BEVA Congress offers social licence stream
This year's congress runs from 11-14 September.
The issue of society’s acceptance of the use of horses in sport and competitions will be a major topic at this year’s BEVA Congress.
Activities that have public approval or acceptance are said to have a social licence to operate. This licence has been questioned by some groups in recent years when it comes to the involvement of horses in certain activities, especially horse racing.
The opening day of BEVA Congress will devote an entire stream to the subject of how to strengthen equine sport’s social licence, looking at some of the similarities between equine and human sporting injures and how the number of such injuries could be reduced.
The stream will include Olympic gold medalist Sally Gunnell sharing her experiences of injury, a talk from a surgeon who works with young human athletes with stress fractures, and a talk on the steps being taken in Australia to prevent injuries to horses in high profile races.
Bruce Bladon, BEVA president elect, said: “A huge part of equine practice stems from the involvement of horses in competition. Whether the animals under our care take part in the local pony club’s mounted games, are on display in the showing classes at the county show, or are competing at the Olympics, equine veterinary practice would be unlikely to survive without horse sport.
“However, the future of equine sport, including horse racing, is under debate; competition often increases the risk of injury, and, at one end of the spectrum, it inevitably also increases the risk of fatal injury.
“This is an area where veterinary science and research can help; demonstrably reducing the risk and/or severity of injury during competition is likely to be an important factor in retaining the social licence of equestrianism into the future.”
This year’s BEVA Congress runs from 11-14 September at the ACC in Liverpool. More information about the event can be found here.
Image © BEVA
Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.
