Review - 13th Austrian Equestrian Conference

Created: March 4, 2025
Last updated: August 8, 2025

Review - 13th Austrian Equestrian Conference

Expert insights and exciting discussions

on March 1, 2025. The 13th Austrian Equine Symposium, themed "All About Horses," This year, the event was held for the first time in the Grimming Hall at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein . Due to the new venue, the symposium was slightly smaller, with 250 participants . Despite this adjustment, the symposium, which was fully booked, offered a high-quality and diverse program with renowned speakers from academia and practice.

Review of the 13th Equine Symposium at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

The event was welcomed by Dr. Johann Gasteiner, Direktor of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, who also presented the research and educational work of the institution. The first lecture was given by Dr. Barbara Wallner from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, who, as a lecturer in animal breeding and genetics, provided valuable insights into the principles of heredity and, in connection with the genetic predisposition of horses, emphasized the importance of taking responsibility in breeding.

A significant highlight was the joint presentation by Dr. Andrea Holzleithner and Marietta Bittner, who outlined the activities, training programs, and relevance of the Austrian Board of Trustees for Therapeutic Riding. Warrant Officer Alexander Wöll gave an impressive presentation on the selection of Austrian Haflingers and donkeys for the Hochfilzen Pack Animal Center (Staff Battalion 6, Austrian Armed Forces), highlighting their temperament, readiness, and carrying capacity for use as four-legged companions. who traveled all the way from Egypt, Franziska Müller, not only brought her new book (Spirit and the 7 Secrets of the Soul) but also enthusiastically shared insights into coaching with horses. The sporting aspect was illuminated by Olympic show jumping competitor Katharina Rhomberg and the Austrian Equestrian Federation's (OEPS) Eventing Chef d'Equipe , Thomas Tesch, who shared their experiences in elite sports and their work with teams and horses.

After the lunch break, Saad-el-Din Hadj-Abdou and Peter Karner (AQHA) presented the special characteristics of Quarter Horses as part of the breed presentation, before Dr. Dagmar Trachsel (VetMedUni Vienna) spoke about stable climate and its effects on lung and respiratory diseases in horses. Irene Mösenbacher (HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein) followed up with measures for reducing dust levels in stables and bedding. Reinhard Resch (HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein) expanded on the topic with an assessment of bedding quality and the introduction of a new evaluation tool for assessing straw. As a best practice example, Dr. Sophia Sommerauer gave a presentation , Dr. Christian Franz , using several case studies with impressive medical photographs to comprehensively present clinical pictures and findings on tendon diseases in horses. The presentation concluded Andreas Höllbacher (Pferd Austria) presenting the results of the current 2024 economic study on the horse industry in Austria.

The 13th Equine Symposium, under the direction and moderation of Irene Mösenbacher, Dr. Birgit Heidinger , and Dr. Johannes Frickh (BML), once again offered a valuable opportunity to combine the latest scientific findings with practical experience. In addition to the informative presentations, many participants took advantage of the opportunity for networking, exchanging experiences, and visiting the exhibitors.

The anticipation for the next Austrian Equestrian Conference is already high!