Tuesday, 17 March 2026
The necessity of collaboration across the equine sector took centre stage at the National Equine Forum, which brought a packed audience to Westminster, London on 5th March 2026.
Delegates and livestream viewers joined leading voices from across the industry for a day of lively discussion covering equine health, welfare, disease management, veterinary practices and the growing role of artificial intelligence. While the topics were wide-ranging, the message was clear: progress depends on collaboration across the entire equestrian sector.
An audience of more than 500 - including more than 200 in-person delegates and more than 300 livestream participants - heard from prominent figures spanning royal, governmental, veterinary, educational, charitable and equestrian organisations. Online viewers also joined from several countries beyond the UK, reflecting the Forum’s growing international reach. NEF26 was also freely shared via ClipMyHorse.TV on the day.
“Bringing together so many perspectives to share knowledge on equine health, welfare and our relationship with horses is a real privilege,” said Tim Brigstocke, Chair of the National Equine Forum. “Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, friends and supporters, we are proud to have delivered such a successful event. Open, non-partisan discussion is at the heart of the Forum and today has shown just how united our sector can be when working for the good of the horse.”
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animal Welfare) opened the session by presenting The Defra View. The Government's efforts to address challenges such as climate change, rising costs, and increased demand on rescue centres were discussed. The developing role of artificial intelligence in improving equine health was mentioned, together with the government's work to reset EU trade relationships to boost economic growth and biosecurity. The Minister also addressed shared government/industry exploration work around digital identification, traceability, international equine movements and the impact of fireworks.
Dr June Fanning Chief Veterinary Officer for Ireland, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine enlightened the audience on how the Irish equine sector had embraced progress in response to a crisis when a shocking documentary RTE Investigates: Horses Making a Killing exposed equine abuse and gaps in Ireland's horse traceability system. It led to an independent review and a 38-point action plan, emphasising better traceability, stronger enforcement, a risk-based inspection regime and a new central database linking horses to their owners. Future plans include establishing sales houses as critical control points, including transporters in the database and mandatory DNA sampling at slaughter and export as the ultimate weapon against food fraud. Key reforms have already included strengthened export controls, increased ownership registration, and proactive inspections. Ireland is now building an integrated traceability system, demonstrating that crises can drive meaningful change when addressed proactively and collaboratively.
Next in this segment Dr Katie Williams, Technical Manager, Dengie Horse Feeds, considered the implication of changes to our weather and climate on those producing forage for horses. She explained the perfect storm of 2025, when severe droughts significantly reduced forage yields and increased prices, with 88% of respondents to a delegate poll reporting increased costs. Forage analysis showed declining protein levels and rising sugar content, affecting horse welfare. In terms of the future Dr Williams suggested novel crops such as chia, quinoa and teff may become forage options, with some already being grown in the UK.
This panel took a practical look at the modern Pre‑Purchase Examination (PPE). The discussion brought together Dr Mark Georgetti MRCVS, Dr Lucy Grieve MRCVS, Dr Sam Cutts MRCVS and Julia Martin, drawing on their respective areas of specialism; clinical experience, policy development, legal dispute and professional selling. Key points included the variability in vetting outcomes due to individual risk tolerances, communication issues and change of owner being a risk factor in itself.
Buyer expectations were cited as a highly significant factor in dissatisfaction. Unrealistic expectations around what a vetting can and cannot do, unrealistic expectations around the perfect horse and what findings really mean in terms of risk, and the belief that a change in rider and environment won’t have a significant impact on the horse and its performance. The poor understanding of risk by buyers means they potentially miss out on well suited horses.
The panel noted that 50% of disputes stem from examination failures and 50% from unmet expectations. They emphasised the need for better training and support for younger vets, reducing reliance on radiographs, and improving transparency in veterinary histories. Suggestions included changing the pass/fail concept to a risk assessment scale and enhancing collaboration with farriers and physiotherapists to manage horse conditions effectively.
Dr Hattie Bell MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon at Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS), University of Cambridge discussed recent outbreaks of infectious diseases in horses, emphasising the importance of surveillance and traceability. She highlighted a neurological EHV outbreak in Texas and an equine flu outbreak in northern France. Hattie warned about the potential emergence of West Nile virus in the UK, and the need for vigilance and vaccination. She stressed the critical role of digital equine ID and tracing systems in managing and containing these outbreaks.
Professor Jane Hodgkinson, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology, University of Liverpool discussed emerging issues in parasite control. She stressed the importance of an holistic approach and non-chemical methods, such as removing dung from pastures, and using diagnostic tools like faecal egg count tests to guide treatment. She addressed the growing resistance to drugs such as ivermectin and moxidectin, urging collaboration among veterinarians, parasitologists, and researchers to develop new control measures.
Dr Philip Ivens MRCVS, Managing Director, Buckingham Equine Vets discussed the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He highlighted the rapid rise of resistant bacterial populations and the spread of resistant genes across species and the importance of antimicrobial stewardship in equine medicine, including local policies, culture and sensitivity testing, and proper antibiotic use. He applauded the British Equine Veterinary Association's projects ProtectMe and MonitorMe designed to track and analyse antibiotic usage data across UK equine practices. He also introduced a new risk assessment project led by Cambridge University to gather and disseminate AMR data from private laboratories.
