- Experts across the equine community, politicians and conservationists consider whether horses are Earth’s ‘friend or foe’ at global conference.
Dr Neil Hudson MP, the only veterinary surgeon in the House of Commons, and Member of the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, is set to Chair the Annual World Horse Welfare Conference again this year on 9 November 2023. Dr Hudson chaired last year’s conference in the presence of HRH, The Princess Royal.
The complex and varied relationship between environmental issues, climate change, humans and equids (horses, donkeys and mules) is to be explored at leading equine charity World Horse Welfare’s conference this year. The role horses play in causing some of these issues as well as their potential to provide solutions will be central to the 2023 event. With the title, ‘Horses and the Environment: Friend or Foe?’ the conference will take place on Thursday 9 November (9:45am-3:00pm GMT) and is free to attend remotely.
Recognising that horses evolved – as we all did – in nature, and were then domesticated and bred according to our needs, delegates will consider how they have been used by humans to build the civilisations, cities and cultures we have today and question what impact this has had on the environment. When do horses – and how we involve them in society today – benefit the environment, and when do they put it at risk? Can a horse be both nature’s friend and a foe? Is there a link between good welfare and a healthy environment? And what is our role in striving to ensure our involvement with horses benefits the planet?
The charity’s President, HRH The Princess Royal, is expected to attend the conference which is always a key date in the international equestrian calendar.
This year’s event, which will be chaired by veterinary MP Dr Neil Hudson, will see influential speakers and panellists, including politicians and equine industry experts, exploring the topic, including:
- Senator Pippa Hackett, Ireland’s Minister of State for Agriculture with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity.
- Ruth Dancer, Director at environmental sustainability consultancy White Griffin, which specialises in equestrianism and horse racing.
- Dr Alphonse Sene, Director of Equine Development, Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production in Senegal.
- Carol Laidlaw, a Lead Grazing Ranger working for the National Trust at one of Britain’s oldest and most bio-diverse nature reserves.
- Jenny Rogers, Manager and Trustee of Ash Rescue Centre which cares for elderly rescue horses, runs a nature conservation site and rehabilitates wildlife.
The discussion panel will further explore the theme with representatives from veterinary medicine, agronomy and sport, including panel guest Ingmar de Vos, President of the FEI (The International Federation for Equestrian Sports).
The World Horse Welfare conference is now available to join online for free by registering through the link below:
https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/about-us/our-organisation/our-conference
