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:
-
Registration open now: Early bird registration closes 15th May
-
Abstract submissions now closed
- Travel grant deadline: 1st April
As per usual, ISES members receive discounted registration rates.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Travel grants
What Are ISES Travel Grants?
ISES travel grants are financial awards designed to assist individuals in attending the 2026 conference in Billund, Denmark. These grants aim to ease some of the financial burden associated with conference participation.
How Many Grants Are Available and How Much Are They Worth?
ISES will award three travel grants, each worth up to £1000. These grants can significantly contribute to covering your travel expenses.
Who Can Apply for These Grants?
Applicants must be members of ISES. One grant will be specifically awarded to a student member, one to a practitioner member and one to an applicant representing an historically underrepresented group (e.g. BIPOC, LBGTQ2+). This reflects ISES's dedication to fostering inclusivity within the field.
You do not need to have submitted research abstracts to be eligible. If you have a passion for equitation science and meet the criteria, you can apply for a grant.
How Are Grant Applications Evaluated?
Applications for these grants will be assessed based on two main criteria:
- Purpose of Attendance: Applicants must explain why attending the conference is crucial for them. This could include reasons such as presenting research, networking with experts, learning new knowledge to bring back to your clients, etc. You should clearly indicate how your attendance will impact equitation science in general, not just for your own personal benefit. For example, practitioners may reference how many clients will benefit from the new knowledge or academics may indicate in what way their research is expected to impact the field of equitation science.
- Financial Need: The selection committee will consider applicants' financial circumstances to determine how the grant can assist them.
Key Dates to Remember
- Application Deadline: Make sure to submit your application by April 1, 2026 to be considered for a grant.
- Expected Decision Date: Grant recipients will be notified before May 15, 2026 prior to the early bird registration deadline.
How to Apply
Ready to secure a travel grant? Access the application form here. Complete all the required information and submit your application before the deadline. Note that only successful applicants will be notified.
Attending conferences like the ISES event in Denmark can be a transformative experience, opening doors to new opportunities and connections. Don't miss out on this chance to make your attendance possible with an ISES travel grant!
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.
