Social licence under the spotlight at BEVA Congress

The upcoming BEVA Congress, scheduled for September 11-14  2024 at the ACC in Liverpool, will place a significant focus on equestrianism’s social licence to operate, particularly in relation to equine veterinary practice. The opening day will feature a dedicated stream examining the connection between equine and human sporting injuries, along with strategies to reduce their occurrence.

BEVA President Elect, Bruce Bladon, highlighted the critical role of horse sports in sustaining equine veterinary practice. He emphasised that while competition is vital, it also raises the risk of injuries, including fatal ones, and that veterinary science plays a crucial role in mitigating these risks to preserve equestrianism’s social licence.

The Congress stream will feature key discussions, including:

– Australian initiatives to identify and stand down horses at risk of injury during major races (Prof Chris Whitton, 8:30 am, Hall 3a).

– A human surgeon’s insights on managing stress fractures in young athletes (Bill Ribbons, 1:40 pm, Hall 3a).

– Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell discussing her experience with sports injuries (3:10 pm, Hall 1a).

This year’s Congress theme, ‘one medicine,’ emphasises the value of shared knowledge between human and equine medicine. Over 90 hours of live and on-demand CPD will be available, covering a wide range of topics in equine medicine, surgery, and practice.

BEVA members can purchase tickets for the full three days at £597 for vets, with concessions available, and £221 for nurse members. Day tickets and practice passes are also offered. Tickets include access to all sessions, the exhibition hall, and the virtual Congress hub, which will host Congress content for six months post-event.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.bevacongress.org