Our past Conferences
Find out more and watch back our Conferences from previous years.
Find out more and watch back our Conferences from previous years.
Conference 2023 – ‘Horses and the Environment: Friend or Foe?’
The 2023 conference took place as a hybrid event, with attendees joining us both in person and online, on Thursday 9th November, and can be watched back in full below.
“When we start to think about the future, it is vital to remember that sustainability is about adaptation as well as mitigation, we must all be agents of change. We are all in the same herd. There are small steps that can take us forward to be good land managers as well as being good horse managers. We haven’t inherited the equestrian sector from our predecessors, we’ve borrowed it from our successors.”
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
Conference 2022 – When does use become abuse?
The 2022 conference took place as a hybrid event, with attendees joining us both in person and online, on Thursday 10th November, and can be watched back in full below.
“We all know abuse when we see it. Or do we? Traditionally the idea that we can ‘use but not abuse’ a horse felt like a pretty straightforward mantra, but today the distinction has become a source of controversy. Some believe that any use of a horse is – by definition – abuse, while others believe they have high standards of horsemanship when in reality this is far from true. Traditional practices are increasingly being questioned, and public outrage can erupt when someone falls foul of what may seem like an unwritten code of acceptable horse management. So when the line between ‘use’ and ‘abuse’ can be stark, subtle or even invisible – how do we ensure we stay on the right side? The day will seek to explore this and many more related questions.”
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
Conference 2021 – Whose opinion matters?
The 2021 conference took place as a hybrid event, with attendees joining us both in person and online, on Thursday 11th November, with speakers examining ‘Whose opinion matters?’ and can be watched back in full below.
“The sheer volume of opinion out there can be both overwhelming and deafening. In horse sport, welfare has again sparked fierce debate in the media: from that photo of Gordon Elliot to revelations in Panorama to treatment of horses in Modern Pentathlon at the Olympics, but strong views can be found wherever horses come into contact with people. But whom should we listen to?
“The challenge for all of us is to distinguish the signal from the noise, and apply rigour to our own thinking to ensure we heed only the opinions that deserve to influence us. This can be a challenge both mentally and emotionally as all around us conflate fact and opinion and even the meaning of truth is up for debate. What is the role of objective evidence in our decision making? Do the loudest or oldest opinions drown out the most informed? How open are we to views that challenge our own way of seeing? And when – if ever – should opinion overrule fact? I hope you agree that this is a very pertinent debate that should engage a lively discussion.”
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
Conference 2020 – The horse-human partnership – What’s in it for the horse?
The 2020 conference took place online on Thursday 12th November, with speakers covering a wide range of topics around the horse-human partnership, and can be watched back in full below.
“We believe that our relationship with horses is based on a partnership with huge benefits to humankind – but if this is a true partnership how much do our horses really benefit from it?
“More importantly, how do we ensure they receive the benefits they deserve? We might provide food, protection from harm and disease, veterinary treatment and perhaps even a job or degree of companionship, but is this all a horse needs for a good life? When we say we ‘put the horse first,’ what does this really mean?
“More evidence comes to light almost daily about the evolutionary path of horses, sentience, cognition and behaviour, but how does this stack up against our traditional practices? And what should be expected from us and society if the partnership goes wrong?
“Despite our virtual setting this should hopefully engage a fascinating discussion.”
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
Conference 2019 – Who is responsible?
Watch the footage from the 2019 conference:
World Horse Welfare’s 2019 conference focused on responsibility for equine welfare, examining just who is responsible and what that means. The event was chaired by George Freeman MP and speakers included Annamarie Phelps, Chair of the British Horseracing Authority; Rachel Murray, Orthopaedic Specialist at Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons; Bronwen Williams, independent trainer and educator; YouTube sensation This Esme; and Inspector Dave Smith, of Kent Police.
The discussion panel examined a responsible approach to equine welfare and comprised racing journalist and broadcaster Mike Cattermole; showjumper Joe Stockdale; vet and British Veterinary Association Ethics and Welfare Advisory Panel member Dr Madeleine Campbell; BBC Sports Correspondent Joe Wilson; New Forest commoner and Foundation for Common Land trustee Lyndsey Stride; and vet and World Horse Welfare Trustee Julie Ross.
Later in the day ‘Charity in Action’ presentations highlighted elements of World Horse Welfare’s current work in the UK and around the world that involves owners, partner charities and governments. The UK Welfare team examined the many layers of responsibility involved in equine welfare; the Campaigns team explored the possibility of improving UK horse health through human behaviour change; and the International team looked at how horse-human partnerships can be improved using behavioural science.
Click on a speaker or discussion section below to watch this year’s Conference back.
Michael Baines, World Horse Welfare Chairman
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
Annamarie Phelps, British Horseracing Authority Chair
Dr Rachel Murray, Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons Orthopaedic Specialist
Bronwen Williams, Independent Trainer and Educator
Inspector Dave Smith, Kent Police
HRH The Princess Royal, World Horse Welfare President
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
Conference 2018 – Changing Times
The 2018 theme was ‘Changing Times‘ – and we welcomed a wide range of speakers and discussion panellists who highlighted everything from the need to help people to help horses, the changing trends in equine training methods, the world behind the phenomenon of Gypsy cobs – and of course the possible impacts of Brexit.
