RSPCA invite any interested PCV member to attend their free horse welfare sessions. These are in person at their Burwood location, but will be recorded. So if you cannot attend in person, but would like to view the recording, you can do so by registering for the event. To register or find out more CLICK HERE
Evening 1: Tips for springtime management
26th October, 6.30 pm
Join us for a discussion around managing hooves and diets for springtime!
Did you know that laminitis is the second biggest killer of horses after colic? Much has changed around what we know about the causes and risk factors for laminitis over the past 10 years. Horses that have PPID (Cushings) or Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) have an increased risk of developing laminitis. Come along to this evening to get a better understanding of laminitis, the sometimes unrecognized risk factors, and how to feed and manage hoof care proactively to reduce future problems.
Evening 2: Keeping welfare front of mind
2nd November, 6.30pm
As horse owners and enthusiasts, at times we can be asking a lot of our equine friends. How do we ensure that our horses achieve and maintain peak performance, and where does welfare fit into all of this? Whether you are looking after a horse enjoying their retirement years, or one that is at peak performance condition, Dr Paul Owens will discuss the importance of dental health and hygiene, and the impact that this plays on a horse’s overall welfare. Paul Buckland will then take the discussion further to highlight points on how we can select and fit our horse’s gear to ensure that they are physically and mentally ready to partner with us on our equine adventures.
Evening 3: Summertime health and pasture management
15th February, 6.30pm
We all want to look after our horses the best we can. As horses age, their nutritional requirements also change and not always in the obvious ways. Digestive efficiency decreases, dental health and their ability to graze or eat hay can decrease significantly and they may develop conditions such as PPID (Cushings). During this session, we will unpack the common challenges of feeding horses over the summer months when pasture feed might be limiting and challenging to digest, especially if they have less than perfect dentition! Explore different types of feeds, and management practices to help maintain a healthy body condition, and find out how to adjust your horse’s feed and your management of pastures to take into account the season. Come along for a chance to ask your questions!
Evening 4: Promoting health and welfare during training and exercise
22nd February, 6.30pm
How we train, handle and exercise our horses has a profound influence on their physical and mental state, as well as their overall wellbeing. Starting the evening with the physiology aspects of joint and muscle care, our experts will discuss strategies to promote healthy range of movement and best practise methods in preventative joint and muscle health.
Dr Andrew McLean will then lead us into a discussion around promoting welfare using clear, ethical and systematic approaches when interacting with our horses, be that through ground work or in the saddle.
Expert Speakers include:
Sarah Snyder (Innovative Hoof Care)
Rebecca Ham (Kentucky Equine Research)
Dr Paul Owens (Horse Vet Dentist)
Paul Buckland (Paul Buckland Saddler)
Dr Andrew McLean (Equitation Science International)
Dr Andrea Redgewell (Mixed Practice Veterinarian)
What you will learn
- Attendees will be learn how to promote positive welfare in every aspect of their horses' care and management. They will also get the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers, and network with other likeminded participants
What you will get
- Don't forget that if you cannot make the evening in-person, these sessions will be recorded and made available after the event. Please register for the event to receive access to the recordings.
