RSPCA Vic Horse Welfare Evenings

RSPCA Vic Horse Welfare Evenings - Live via Zoom

Evening 1: Tips for springtime management

26th October, 6.30 pm

Join us for a discussion around managing hooves and diets for springtime! 

Did you know that laminitis is the second biggest killer of horses after colic? Much has changed around what we know about the causes and risk factors for laminitis over the past 10 years. Horses that have PPID (Cushings) or Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) have an increased risk of developing laminitis. Come along to this evening to get a better understanding of laminitis, the sometimes unrecognized risk factors, and how to feed and manage hoof care proactively to reduce future problems.

Evening 2: Keeping welfare front of mind

2nd November, 6.30pm

As horse owners and enthusiasts, at times we can be asking a lot of our equine friends. How do we ensure that our horses achieve and maintain peak performance, and where does welfare fit into all of this? Whether you are looking after a horse enjoying their retirement years, or one that is at peak performance condition, Dr Paul Owens will discuss the importance of dental health and hygiene, and the impact that this plays on a horse’s overall welfare. Paul Buckland will then take the discussion further to highlight points on how we can select and fit our horse’s gear to ensure that they are physically and mentally ready to partner with us on our equine adventures.

Evening 3: Summertime health and pasture management

15th February, 6.30pm

We all want to look after our horses the best we can. As horses age, their nutritional requirements also change and not always in the obvious ways. Digestive efficiency decreases, dental health and their ability to graze or eat hay can decrease significantly and they may develop conditions such as PPID (Cushings). During this session, we will unpack the common challenges of feeding horses over the summer months when pasture feed might be limiting and challenging to digest, especially if they have less than perfect dentition! Explore different types of feeds, and management practices to help maintain a healthy body condition, and find out how to adjust your horse’s feed and your management of pastures to take into account the season. Come along for a chance to ask your questions!

Evening 4: Promoting health and welfare during training and exercise

22nd February, 6.30pm 

How we train, handle and exercise our horses has a profound influence on their physical and mental state, as well as their overall wellbeing. Starting the evening with the physiology aspects of joint and muscle care, our experts will discuss strategies to promote healthy range of movement and best practise methods in preventative joint and muscle health.

Dr Andrew McLean will then lead us into a discussion around promoting welfare using clear, ethical and systematic approaches when interacting with our horses, be that through ground work or in the saddle.  

Expert Speakers include:

Sarah Kuyken (Innovative Hoof Care)

Dr Peter Huntington (Kentucky Equine Research)

Dr Paul Owens (Horse Vet Dentist) 

Paul Buckland (Paul Buckland Saddler) 

Dr Andrew McLean (Equitation Science International)

Dr Andrea Redgewell (Mixed Practice Veterinarian)

All participants who register for the webinar will receive a copy of the recording.

Want to improve your animal skills? Looking for quality teaching by industry experts? Want real skills and training?

Whether you’re a pet owner or thinking of a career in animal care, RSPCA Victoria has a short course to extend your animal skills and understanding.

Designed to develop new skills for anyone dealing with animals; RSPCA short courses provide valuable access to industry experts and utilise quality resources and trainers in an informative and hands-on environment.

As the trusted name in animal welfare in Victoria, we understand what animals need, and what works and what doesn’t – and are keen to share our practical knowledge and skills with you through.

Gain professional skills. Learn about your pet. Or both!

Programs are tailored for those wanting to enter the animal industry or improve their skills within this field, as well as helping people to increase their skills with their own pets.

Hands-on experience is essential to understanding animals so you will have the chance to meet and work with – animals from our education team – as well as learn from industry experts and qualified trainers.

And of course, profits raised go towards supporting animal welfare projects. You’re helping animals while you learn to… help animals!

So book your course with us today.

About RSPCA Victoria

We are a non-government, community based charity that works to prevent cruelty to animals by actively promoting their care and protection. RSPCA Victoria was established in Melbourne in 1871. Since this time, the RSPCA has become Australia's leading animal welfare charity.

Our community services include work in education, advocacy, animal care and protection. In Victoria, we operate nine animal Adoption Care Centres and one community pet care centre, providing refuge and care to more than 20,000 animals every year. 

As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on community support to care for 'all creatures great and small'.  More than 90% of our funding is due to the generous support of the Victorian community.

For further information, visit www.rspcavic.org