The speakers who helped us to explore the themes and topics in 2018 were:
9:45am – Conference opened by World Horse Welfare Chairman Michael Baines – Watch Michael Baines’ Presentation
10:00am – World Horse Welfare Chief Executive Roly Owers gives his view on Changing Times – Watch Roly Owers’ Presentation
10:10am – Why we need to help people if we want to help horses: Utam Kaphle, Executive Director of Animal Nepal – Watch Utam Kaphle’s Presentation
10:25am – Equestrian sport: the good, the bad and the ugly – and where next? Richard Davison, former Olympic dressage rider and World Horse Welfare Trustee – Watch Richard Davison’s Presentation
10:40am – What is the deal with these gypsy cobs? Andrea Betteridge, Founder of the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association – Watch Andrea Betteridge’s Presentation
10:55am – Q&A – Watch the Part 1 Q&A session
11:50am – Seismic shifts? A perspective on Brexit: Tim Collins CBE – Watch Tim Collins’ Presentation
12:00pm – Charities, trust and the broad horizon ahead: Jo Saxton, Nfp Synergy – Watch Joe Saxton’s Presentation
12:10pm – Q&A – Watch the Part 2 Q&A session
12:20pm – Discussion Panel: An embarrassment of vets on ‘changing times’ – Julian Rishworth, Ebony Escalona, Ben Mayes, Gemma Pearson and Sarah Coombs – Watch the Discussion Panel
Chaired by Nick Powell, Sky News Sports Editor, the discussion panel focused on a number of key topics:
- The Great Yorkshire Show has adopted a relatively strict policy with regards to rider weight. How serious an issue is it where riders are mismatched to their mounts?
- Despite the digital revolution owners still place great trust in their vet. Given the pivotal role vets play in enhancing equine health and welfare how can they improve communication with their clients?
- Equine welfare charities have seen a surge in cases involving hard to reach communities over the past few years. What more could vets be doing to meet this growing challenge?
- Our understanding of equine behaviour has been transformed over the past few years. Do artificial aids such as whips and spurs have a place in modern horsemanship?
01:20pm – HRH The Princess Royal – Watch HRH The Princess Royal’s speech
01:30pm – Roly Owers summing up – Watch Roly Owers summing up
Conference 2017 – Invisible Horses of the Future
Watch the conference in full above or click on the below links to watch each speaker.
- World Horse Welfare Chairman Michael Baines – Opening
- Her Royal Highess the Princess Royal – The Relevance of a practical approach to improving horse welfare
- Deborah Meaden – The UK’s future invisible horse – a personal perspective
- Brian Perry – They cannot talk: drivers and incentives for global animal welfare
- Sam Tolhurst – Five lessons learned from social media
- Michael Appleby – From the horse’s mouth: the need for evidence of human and animal benefit
- Discussion Panel – What is responsible ownership?
- World Horse Welfare Chief Executive Roly Owers – Summing up
Conference 2016 – The Invisible Horse
You can skip to the following presentations and panel discussions through the links below:
- Welcome by Conference Chairman, Lord de Mauley
- Barry Johnson
- Roly Owers
- His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Chris Riggs
- Will Young
- Q&A from the morning session
- Cian Murphy
- Q&A – from the afternoon session
- Discussion Panel, chaired by Suzanne Dando featuring Barry Johnson, Harry Meade, Angela Smith MP, Tim Morris, Louise Kittle
- HRH The Princess Royal
- Roly Owers – Summing up
Conference 2015 – Challenging the Status Quo
You can skip to the following presentations and panel discussions through the links below:
- Address from Gerald Corbett, Betfair
- Opening remarks from Barry Johnson, World Horse Welfare Chairman
- Address by Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
- Should I stay or should I go? Would our horses be better off inside the EU, or out of it? Former Defra Minister Sir Jim Paice
- Tradition on the course: challenging the status quo in racing, former jockey John Francome
- Mercy, murder or taboo? An international view of the prickly issue of euthanasia. Josep Subriana, Spanish Veterinary Surgeon
- Q&A’s for presentations 1, 2 & 3
- The silent killer: is fat really a welfare problem? Dr Sue Dyson, Head of Equine Clinical Orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust
- Debating Panel “Traditional horse management and training practices are best”
- HRH The Princess Royal, World Horse Welfare President
- Summing up, Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
Conference 2014 – What is the Value of Horses?
You can skip to the following presentations and panel discussions through the links below:
- Conference Opening by Baroness Mallalieu, Conference Chairman
- Gerald Corbett, Betfair
- Barry Johnson, World Horse Welfare Chairman
- HRH The Princess Royal, World Horse Welfare President
- The value of horses in Europe in sport and leisure, Soenke Lauterbach
- The ‘value’ of horses to human society: The value of the working equid, Professor Cathy McGowan
- A view on the purpose and value of horses , Roger Scruton
- Question & Answers with the speakers
- The Life Changing Power Of Horses, Lance Corporal Jason Hare RM
- Debate 1 – Qualifications are essential for good horsemanship
- Debate 2 – Horse welfare would be improved if horse slaughter were banned
- Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Chief Executive
Conference 2013 – Horses in the Future
You can skip to the following presentations and panel discussions through the links below:
- Welcome from Betfair Chairman Gerald Corbett
- Welcome from World Horse Welfare Chairman Barry Johnson
- Opening Remarks from World Horse Welfare President HRH The Princess Royal
- Racing: One Standard for All? Presentation by Lord Howard
- Growing Pains: Young Equestrians, Young Markets. Presentation by Alex Hua Tian
- A Strand in the Tangled Web of Horse Meat. Presentation by Felicity Lawrence
- Morning Q & A Session with Lord Howard, Alex Hua Tian and Felicity Lawrence
- The Future of Horsepower. A Presentation by Professor Derek Knottenbelt
- Discussion Panel Forum chaired by Philip Ghazala with Lord De Mauley, Ian Stark, Jenny Rudall and Anna Williams
