Alberta's horse industry gathered in Red Deer on January 15 to 17, 2010, to take in the 28th annual Horse Breeders & Owners Conference. The exhibit hall hosted over 60 sponsoring businesses and organizations and 560 people were on-site for the seminars and networking opportunities afforded by this annual, mid-winter, equine educational event.
Conference sessions covered topics and timely issues such as:
- Nutrition, supplements, feed and feed inventory
- Horse and human health and research on equine health
- Yoga for equestrians
- Training, coaching, conditioning and getting the most enjoyment out of time with horses
- The performance horse market and equine businesses
- Premise and equine identification
- Equine Canada's national reform strategy
Again this year, the conference wrapped up with the very important SPCA Fred Pearce Memorial Lecture dedicated to the welfare of the horse. Dr. Derek Haley, now at the University of Guelph, Ontario, provided a balanced and sound argument on the topic of animal welfare and horses.
"The Horse Industry Association of Alberta thanks all who attended, all who sponsored the event and the 20 presenters who brought their expertise and experience to Red Deer," says Teresa van Bryce, Horse Industry Association of Alberta. "As one conference delegate said, 'We are so very fortunate to have an annual event of this calibre so easily accessible to Alberta's horse people."
Source : Government of Alberta