As part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations, the Beijer Foundation, together with the Heby municipality and Sweden's Agricultural University (SLU), invited participants to a full day dedicated to horse health. Participants heard from some of the country's leading horse researchers about the most recent research findings for improving the health and performance of sport horses, with sustainability as a starting point.
SLU news
The horse industry was given a full day of research focus
September 22, 2024
As part of its 50th anniversary, the Beijer Foundatoin, together with Heby municipality and SLU, invited to a full day in the name of horse health. The participants were able to take part in the latest research findings and the possibilities to increase the health and performance of the sport horse, with sustainability as a starting point.
The day attracted around 80 interested trainers and breeders from various disciplines, and federation and foundation representatives. Under the heading "Research focus in Heby - the sport horse's performance and health", among other things, visitors could listen to Beijer researcher Elin Hernlund and her colleague Marie Rhodin who offered a journey in HorseTech and technology and AI development to detect lameness.
The morning began in Folkets hus, where the chairman of the Beijer Foundation, Anders Wall, welcomed together with the chairman of the municipal board Marie Wilén and business strategist Ann-Marie Sundgren.
Researcher Sofia Mikko talked about hypermobility and disease.
Gabriella Lindgren about blood pressure regulation and elite performance, and Eva Skiöldebrand talked about the latest results in diagnostics and treatment of osteoarthritis. The morning ended with Anna Jansson who spoke about hoof quality and what the research shows today. With a solid basis of 111,000 starts on the trotting track, the researchers are approaching the answer to the question, what are good hooves for barefoot competition?
The afternoon was spent outdoors at Molnebo Säteri, where the research focus shifted to the technical side. In brilliant sunshine, the participants could see how Elin Hernlund and Marie Rhodin collected data from one of the trotting horses and also take a closer look at the technical equipment.
The last briefing of the day was held by Malin Connysson, where the guests heard more about training with the help of heart rate measurement, how heart rate monitors on the horses can improve results and training plans. In conclusion, the participants who wished were offered a tour of Stall Courant.
The FEI Urges Equestrians to be Their Horses' Guardians
Equestrian sports' international governing body unveils its mission, "to lead, drive, and develop the highest standards of equine sport globally." FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez sets forth the plan in this YouTube video, urging everyone to act as guardians to ensure a "good life for horses." Learn more about the horse welfare plan at https://www.fei.org/stories/lifestyle/horse-human/guardians.
Horse Welfare Summit Shines a Spotlight on Equine Well-being
Flyinge hosted the Horse Welfare Summit, Northern Europe's largest event dedicated to horse welfare. The summit spanned two full days and featured lectures, clinics, and panel discussions led by prominent experts in the field.
Novel Treatment for Osteoarthritis in Horses, and Potentially Humans
Scholarship recipient Eva Skiöldebrand was part of a research team conducting a clinical study of a novel drug combination that was effective in treating osteoarthritis-associated lameness in horses and restoring joint tissue. The findings could have implications for treating ostearthritis in humans as well, since horses and humans are genetically very similar. The researchers hope to conduct a clinical trial of the drug treatment in humans next.