GM, partner. This is The Oxer. The newsletter that takes you out of your tack room and into the global equestrian industry.
🐴 Here’s what we’ve got for you today:
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Horses Under Threat of Extinction: And what we’re doing about it.
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A Big & Fat Equestrian Meeting: Why this meeting was so important.
What happened?!
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Heritage breeds of horses, donkeys, and mules, which are among the rarest and hardiest equines in the world, are under threat of extinction.
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Competition from tractors and automobiles, coupled with two world wars, have resulted in the loss of equine populations around the world.
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The Livestock Conservancy, a nonprofit membership association formed in 1978, is trying to save 150 breeds of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, poultry, horses, and donkeys in the US, of which 37 are equines.
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The Conservancy works to protect endangered livestock breeds from extinction and has spawned the creation of the Endangered Equine Alliance, which is trying to stem the decades-long decline in horse breed registrations.
Our jump on the subject
It makes sense why there is such a decline in certain horse breeds based on the facts above. However, can you imagine an America without wild horses?
Along with dogs, horses have been humans’ favorite companion animals. World history would be different if we didn’t have a healthy horse population.
The Conservancy’s work to preserve equines includes “genetic materials for breed conservation emergencies” and discounts for breeders for reproductive materials of endangered species.
Are you interested in helping save these horse breeds? Donate to The Livestock Conservancy, the organization protecting equines from extinction.
What happened?!
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The National Equine Forum in London covered the equine industry in a changing world.
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Virtual viewers, including those from the US, Italy, South Africa, Ireland, and New Zealand, joined in to learn about themes like Defra perspective, Equine ID, and the public acceptance of equestrianism.
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Speakers discussed the latest data on the sector, the sustainability of riding schools, current equine health risks, and working with paraprofessionals.
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A British Horse Council chairman, David Mountford, announced the Digital First Equine ID, a simple, accessible digital ID process.
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Other sessions covered significant health risks to horses and ways to tackle unwanted behaviors.
Our jump on the subject
How can we save horses in Ukraine? How can we take a horse from poor behavior and turn it into a “dressage star”?
These were the kinds of questions that were asked and answered at Britain’s National Equine Forum (NEF) this month.
Some of the developments discussed at the forum also included, but aren’t limited to, the following:
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Using digital to streamline border crossings and disease management for horses
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The imbalance between a decline of riding schools in Britain but an alleged increase in demand
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How influencers impact us all and how we think
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And more.
Take your time to digest these stories and let us know what you think by replying.
Give your horse a carrot,
The Oxer
