ISES Conference 2021

 

After careful consideration regarding the continued impact of the coronavirus on travel and meeting plans, and to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone involved, we have decided to move the ISES 2021 conference to a virtual format. We are hoping that the positive impact of vaccination strategies will see us all in a much different place next year and this will enable us to meet face to face again, at Hartpury. Further details of the 2021 ISES virtual conference will be announced shortly.

https://www.hartpury.ac.uk/

Welcome!

The International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) is a not-for-profit organisation that chiefly aims to facilitate research into the training of horses to enhance horse welfare and improve the horse–rider relationship.

ISES runs international conferences that serve as platforms where the  latest research findings and their application in practice can be communicated and discussed. ISES also provides a pool of expertise for international bodies and academic institutions that approach ISES with questions related to horse behaviour, training and welfare.

ISES Mission

The Mission of ISES is to promote and encourage the application of objective research and consequently advance equestrian practice that will ultimately improve the welfare of horses in their interactions with humans.

What is Equitation Science?

Equitation science promotes an objective, evidence-based understanding of the welfare of horses during training and competition by applying valid, quantitative scientific methods that can identify what training techniques are ineffective or may result in equine suffering. Equitation Science uses a multidisciplinary approach to explain horse training, for example from a learning theory perspective that removes anthropomorphism and emotiveness.

Read more about the 'Advent of Equitation Science' – by P. McGreevy

Why do we need Equitation Science and ISES?

Equitation Science has the potential to address a series of important problems. First, it elucidates the role of negative reinforcement and habituation in the learning processes of horses on which we ride and compete. Second, it addresses the need to measure rider interventions that may compromise horse welfare, which will assist the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) in determining what practices and interventions are acceptable on welfare grounds. Third, and perhaps most important, Equitation Science will educate current and aspiring riders in how best to apply the core principles of learning theory.

Membership

ISES was founded by individuals from various equine fields of knowledge in 2007. Since then, Equitation Science has developed rapidly, not least because of the growing worldwide interest in this area among equestrian professionals and academics alike. ISES now unites a multidisciplinary membership of academics, students and interested practitioners worldwide.

Become a member of ISES and benefit from reduced registration fees for international conferences, and access to the members-only area that facilitates communication among members from around the world, provides resource materials for teaching and keeps you informed about the latest employment opportunities and news related to equitation and equine welfare.

Membership categories:

• Academic Membership
• Practitioner Membership
• Student Membership
• Supporter Membership
• Corporate Membership

Save

Head over to the ISES YouTube channel to view videos of previous conference presentations and practical demonstrations.