UKHSU - The United Kingdom Horse Shoers Union

Giles Holtom and Princess Anne confirmed for National Equine Forum

The 13th National Equine Forum (NEF) will be held on Tuesday 22nd March at the Royal Veterinary College, London. The Princess Royal, a regular attendee since its inception, will once again join the forum to give a presentation during the afternoon session.

Dr Giles Holtom PhD FWCF will be representing farriers as the representative of the UKHSU.

The Forum will cover a number of important industry issues this year, with contributions from the Rural Affairs Minister as well as some of the country's leading equestrian experts.

Alun Michael will provide the current Government overview of the industry and Tristram Ricketts, chairman of the British Horse Industry Confederation, will be presenting an update on the "Strategy for the horse Industry", due to be launched in the summer.

Graham Suggett, British Equestrian Federation consultant director of breeding, will be issuing the latest information on the National Equine Database.

Aideen O'Dochartaigh, winner of the Eqvalan Duo "Equine Thesis of the Year" will reveal the results of her research on "Factors affecting the sale of Thoroughbred Yearlings".

The Principal of Hartpury College, Malcolm Wharton, will be looking at "The Role of colleges", while Will Connell - the team leader of the British equestrian Olympic team - will be reviewing Team Britain's equestrian performance and lessons learnt in the 2004 Olympics and Paralympics.

In addition, the forum's traditional afternoon topical spot will be reserved for two or three "hot topics", including Celia Marr, of Rossdale and Partners, speaking on BEVA "Evidence based medicine initiatives" and Christopher Hewlett, senior assessor, British Breeding, on the newly launched breeders quality mark.

The Forum, set to be chaired by Professor Colin Spedding, CBE, is supported by the ABRS, BETA, BEF, BHS, The Blue Cross, Dodson and Horrell, The Donkey Sanctuary, The Home of Rest for Horses, ILPH, the Jeffress Scholarship Trust and Merial.