautiful Vejle River Valley. Haraldskær is a notable location in the Vejle area, known for its Haraldskær Visitor Centre, which offers insights into the region's history, biodiversity, and wildlife. The region is also recognized for its stunning views of the Vejle River Valley, making it a popular spot for nature enthusiasts.
Remember to pack your best walking shoes and clothing suitable for the weather (the weather in Denmark in August can be highly variable and may be somewhere between 15 °C with rain and 30 °C with full sunshine!). The tour includes transport, coffee/tea and snacks/cake.
Maximum 20 participants (approx. 20 min by bus from the conference venue)
Price: 200 DKK/person
Tour option 5: Givskud zoo excursion incl. Przewalski horses
Join us for an engaging excursion to Givskud Zoo, a modern 65-hectare animal park that is home to 50 different species. You can observe these animals both indoors and through outdoor walking and driving safari routes.
During our visit, you will enjoy a behind-the-scenes guided tour including visiting the Equines (Przewalski horses and maneless zebras, Equus borensis), along with many other fascinating animals. Givskud Zoo is particularly renowned for its lion facility and boasts the only gorilla facility in Denmark. The animals at the zoo are allowed to roam in relatively spacious and enriched enclosures.
Included: Round-trip and in-park bus transportation, entrance, guided tour for ISES delegates only, coffee/tea and snacks, free time on your own. Read more about the Zoo here: Givskud Zoo
The zoo is located approximately 20 km from the conference venue (approx. 25 min by bus)
Price: 350 DKK/person
Tour option 6: Stengaard – an alternative way of keeping horses
Inspirational tour to an unusual horse pension in Denmark, with guided tour including discussion on how to meet the behavioural needs of horses. Horse welfare is high on the agenda for the owners of ‘Stengaard Hestepension’, located near Aarhus, approximately 100 km from conference venue. Learn more about the philosophy by the owner, and see activities for horses at stable and pasture. This place also offers guidance on behaviour and traning. You will on this trip be accopanyed by the experienced trainer and ISES pratitioner representative Susan Kjærgaard, who will facilitate the debate on how we keep and train our horses in practice.
Read more here Stengaard Hestepension - Opstaldning Århus (in Danish only).
Maximum 20 participants (approx. 1:15 by bus form the conference venue)
Price: 200 DKK/person
Tour option 7: Viking Kings Museum (“Kongernes Jelling”)
Join us for an enriching excursion to the “Kongernes Jelling” Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site that offers a unique glimpse into Nordic Viking life and heritage years 800-1050. Located in Jelling, 25 km from the conference venue, this modern museum is dedicated to the remarkable history of the Jelling stones (atributed to Harald Bluetooth; the birth certificate of the monarchy of Denmark), Viking life and the transition to Christianity in Scandinavia. Read more here: Viking kings in Jelling
The museum features engaging and interactive displays that bring the Viking Age to life, making it a fascinating experience for both history enthusiasts and casual visitors. The museum itself is a modern architectural marvel, set against the backdrop of the historic burial mounds and stones, providing a picturesque setting for your visit. A must see is the large ‘Jelling Stone’ close to the church of Jelling and nearby a large ceremonial place for Viking kings.
Included: Round-trip transportation to and from the museum, entrance fee, free time to explore the museum and surrounding area. Approx. 30 min by bus from the conference venue.
Price: 220 DKK/person
Tour option 8: LEGOLAND
Billund is the home of the LEGO factory, and LEGOLAND is the original LEGO theme park and one of Denmark's most popular attractions, located a short walking distance from the conference venue. The garden-like amusement park of 14 ha (140,000 m2) contains more than 58 millions LEGO bricks, and a wide range of different attractions such as roller coaster rides. In the core of the park, Miniland, you can visit different parts of the world built in LEGO bricks – in an hour or so, you can visit the majority of the world’s attractions!
Perfect for guests of all ages, LEGOLAND offers an exciting mix of creativity, entertainment, and adventure in a vibrant setting. Read more about Legoland here https://www.legoland.dk/en/
Free entrance, free time on your own in the park.
Additional optional event
Dressage Meets Science Workshop (subject to rider availability in World Championships selection)
Open to conference delegates only. Registration link will follow.
Get ready for a truly special experience where sport, science, and practice come together. This is held right in the heart of Danish equestrian sport, in connection with the International Society for Equitation Science annual conference in Billund, Denmark
We offer conference participants a unique pre-conference tour, to meet Daniel Bachmann Andersen and watch him partake in two practical Equitation Science riding sessions guided by ISES Practitioner Representative Susan Kjærgård.
Daniel is one of Denmark’s top dressage riders, an Olympian, and a world-ranked elite rider. Daniel is known for his exceptional ability to develop horses to Grand Prix level and for his philosophy:“It is never the horse’s fault. It is the rider who must improve.”
With experience at the highest level of the sport, including his years with Blue Hors and international championships, Daniel has developed a deep understanding of both performance and partnership with the horse, and he is always open to new ideas and ways of improving communication.
This event is where two worlds meet: Daniel will open the doors to his own facility and give you an exclusive insight into his philosophy and let you watch as he tests the Equitation Science Principles, with Susan Kjærgård.
Susan Kjærgård is a former international show jumper and today one of the leading voices in modern, evidence-based horse training. As Practitioner Representative of ISES, Susan works to bridge the gap between research and practice – with a focus on learning theory, biomechanics, and horse welfare.
She has competed at the highest international level and spent the past 20 years studying how horses learn and respond. On a solid foundation of Equitation Science, she has developed a training philosophy where the horse is an active and respected partner.
This afternoon will give you a truly unique experience with two live ridden sessions, where Daniel rides, and Susan coaches using Equitation Science principles.
Here, you will gain:
- Insight into how evidence-based training looks in practice
- An honest exploration of new perspectives – with a top rider in the saddle
- Concrete tools you can take home and apply immediately
And not least: Open Q&A, where you can ask questions directly to both rider and trainer after each horse.
This is a rare opportunity to experience top dressage sports meeting science and experience an honest and inspiring dialogue.
*IMPORTANT NOTE:
This event is subject to Daniel’s selection for the World Championships; if selected, it will be cancelled due to his participation in the Championships. This will be announced by mid-July.
Time and place:
Monday 10th August 2026 4pm - 7pm
Bachmann Dressage
Fløjstrupvej 125 C
8330 Beder
Organiser: ISES Practitioner Representative Susan Kjærgård (contact: [email protected]).
Cost: Approx. 150 DKK/person to cover bus transport (departing from Billund)
1Exhibition space during entire conference (table size 70 x 140 x 72 cm, in poster/coffee area).
2Participation in conference program incl. all meals Tuesday morning to Thursday afternoon. NOTE: Accommodation and conference tours must be booked separately. Additional participants can be purchased for 3,600 DKK/person (4,100 after May 15th 2026).
3Acknowledgment by session chair at the beginning of a selected scientific session and logo shown on the lecture hall screen.
4Logo included in conference proceedings (printed and online version, 1/4 page, logo to be provided by sponsor).
We are open to other sponsoring options, incl., becoming main sponsor of the entire event, sponsoring plenary presentations, or conference attendance for a number of e.g., students or practitioners. Please contact Eva Søndergaard ([email protected]).
ISES Members: A special exhibition rate is available for participating ISES members for display of materials relevant to equitation science. Contact: [email protected]
