TICKETS are now on sale for the Northern Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) Equine Welfare Symposium which is scheduled for February 22nd at the Dunadry Hotel in Co Antrim.

Vet gatherings like these are not usually open to the public, and it’s rare we get to hear such an esteemed panel of equine welfare and veterinary specialists.

According to NIVA, the purpose of the event is to raise awareness across the equestrian and veterinary community in Northern Ireland of the changing landscape surrounding equine welfare. It also highlights the fact that Northern Ireland suffers with a lack of focus on the equine industry because of a lack of government policy, legislation or strategy.

The hope is that the symposium will help fill that gap by bringing together key stakeholders including; veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, equestrian leaders, owners, trainers, coaches and DAERA, to focus on the changing landscape that is equine welfare.

Equine well-being

The key note speakers include Dr Meta Osborne, equine vet, breeder, and lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at UCD, Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare, a veterinary surgeon with previous veterinary roles in the Blue Cross and Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Dr David Marlin, one of the equine world’s leading scientists and president of both the UK National Equine Welfare Council and the Sport Horse Welfare Foundation, plus Dr Jane Williams, associate professor and head of research at Hartpury University.

Tickets are £45 from the NIVA website with an additional £10 optional welfare panel discussion called ‘Animals in sport: what are the responsibilities of vets?’