Workshop topics

Here you can find more information about the workshops that will take place on the 22^nd of October 2018. You can choose two workshops in the two rounds that will take place. Once you are registered we will send you a link where you can register yourself for the workshops.

1. Horse Feed and technology – challenges and ideas

By Rob Krabbenborg, Pavo

In this workshop participants will explore what technology can contribute in the world of horse nutrition. How can technology influence what we feed our horses and how does the world look like in 5 – 10 years from now?

Rob Krabbenborg is a man with a vision and many years of experience in innovating and developing. Through PAVO he is also involved in many projects that deal with technology in horse nutrition and welfare.

2. Starting a communal research project with the ‘International Equine Science Network’

By Dirk Winter and Sandra van Iwaarden, FH Nürtingen and Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein (HVHL)

In this workshops participants will work out an idea for a communal research project that the institutes of the equine science network can participate on. What is a topic in the equine industry that needs to be researched more in order to challenge perceptions? How could a research look like in terms of method and procedures? The best idea will be executed in a unique combination of the participating institutes.

Sandra van Iwaarden (HVHL) and Dirk Winter (FH Nürtingen) are both experienced lecturers and researchers who have helped many students to set up projects before. Achieving more communal research projects is a goal of the Equine Science Network.

3. Monitoring the welfare of horses – monitoring systems in different countries

By Hans Hopster and Femke Kromhout, VHL animal health, behavior & welfare research group

Animal welfare is a topic of increasing societal concern, getting a lot of media attention. The welfare of horses is an important issue for the industry as well but nevertheless welfare issues easily generate negative media attention. In this workshop the participants learn about the various methods to assess the welfare of horses, what monitoring systems there are in the different countries, how are they used and how welfare standards are put into practice? 

Hans Hopster is leader of the research group  for animal welfare at HVHL. With his group he executes many projects on animal welfare, behavior and health in various species. Femke Kromhout, member of the research group and lecturer at Animal Management, has developed an equine welfare monitor in her master thesis.

4. Defining and improving sustainability in the horse industry

By Ruth van der Beek (HVHL) and Xander Noë (KNHS)

Sustainabillity and conserving the planet is something that we all need to work towards. As the greenest university of applied sciences of the Netherlands, HVHL has made sustainability one of their core topics.

Lecturer Ruth van der Beek of Equine Sports & Business teaches sustainability in the programme. Together with Xander Noë, head of the educational department of the Dutch Equestrian Federation, she is looking forward to explore a more sustainable future of the equine industry. What are good examples and what needs to happen to make the equine sector more sustainable?

5. Riding tack of the future- how can we innovate the traditions?

By Johannes Stübben, Stübben

In this workshop the participants will work out what innovations could be interesting for our equine tack. What do we actually need for our horses? How can we improve welfare and training with special redesigned tack? What will our future saddles and bridles look like?

Johannes Stübben is the CEO of German tack producer Stübben. Within the last years Stübben has predominantly focused on innovating while keeping the long tradition of the family business. As a result of this innovation process they have developed, produced and marketed a few tack innovation such as the Equi-Soft Saddle and Girth and the Freedom Bridle.

6. Technology in training

By Menke Steenbergen, IPOS Technolog

Measuring is knowing and wearables are hot. What does this mean for the equine sport? In this workshop we will explore together what the technology of the future will bring. Can technology make the sport more fair and transparent and will all horses wear measuring devices in the future?

Menke Steenbergen has recently launched the IPOS sensor which is a rein pressure sensor that measures the equality of contact and lightness as well as the straightness of horses. Through her company she has participated in a lot of innovation fairs and has a good view on the technology market.

Practical workshop descriptions

1. Sensor based gait analysis

By John Voskamp, Equi Moves 

Portable equine gait analysis system that allows an assessment of gaits of the horses. The system is based on miniature kinematic sensors that will be attached to the legs, withers and pelvis of the horse. Movement coordination, temporal and spatial gait parameters are being measured and the analysis quantify scientifically the differences between horses but also response on training, shoeing, nerve blocking, medication and other things.

2. Rein tension sensors

By Menke Steenbergen - IPOS technology

The system consists of two rein sensors that are placed on the left and right side between the bit and the rein. Amount of pressure that is applied on the bit as well as contact, straightness and lightness can be measured. By analyzing the pattern the software is able to calculate your contact weight, your horse’s own pressure and your inputs to your horse.

3. Heartrate monitor

By Cees van Beckhoven- Hylofit Heartrate Measurement 

This system is a wearable device for horse and rider that tracks performance and provides insights to improve training results and promote the overall health and wellbeing of a horse. By tracking the heartbeat consistently a rider can get more insight into whether the horse is stressed or in pain and track the training successes.

4. Saddle pressure mat

By Linda Roost- Paerd, Saddlemeasurement

This system is a pressure mat -Novel Pliance ® -that can be placed under the saddle and will detect the pressure under the saddle. A pressure measurement with this system will give scientifically validated insights into the pressure distribution under the saddle during riding. Through images and analysis the pressure mat will show where potential problems lie and can help with finding a solution. It can of course also measure the pressure of different saddles and different saddle pads as well as different riders.

5. Non-invasive measurement of stress hormones

By Dr. Konstanze Krueger- FH Nürtingen Geislingen

In this workshop Dr. Konstanze will explain the method of non-invasive measurement of stress hormones and discuss with the students in which cases what kind of samples have to be taken. On top of that you get to practice taking samples correctly and get to see and use some of the laboratory equipment and results. She will also present some results of previous studies.