Three of the RSPCA’s top equine and large animal rescue experts are to speak at the Understand Horses Live 2026 event at Reaseheath College in Nantwich.
Leading equine welfare, behaviour and large animal rescue specialists for the charity will be sharing their expert knowledge at the annual event in June.
They will speak on topics ranging from behaviour-related medication to complex water rescue techniques.
Head Vet for Equines Roxane Kirton, Water and Large Animal Rescue Lead Jason Finch and Learning and Development Advisor Mark Buggie will join an international panel of experts at Reaseheath on June 27-28.
Roxane has been the RSPCA’s Head Vet for Equines since 2020 and will be running a session on “Equine Behaviour Medications and Supplements: What, When and How?”.
Roxane, who is returning for her fourth year at the event, will cover how behaviour problems can stem from medical or emotional causes that cannot always be resolved by training alone.
Jason will present a lecture on ‘Equine Rescue: Principles and Practical Techniques’, and discuss large animal rescue techniques used by emergency services and how to assess emergency situations involving horses, manage risks, and prepare for emergencies.
With 26 years as an RSPCA inspector and now national coordinator for water rescue and large animal rescue, Jason has led responses to major flood incidents and complex large-scale equine rescues.
On the Sunday practical day, Mark will join Jason and Roxane for a live demonstration: ‘Equine Rescue in Action: Practical Techniques and Welfare in Practice’.
The trio will use specialist equipment to demonstrate how rescuers safely manage situations like trapped, cast, or injured horses.
The demo will include discussion from a veterinarian and behaviourist on how emergencies impact horses physically and psychologically, and what owners can do to help reduce stress and support recovery.
Organiser Justine Harrison, of Understand Horses Ltd, said: “Understand Horses Live continues to attract a diverse and influential audience, including vets, physios, welfare professionals, trainers, students and progressive horse owners, all interested in the application of evidence-based approaches.
“We are delighted to welcome three highly experienced RSPCA specialists this year, who will be sharing their expertise through both presentations and live demonstrations.”
For more information and tickets, visit https://www.understandhorses.com/understand-horses-live
Well that’s us not going. The attitude of the RSPCA when it comes to real animal welfare is a an epic fail, even more so when it comes to horses and ponies. They rarely attend, if ever, yet still try to be perceived as a wonderful animal rescue just so they keep getting your donations. Paying for salaries of penpushers instead of the front line animals who need help. They would rather take a disabled pensioner to court for neglect Instead of taking their dog to the vet for an ear infection or nail cutting. And dare you own more than 3 animals in a household, they will deem you unfit and a hoarder. They are a political business these days, not a rescue and not for animals that’s for sure. Their founders must be turning in their graves ;-(