Endurance Veterinary Seminar

On 25 and 26 June 2004 some eighty Veterinarians and Official Delegates from twenty five countries on six continents attended a Seminar at Newmarket, England.

Over 16 speakers gave presentations on a wide range of related subjects and many of the seminar attendees also visited the site of the Endurance Nations Cup which was held over the two days (see separate news item) immediately following the seminar and course programme.

The main objectives of the seminar were:

- To provide high quality continued professional education to stimulate interest from a broad base of practicing equine veterinarians for Endurance and other "stamina" related equestrian disciplines.

- To provide the opportunity for experienced national and international Endurance Event veterinarians to interact with members of the research community to help define areas of clinical concern in order prioritise projects that require urgent investigation to benefit equine welfare as supported by the FEI Bureau and for which it has reserved funding.

- To provide an opportunity for veterinarians nominated by their NFs to complete the required FEI Event Veterinarian Course.

- To define the necessary qualifications required for the classification of Endurance Event & Treatment veterinarians as presented at the recent Bureau meeting (see FEI Bulletin 6/03).

Dr Frits Sluyter, Head of the FEI Veterinary Department and a speaker at the seminar, commented, 'A significant step forward in Endurance research and ultimately in the welfare of Endurance horses'