Numerous guests from home and abroad, including many regular guests from previous years, gathered at the Puttererseehalle in Aigen im Ennstal on Saturday, March 5th, 2022, to hear top-class speakers and a varied program after a year of Corona-related break enjoy. The focus was on the horse as a unifying element across all Austrian, horse-related institutions. Despite the officially ordered Covid prevention concept and the reduced number of participants on site, the organizational team managed to create the best conditions for all those present and participants via the web with the usual quality in order to promote shared exchange, strengthening networks and personal connections “all around horses”. .
Topics and content
After a film review of 10 years of equine conferences, well-known representatives from home and abroad spoke and discussed questions of training with clear wishes such as a common professional profile for riding apprenticeships and a comprehensive further development of the current training with the inclusion of the Austrian Equestrian Association and the specialist vocational schools. Further defined goals are the promotion of high-quality training at riding schools and legal protection for this professional sector.
The new horse identification regulation and warranty law turned out to be controversial issues. The fact that horses from May 1, 2022 and with a usual period of stay of more than 30 days at the respective location, with exceptions of up to 90 days for sport, training and breeding, are subject to a reporting obligation subject to the VIS database gave rise to discussion. Since the implementation is an ongoing process, not all questions could be clarified, but the Ministry of Health is available as a contact person.
In addition to a presentation of the Austrian Warmblood Horse, the presentation of an economic efficiency study by the Working Group of Austrian Horse Breeders and insights into the transformation of the Spanish Riding School from a prestigious object to a modern cultural enterprise, short presentations discussed the requirements for horses for breeding, for sport as well as for performance/disposition and Compatibility tests are presented.
The specialist day was rounded off with topics on horse health with lectures from the VetMedUni Vienna as well as a series start with current cases from equine veterinary practice.
outlook
A total of around 300 visitors showed that, despite all the restrictions, this anniversary was very positive for the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and its Austria-wide co-organizers and partners, although the main wish is to have an Austrian horse conference in the usual form again in 2023 without Access restrictions and with unlimited numbers of participants.
Ing. Irene Mösenbacher-Molterer (author), Dr. Birgit Heidinger, Dr. Silke Schaumberger
team
Dr. Birgit Heidinger
Head of Institute for Animals, Technology and Environment
Ing.in Irene Mösenbacher-Molterer
Animal husbandry systems, technology and emissions