Princess Anne underlined her long-standing commitment to equine
welfare on Friday afternoon as she attended the World Horse Welfare
Annual Conference in London, accompanied by her daughter, Zara
Tindall. The event, held at the Royal Geographical Society, brought
together international specialists to examine the latest research
into horse behaviour and wellbeing.
Princess Anne, who has served as President of the charity since
2000, presided over a programme that invited delegates to consider
“the world through the horse’s eyes”. The theme drew on a growing
body of scientific work challenging long-held assumptions about
equine management and training.
In a keynote address, Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse
Welfare, said that advances in behavioural science were reshaping
modern understanding of how horses experience their
environment.
“We have learned a great deal in recent years,” he said.
“Evidence is emerging that obliges us to reassess what constitutes
a good life for the horses in our care, and to recognise the limits
of what they can and cannot cope with.”
Speakers included veterinarians, researchers, elite riders and
animal-care specialists from Europe, Asia and the United States.
Sessions were chaired by Caroline Nokes MP, with a discussion panel
later led by David Eades, the former BBC presenter.
Zara Tindall, who is a long-standing patron of the charity,
contributed to the closing panel, reflecting on what the world
looks like through the eyes of a horse.
Zara said: “I think seeing through their eyes is all about
partnership, it’s feeling them every day and how different they
come out, being receptive to that and working with that.”
Princess Anne’s presence served to reinforce her decades-long
association with equestrian affairs and her personal advocacy for
rehoming. In 2013 she adopted a horse, Annie, through the charity,
and has since encouraged owners to consider rehomed animals. At the
time, she observed: “Rehoming offers a clearer understanding of an
animal’s background. It allows people to make a tangible
difference.”
World Horse Welfare, founded in 1920 following the work of Marta
Cunningham with injured servicemen returning from the First World
War, now operates internationally. The charity provides rescue,
rehabilitation and advocacy programmes and works closely with
governments, veterinary bodies and sporting organisations. More
than 800 delegates from the UK and abroad registered for this
year’s conference, which was also streamed online with simultaneous
interpretation.
