Prevention, measurement and a closer understanding of stress in horses, methods to improve safety for horse and rider, and a new scale for assessing dressage performances: these are just some of the many research issues addressed in the International Equitation Science Conference, ISES 2014, which will be held from 7-9 August 2014 at the Vingsted Centre near Vejle.

The conference offers 35 lectures and 57 posters under the themes "Interpretation and equine stress responses", "Learning and cognition" and "Sustainable training and riding”. The conference also includes a practical day where participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in rider training, including pony club training, fall techniques, academic riding and show jumping.

- Denmark is the EU country with the highest number of horses per capita and riding has always played a major role in our country, says HRH Princess Benedikte, who is patron of the conference. The princess has herself been a rider since childhood and is the mother of one of Denmark's elite riders, so the welfare and safety of both horse and rider is very close to her heart.

The conference is held under the auspices of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) and attracts scientists, veterinarians, professional riders and others with an interest in what is happening in equine research. The conference in Denmark will have delegates from Australia, USA, Canada, Japan and several European countries.

The conference is the 10th of its kind and is held in a different country each year. This year, the conference's main themes are interpretation of equine stress responses, learning and cognition, and sustainable training and riding. 

See also the article ‘Horse conference gets royal patron’.

For further information please contact: Researcher Janne Winther Christensen, Department of Animal Science, email: jannewinther.christensen@agrsci.dk, telephone: +45 8715 8075