Conference summary of the 13th Austrian Equine Conference 2025
The 13th Austrian Equine Symposium, themed "All About Horses," took place on March 1, 2025. 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 featuring renowned speakers from academia and practice. Further details can be found here.
Review of the 12th Austrian Equestrian Conference 2024
We have compiled the results of the 12th Austrian Equestrian Conference, including downloads, and are making this overview available to you here on our website.
A look back at the 11th Austrian Equestrian Conference
Austria's largest equestrian education event was held on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Puttererseehalle in Aigen im Ennstal. After the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizing committee, led by Dr. Birgit Heidinger and Ing. Irene Mösenbacher-Molterer (HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein), was encouraged by the increasing number of attendees. Thanks to the relevant and topical topics chosen, the hybrid format of the event welcomed 340 participants from Austria and Germany.
The event opened with a moving presentation on ethical considerations and questions, followed by a high-level panel discussion on the topic with representatives from equestrian sports, breeding, and veterinary medicine. Safety, as well as legal and animal welfare aspects related to road traffic and the training of driving horses, formed the second part of the conference. The presentation of Austrian breeds is a cherished tradition, and this year, in addition to the Austrian Riding Pony, newly introduced breeds such as the Austrian Pony and the Austrian Partbred Pony were also showcased. Extensive discussions and the answering of relevant questions accompanied the registration and mandatory reporting of equine presence in the VIS database, leading into a substantial veterinary session. This session covered topics such as the effects of heat on horses, the identification of lameness and its physiotherapeutic treatment options, as well as interesting insights into complementary medicine methods, providing an informative conclusion to the day's events.
Practical and scientifically sound contributions characterize the Austrian Equestrian Conference with its accompanying trade exhibition every year; recognition is given not only through high interest from the participants but also through continuing education accreditation by the Austrian Equestrian Federation, the Austrian Animal Health Service, and agricultural and forestry teaching and consulting.
This successful specialist event will be continued in spring 2024 in cooperation with all Austrian horse-related institutions.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us:
Here you can download the individual presentations:
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- {rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2023/3pv_2023_leitner.pdf"}
- {rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2023/3pv_2023_movia.pdf"}
- {rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2023/3pv_2023_zechner.pdf"}
- {rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2023/3pv_2023_natmessnig.pdf"}
- {rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2023/3pv_2023_trachsel.pdf"}
- {rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2023/3pv_2023_schug_1.pdf"}
- {rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2023/3pv_2023_schug_2.pdf"}
- {rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2023/3pv_2023_schweiger.pdf"}
Information on the mandatory reporting of the whereabouts of equines
The implementation of the movement database for horses entered into force on July 7, 2021, in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EC) 2021-963. At the 10th Austrian Equine Conference on Saturday, March 5, 2022, Dr. Eva Natmeßnig from the Federal Ministry of Health (BMSGPK) presented the key points and the planned procedure. All information can be found on the Austrian Equine Breeding Association.
Impressions from the 11th Equine Conference
The 11th Austrian Equestrian Conference was organized by:
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Sponsors and exhibitors
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A look back at the 10th Austrian Equestrian Conference
(March 5, 2022, Puttererseehalle Aigen iE)
An anniversary of a slightly different kind - the horse conference was held for the first time in a hybrid form with the option of participating online and on-site.
Numerous guests from Austria and abroad, including many regular attendees from previous years, gathered on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at the Puttererseehalle in Aigen im Ennstal to enjoy top-class speakers and a diverse program after a year's hiatus due to the pandemic. The focus was on the horse as a unifying element across all Austrian equestrian institutions. Despite the officially mandated COVID-19 prevention measures and reduced on-site capacity, the organizing team, maintaining its usual high standards, created optimal conditions for all attendees and participants online, fostering exchange, strengthening networks, and building personal connections "all about horses.".
Looking back on 10 years
Following a film retrospective of 10 years of the equestrian conference, prominent representatives from Austria and abroad gave presentations and discussed issues related to education, expressing clear wishes such as a common professional profile for riding instructors and a comprehensive further development of the current training program, including the Austrian Equestrian Federation and specialized vocational schools. Promoting high-quality training at riding schools and ensuring legal protection for this profession are further defined goals.
The new horse identification regulations and warranty law proved to be contentious issues. The fact that, from May 1, 2022, horses with a habitual stay of more than 30 days at their respective location (with exceptions of up to 90 days for sport, training, and breeding) are subject to mandatory registration in the VIS database, sparked considerable discussion. As implementation is still in progress, not all questions could be answered; however, the Ministry of Health is available as a point of contact.
