National Equine Forum

The picture shows the cover from NEF25, featuring Arthur the Miniature Shetland pony.

👉 Closing soon!
Could a picture of your equine friend follow in Arthur's footsteps?
We're calling for amateur equine photographers to enter a special competition to find a cover star for the #NEF26 programme.
👉 More info: bit.ly/NEF26CoverIm...

The picture shows the programme cover from NEF25, featuring Arthur, the Miniature Shetland pony.

Could a picture of your equine friend follow in Arthur's footsteps?
The National Equine Forum committee is calling for amateur equine photographers to enter a special competition to find a cover star for the #NEF26 programme.
👉 More info: bit.ly/NEF26CoverIm...

The pictures shows the Stag Beetle sculpture that the winner of the Spedding Award receives to keep for a year.

Don't miss your chance to nominate an unsung individual or organisation with outstanding qualities for the Sir Colin Spedding Award.
👉 Find out more: bit.ly/NEFSpeddingI...
👉 Nominate here: bit.ly/NEFNominations

Nominations are now open for exceptional individuals or organisations within the equine sector for NEF's Sir Colin Spedding Award 2026.

This prestigious award champions the cause of those who strive to make a difference in the horse world but are, as yet, unacknowledged.

👉 bit.ly/NEFNominations

Strangles Awareness Week is over for another year! We really hope it’s been the BEST week for protecting horses from Strangles! #SAW25 #StranglesAwarenessWeek

Using the BEST steps significantly reduces the risk of Strangles, but outbreaks can still happen to anyone. Watch our short film to discover how one yard smashed Strangles #SAW25 #StranglesAwarenessWeek t.co/9QujXsitmY

By making temp checking part of your routine, not only will you and your horse be used to the process, but you’ll know what is normal for your horse. Spotting a health problem early gives you the BEST chance to get on top of it. #SAW25 #StranglesAwarenessWeek #HotBeforeSnot

It’s Day 4 of Strangles Awareness Week, and we’re looking at how to SEPARATE horses when needed to stop Strangles spreading. It may be easier than you think, especially as Strangles is not an airborne disease! #SAW25 #StranglesAwarenessWeek

Accurate info helps us recognise that Strangles can happen to any horse, and those dealing with it deserve understanding & support. The SAW Collaborators have produced useful resources. Visit @redwingsuk.bsky.social
#SAW25 #StranglesAwarenessWeek

YouTube video by Strangles Awareness Week Indigo has his first Strangles vaccination

Meet Indigo and his loaner Ellen, as we look at how we can BOOST horses’ immunity to Strangles with vaccination. #SAW25 #StranglesAwarenessWeek www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZSK...

Welcome to #StranglesAwarenessWeek 2025! Seven days when sharing is caring as we give horses the BEST protection from a horrible but often avoidable disease. #SAW25 #StranglesAwarenessWeek2025

HRH The Princess Royal, National Equine Forum President, provided her remarks on the topics discussed throughout #NEF25, and presented the 2025 Sir Colin Spedding Award.

Watch the recording here: youtu.be/K5K3MWHYZfI

The recording of our #NEF25 Memorial Lecture titled ‘Charities Working Together’ is available now.

Chaired by James Hick, speakers were:

- Penny Baker, Field Officer

- Jana Merrett-Jones

- Christine Styles

Watch the video here: youtu.be/RxCKgiH9uI4

The recording of our Equine Assisted Services session is available now.

Ed Bracher gave an overview of EAS, before introducing:

- Sharon Gray

- Rosie Bensley and Dr Jemma Hockley

- Andrew Brooks

This session concluded with a panel discussion.

Watch the recording here: youtu.be/OES2srbWEj8

Our #NEF25 afternoon sessions began with a Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games review.

Chaired by Jim Eyre, Helen Nicholls (Performance Director, British Equestrian) gave the review before she and Jim took questions.

Watch the recording here: youtu.be/lv1gQJEMT1c

The recording of the #NEF25 Equine Industry in a Changing World session, chaired by Roly Owers, is available now.

Speakers were:

- Baroness Hayman of Ullock

- Dr Richard Newton

- David Mountford

This session concluded with a panel discussion.

Watch the replay here: youtu.be/Pi8yT-zW7sk

The recording of the #NEF25 Equine Health and Welfare Updates session, chaired by Peter Laurie, is available now.

Speakers were:

- Prof Bruce McGorum

- Prof Richard Piercy

- Dr Julia Shrubb

This session concluded with a panel discussion.

Watch the video here: youtu.be/9GvIObETVng

The recording of The Importance of Feed and Forage to All #NEF25 session is available now.

Chaired by Dr Pat Harris, speakers were:

- Ruth Bishop

- Prof Meriel Moore-Colyer

- Dr Katie Williams

This session concluded with a panel discussion.

You can watch the video here: youtu.be/_fTsBnhu1h8

Too cute!

We're delighted to announce that #NEF25 broke previous attendance records, with the face-to-face event at capacity and the highest-ever number of people watching the live stream from around the world.

Find out more here: www.nationalequineforum.com/record-atten...

Thank you to everyone who joined us for #NEF25. #NEF26 will take place on Thursday 05 March 2026.

Di Arbuthnot, the former Chief Executive of the charity Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), was announced as the winner of the Sir Colin Spedding Award at #NEF25.

The award was given in recognition of Di’s dedication to racehorse welfare.

Read more here: www.nationalequineforum.com/nef-sir-coli...

HRH The Princess Royal, National Equine Forum President, provided her remarks on the topics discussed throughout the day, and presented the 2025 Sir Colin Spedding Award at #NEF25.

The #NEF25 Memorial Lecture was dedicated to the late Kirsty Withnall, who was awarded the Sir Colin Spedding Award at NEF24 for her incredible work in the welfare sector.

Kirsty was instrumental in some of the largest welfare cases in the country.

Our #NEF25 Memorial Lecture was titled ‘Charities Working Together.' Chaired by James Hick, speakers were:

- Penny Baker

- Jana Merrett-Jones

- Christine Styles

This session concluded with questions.

Andrew and his son James gave a parent's perspective on the transformative power of equine assisted learning at #NEF25

Andrew explained how, as a non-horsey parent, he was at first skeptical, but can now stand as an advocate for equine assisted learning as a tool to transform young people's lives.

We heard from Rosie Bensley and Dr Jemma Hockley; Co-founders of Strength and Learning Through Horses, at #NEF25. Their talk was titled 'What can the equestrian sector learn from equine assisted service providers to improve accessibility?'

Sharon Gray; Education Consultant, Wholehearted Learning took us through child development stages, learning and attachment styles at #NEF25

Sharon used Jenga to explain what happens to our brains at each stage of development.

Ed Bracher; Chair, Equine Assisted Services Partnership, explained that EAS are goal-orientated activities that intentionally incorporate animals into human services, healthcare, interactions, PTSD, overcoming anxiety, confidence and self esteem at #NEF25

Ed Bracher gave an overview of Equine Assisted Services before introducing:

- Sharon Gray

- Rosie Bensley and Dr Jemma Hockley

- Andrew Brooks and his son James

This session concluded with a panel discussion.