The afternoon session opened with:
Dr Liz Cresswell MRCVS, Veterinary Lead at Vet Vision AI looked at the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in monitoring positive welfare in cattle, explaining the shift from measuring negative outcomes like lameness to positive indicators such as comfort and social activities. She highlighted the use of AI algorithms to analyse animal behaviour continuously, leading to improved welfare and productivity, noting that major retailers are using AI to ensure positive welfare standards.
Pip Young, a PhD student at Bristol Veterinary School, outlined a study conducted by the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with World Horse Welfare, to identify AI's potential in the equine industry. Key areas include detecting illness, monitoring behaviour, and assessing quality of life. However, existing tools lack in certain critical areas like vet call timing and body condition scoring. The study recommended evidence-based AI development, collaboration, and education to ensure responsible AI use. aiming to enhance equine welfare without over-reliance on AI.
Maj Graham Harvey MRCVS, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, jHubMed Scout & Project Lead, presented Project Phobos, which aims to install machine vision cameras at military equine sites to improve monitoring and intervention of horse health. Initial data shows reliable monitoring of lying down, standing, and eating behaviours, revealing patterns like younger horses lying down more and straw and wood chip bedding being better for deep rest. The project yields potential wellbeing and financial benefits from early intervention and reduced veterinary costs.
Professor Sarah Freeman FRCVS, Professor of Veterinary Surgery, University of Nottingham demonstrated how AI behaviour monitoring is revealing what horses do when we’re not watching, enabling new evidence-based welfare decisions. By monitoring behaviour 24/7, she explained how insights can be captured for example on signs of colic, how long it took for a horse to eat a haynet, how much rest it got and responses to treatment. She included a case study on horses receiving a strangles vaccination. The amount of time lying down post vaccination reduced for all horses, with horses not lying laterally at all for 2-4 days after vaccination. These statistics improved in horses given phenylbutazone (bute) for the second vaccination. Prof Freeman reiterated that AI can be a powerful welfare tool, but it must support, not replace, human expertise.
Abbie Bevan, Insight and Research Manager at British Equestrian presented on the economic and social benefits of equestrian activities in the UK. She explained how the equestrian sector contributes £5 billion to the economy with £1.2 billion social value and has a unique positive impact on mental health, reducing PTSD, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression. The sector also fosters social integration, with cross-generational friendships and benefits for diverse groups. Despite its value, riding schools are closing, impacting social well-being, with each school closure costing £292,000 in social value. She stressed the need for advocacy to protect and promote the sector's benefits and that the sector must work as a united voice to protect all facilities – the sector’s ecosystem.
Helen Whitelegg, Campaigns and Policy Manager at Redwings Horse Sanctuary gave an update on a campaign aiming to secure changes to protect horses and other animals from the negative impacts of fireworks. The campaign had gathered 184,376 signatures for a petition to reduce firework noise levels, which led to a parliamentary debate. However, a timeline for regulatory changes had not yet been established.
Sally Foskett, Rehoming Operations Manager – National Horse Service Lead at Blue Cross reviewed of the success of the Blue Cross Home Direct scheme which has been running for ten years. The service, which is now expanding geographic reach, helps owners find suitable new homes for their horses without needing to take them into charity centres, if they can no longer keep them. Home Direct is supported by over 30 regional volunteers and an expanded foster yard network and currently has 42 horses in foster homes. It enables faster welfare outcomes and reduced admissions. A dedicated admissions team selects the best pathway for every horse, including supporting referrals from other charities. Last year, they admitted 448 horses, with 132 coming from other welfare charities.
Cheryl Johns, founder of LiveryList and the Yard Owner Hub explained the livery yard benchmarking system. She included details of the livery pricing survey 2025, which provided an evidence-based snapshot of livery pricing and the health of the livery industry. Significant variation of pricing reflected a wide variation of standards, facilities, services and locations across all types of livery.
Professor Chris Riggs FRCVS, Director Equine Welfare Research Foundation and Chief Advisor, Mainland Veterinary Engagement, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), in conversation with Dr Naomi Mellor MRCVS, Chief Executive, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, spoke about Changing priorities: The horse in China - evolving values and progress in equine veterinary care.
Having worked for the HKJC for 20 years, Prof Riggs led the creation of the HKJC Equine Welfare Research Foundation, to provide funding to researchers working in the field of equine welfare, focusing on the Thoroughbred racehorse. He talked about initiatives to address the limitations of practical veterinary training, the obstacle of restricted access to licensed medications and the professional perceptions of veterinary careers. With the current, growing cohort of enthusiastic and capable young veterinary graduates and various international collaboration programmes, Chris reported on his optimism for a continually improving, sustainable veterinary service. He emphasised that enhanced clinical training and improved access to treatment resources would help ensure higher standards of horse welfare while supporting the continued growth of equestrian sport and horse culture across China.
Professor Chris Riggs, FRCVS, Director Equine Welfare Research Foundation and Chief Advisor, Mainland Veterinary Engagement, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), was announced as the winner of the Sir Colin Spedding Award in honour of his dedication to improving equine welfare internationally.
The event’s President, HRH The Princess Royal, provided the closing address and presented the Sir Colin Spedding Award.
Sessions from NEF26 will be posted on NEF’s YouTube channel in the next couple of weeks where they will be accessible to all.
Photo: Shai Dolev Photography www.shaidolev.com