In addition to a presentation of the Austrian Warmblood horse, the presentation of an economic study by the Austrian Horse Breeders' Association, and insights into the transformation of the Spanish Riding School from a prestige object to a modern cultural institution, short presentations outlined the requirements for horses for breeding, for sport, and for performance/aptitude and temperament tests.
The conference was rounded off with topics on equine health, including lectures from the VetMedUni Vienna and the start of a series featuring current cases from equine veterinary practice.
outlook
The approximately 300 visitors in total showed that this anniversary, despite all restrictions, was very positive for the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and its Austria-wide co-organizers and partners, although the main wish is to be able to hold an Austrian Equine Conference again in 2023 in its usual form without access restrictions and with unlimited numbers of participants.
Irene Mösenbacher-Molterer
{rsfiles path="Tagungen/Pferdetagung/Pferdefachtagung_2022/3_2022_Tagungsband_ganz_Homepage.pdf"}
Review of the 9th Austrian Equestrian Conference 2020
The Austrian equestrian conference "All About Horses" took place for the ninth time on March 7, 2020, in the Puttererseehalle in Aigen im Ennstal (Styria). The event has grown in popularity year after year, and this year 450 guests from Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Liechtenstein were welcomed.
The conference was opened by the Direktor of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Dr. Anton Hausleitner, the mayor of the market town of Irdning-Donnersbachtal Herbert Gugganig, as well as by high-ranking representatives from horse breeding and sport: Dr. Günther Forenbacher (OEPS), Paul Kendlbacher (Die Ländlichen Österreich) and Willy Feuerle (ZAP).
1. Topic block
“Training of young horses” – that was the title of the first lecture block, in which, with the involvement of top-class speakers, the range was spanned from basic training and first steps in dressage work, through eventing, driving and western riding.
The collaboration of the partners makes it possible to offer outstanding presentations every year: for the first part, the head of the Heldenberg training center, Mr. Florian Zimmermann (Spanish Riding School), the 21-year-old eventing rider Lea Siegl from Hargelsberg, who secured an Olympic starting place for Austria in Tokyo thanks to her excellent season last year, Mr. Franz Feichtinger, driving instructor at the Stadl-Paura equestrian center, and the Western riding professional Christian Mantler from Wolfern were secured as speakers. Brief insights into the training of young show jumping horses were provided by Herbert Gugganig and Andreas Pallisch, both long-time practitioners and trainers, after their presentation had originally been removed from the schedule due to a last-minute cancellation.
After the lunch break, a historical development in the history of Austrian horse breeding was presented: Mag. Wilhelm Popatnig spoke about the creation of the new General Secretariat based in the Upper Austrian horse center Stadl Paura, at which point the organizing team conveyed their best wishes for this responsible task.
Continuing the breed presentations begun last year, this year's focus was on impressively introducing the Haflinger horse to the public – for this purpose, the chairman of the ARGE Haflinger, Mr. Manfred Lientschnig, and the managing director of the Ebbs Foal Farm, Mr. Robert Mair, were responsible as presenters. As a highlight of the year, all Haflinger enthusiasts should mark their calendars for the World Exhibition from May 21st to 24th, 2020 in Ebbs, featuring 700 participating horses.
2. Topic block
The second topic block focused on the feeding of young horses: From the veterinary perspectivetaschDr. Sonja Berger from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna addressed ideal and needs-based nutrition, the disease-causing consequences of possible over- or under-supplies, and suboptimal feeding techniques. Further insights were provided by Prof. Remigius Chizzola (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) on practical ration design, as well as on toxins and poisons in forage and concentrated feed. He emphasized that the main criterion lies primarily in the knowledge of poisonous plants, the visual inspection of pastures and feedstuffs, and, in case of doubt, the immediate consultation of a specialist.
Presentation Hay Project
As a new initiative, the hay project was presented by Reinhard Resch (HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein). While already standard practice for cattle, the basic feed for horses will also be subjected to comprehensive testing in the future, in cooperation with the Rosenau feed laboratory. After explaining and evaluating all submitted samples from the 2018 and 2019 harvests, the winners were awarded prizes. Among others, the first prize for the best quality from the 2019 harvest went to Barbara Schneider from Strengberg (Lower Austria). Certificates and prizes from the Rosenau feed laboratory, Die Saat, and Fixkraft Futtermittel were presented to all winners in recognition of their achievements.
Ing. Irene Mösenbacher-Molterer from the organizing team concluded the conference with great satisfaction, expressing her sincere thanks to all speakers, guests, exhibitors and sponsors, and referring to the anniversary event “10 Years of All About Horses” taking place in 2021, which is considered a fixed date in the Austrian horse scene.
Team
Dr. Birgit Heidinger
Institute Management: Animals, Technology and Environment
Engineer Irene Mösenbacher-Molterer, MEd
Head of Department for Testing Activities and Experimental Analysis