• To highlight how the Horse Industry may contribute towards achieving EU priorities such as rural development, economic growth, ecological and environmental protection, health and science- based knowledge

• To share immediate experiences of the economic recession on the Horse Industry, as reflected in e.g. sports and breeding, and discuss possible ways forward including how EU programs and policies may contribute to a sustainable development of the Horse Industry

• To discuss how the Horse Industry can be more proactive in the preparation processes for the EU Rural Development Program commencing in 2014 and for the EU 8th Framework Programs for Research and Technological Development, as well as for the remaining parts of FP7

• Initiate an increased cooperation between the EU countries concerning the global issues of importance for sustainable development and growth

Participants
The target groups for this conference were professionals, officials representing organizations of the Horse Industry and the EU Directorates, politicians, the Rural Development Networks, COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organizations), Ministries and scientists.

Programme

Thursday 29 October

11.00	Registration
12.00	Lunch
13.00	Plenum: How may the Horse Industry Contribute towards Achieving EU priorities?
	Opening by Camilla Linder, chairman Organizing Committee, Federation of Swedish Farmers Welcome by Lisa Sennerby Forsse, vice-chancellor, Göran Dalin and Jan Philipsson (moderators), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
	Key-note talks:
	The Horse Industry in Europe of Today Carolina Liljenstolpe, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences The Economic and Social Impact of Horse Racing to the European Economy Bertrand Bélinguier, European Pari Mutuel Association Does the Horse Industry Play a Role for Agriculture and Rural Development? Sřren Kissmeyer, EU Commission DG Agri
14.30	Break
15.00	3 Parallel sessions:
	Session A
	Horse Businesses in Rural Areas – Opportunities and Challenges Moderator Elisabeth Gauffin Federation of Swedish Farmers, IFAP and COGECA
15.00	Presentations:
	Horse Breeding as a Land Use and Agricultural Activity Anna Hedberg, Swedish Ministry of Agriculture The Present Situation in Breeding and Sport – Possible Ways Forward Steven Janssens (BEL) Interstallion, Karen Hennessy (IRL) University Collage Dublin Torbjřrn Frřysnes (NO) Union Européenne du Trot Equine Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas Terhi Thuneberg (FIN) HAMK University of Applied Sciences Hanna Elgĺker (SWE) Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
16.30	Comments and discussion
17.30	End
	Session B
	Education, Research and Innovation Moderator Göran Dalin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
15.00	Presentations:
	The Equine Professional of Tomorrow – from a Racing and Equestrian Perspective Hans van Tartwijk (NLD)Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences Harald Müller (GER) FEI Education and Standards Rory MacDonald British Racing School Equine Education in Europe – Opportunities to Mobilize Resources Anna-Lena Holgersson (SWE) EAAP Working on Equine Science Education Equine Science Looking Forward to Match the New Challenges of a Growing Equine Industry William Martin-Rosset, (FRA) INRA, Equine Science Board
16.30	Comments and discussion
17.30	End
	Session c
	What is on the European Horse Agenda? Moderator Mats Denninger Swedish Horse Council Foundation and Horserace Totalizator Board
15.00	Presentations:
	The Horse and the EU Rural Development Agenda Sřren Kissmeyer, EU Commission DG Agriand repr DG Sanco European Legislation and Veterinary Issues from a Sport and Breeding Perspective Joseph Hernon (IRL), European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders’ Associations, Graeme Cooke FEI Veterinary Department Peter Kallings (SWE)Swedish Foundation of Equine Research How to Represent Interests of the Horse Industry in the European Union? Lucia Zitti (IT), COPA - COGECA Maurits Bruggink, International Federation of Horseracing Authorities
16.30	Comments and discussion
17.30	End
20.00	Conference dinner at “Norrlands nation”. Host of the evening Minister of Agriculture, Eskil Erlandsson

Friday 30 October

09.00	Plenum: The Future Horse Industry - Competitiveness, Development and Social Benefit Moderator: Magnus Nordgren, Swedish Board of Agriculture
	Speech by the Minister of Agriculture, Eskil Erlandsson
	Summary from sessions
	Key-note talks: How to Connect New People to the Horse? Hanfried Haring (GER), German Equestrian Federation
	Measures to Strengthen the Horse Industry in Rural Areas and Society Frédéric Chauvel, (FRA) France’s Horse Industry economic cluster Equine Research, Collaboration and Knowledge Transfer Göran Dalin (SWE) SLU
11.00	Break
11.30	Panel discussion - The Future Horse Industry in Rural Areas and Society Moderators: Göran Dalin and Jan Philipsson (SWE) SLU Panel: Bertrand Bélinguier, EPMA Elisabeth Gauffin, LRF and COCEGA Joseph Hernon, EFTBA  Nicoletta Miraglia, EAAP Horse Commission Harald Müller, FEI Niclas Purfürst, Swedish Board of Agriculture
12.30	Summary and conclusions
13.00	End - Lunch