Take more than 1,000 veterinarians and veterinary students from around the globe, some armed with presentations representing thousands of hours worth of equine research, and add to it some tartan, bagpipes, and Scottish fare. Drop it all into a festival city known for its striking castle and Georgian architecture. What’s the outcome? A memorable equine research meeting offering some of the latest in veterinary advancements from the best and brightest minds in equine veterinary medicine, all against a pretty fantastic backdrop.

The Horse attended three days of the 46th British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress held in Edinburgh, Scotland, last September. Following are some research highlights presented at the meeting. Their application is far-reaching–some findings are already making a difference in how we care for our horses, while others might lead to better preventive medicine or treatments for them.

The Practitioner’s Crucial Role

The conference had a royal beginning with a presentation from HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, president of the
Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI, the international governing body of equestrian sport), an international equestrian athlete, and a recently elected member of the International Olympic Committee. She spoke to the audience in a recorded presentation in which she praised the endurance of broodmares–as her own pregnancy kept her from attending BEVA at the last minute–and she thanked the veterinarians for their pursuit for advancing horse health