Axevalla Hästcentrum

Equine Welfare and Human Interaction

Horses are lined up and eating on both sides of a long covered feeding table

Discover Axevalla Equestrian Centre’s Course on Animal Welfare and Sustainability.

From May 19th to 23rd, 2025, Axevalla Equestrian Centre will host a unique course focused on animal welfare and sustainability within the equine industry. This course is designed for teachers, riding instructors, and horse trainers from Sweden and abroad who want to deepen their knowledge and explore future opportunities for horses and people.

During the course, participants will gain practical tips to improve horse welfare and learn about the latest research on equine care. Topics such as ethical considerations and sustainability in equestrian sports will be highlighted, alongside an in-depth exploration of regulations and guidelines for animal welfare.

The program features several exciting elements, including a lecture on using horses’ facial expressions to identify pain, led by veterinarian and researcher Katrina Ask. Other highlights include seminars on Icelandic horse training and sustainable breeding, as well as a study visit to Husaby. Additionally, participants will engage in discussions about the future of equestrian sports and sustainable solutions for the industry.

The course takes place at Axevalla Equestrian Centre, a state-of-the-art facility designed to combine innovation with tradition in the horse industry. Participants will stay comfortably in newly built single rooms and enjoy meals provided as part of the program. The course fee is €800 per person, covering accommodation, meals, lectures, and study visits. The course can be financed with Erasmus+ KA1 funding.

We encourage green travel! There are very good connections for reaching Axevalla by public transport. The nearest train station is Skövde and there are regular busses which stop outside of the venue. 

Registration is open until April 15th, 2025. We look forward to welcoming you to Axevalla as we explore a sustainable future for the equestrian industry together!

Contact

Please contact us for questions about the event

Malin Jansson, email: malin.e.jansson@vgregion.se, phone: +46 7030468884  
Monika Andersson, email: monika.ka.andersson@vgregion.se,
phone: +46 700825695  

Programme

Friday 9th of May – Digital preparation meeting for the course. Q&A about
logistics and introduction of the organizers and themes. The participants can
ask questions about the course. An invitation will be sent after registration.

Monday 19th of May: Arrival and dinner at 18:00 – get to know each other.

Tuesday 20th of May
08:30-10:00 – Presentation of Axevallas history and future plans. Fika
Presentation of the course programme. Mandate för innovation and
Development. Horse Welfare Project at Axevalla
10:30- 11:45 – Seminar: training of islandic horse with Malin Jansson Bsc. in
Riding, Hólar University, Teacher at Axevalla Equestrian Centre.
12:00-13:45 – Lunch and Trotting
14:00-16:00 – Facial expressions in horses as a tool to recognize pain. Lecture
and Discussion. Katrina Ask, veterinarian, PhD, and university lecturer in
anatomy at SLU, Sweden University of Agricultural Sciences. Fika
18:00 – Dinner

Wednesday 21st of May
08:30-10:50 – Hovslagarskolan – Seminar with Europe’s biggest Farrier School.
Fika.
11:00-12:00 – Göran Åkerström, Veterinary Director at Fédération Equestre
International Lausanne. Former Veterinary Director at Swedish Trotting Sport.
Lecture on the topic of horse welfare connected to the sport.
12:00-13:00 – Lunch
13:00- 16:00 – Study and culture visit at Husaby. Visiting the horse veterinary
clinic and the cultural sites https://www.vastsverige.com/en/lackokinnekulle/
kinnekulle/historical-husaby/
18:00/19:00 Dinner

Thursday 22nd of May
09:00-11:45 – Parariding
12:00-13:00 – Lunch
13:-14:30 – Breeding and sustainability – Heimir Gunnarsson – Horse Trainer
and Riding Teacher (Hólar University, Iceland) and Bsc Agricultural Science
Hvanneyri university. Breading leader for Swedish Icelandic Horse Breading
Asssociation.
Fika
15:00-16:30 – Discussion – What is the sport’s future?
16:30 – Closing of Programme.
19:00 – Goodbye dinner

Friday 23rd of May
07:30- Breakfast and departure