Horse Symposium offers expert insights and hands-on learning

The ninth annual Informed Arizona Equestrian Horse Symposium, a premier regional educational event dedicated to equine health care and management, recently concluded with notable success. This year’s one-day symposium, a collaborative effort between the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and dedicated industry partners, saw exciting programmatic expansions and an increase in engaging live and hands-on demonstrations.

After eight successful years of partnership, the original members of the Southern Arizona Equine Health Council transitioned to focus on new ventures within their individual businesses. This shift paved the way for an exciting new collaboration with the Dale and Patti Shirley Equine Encore Foundation. This local non-profit organization, accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, is committed to providing a retirement haven for racehorses who have faithfully served the industry. This fresh partnership allowed the symposium to broaden its scope beyond traditional equine healthcare topics.

Adding to the dynamic changes, the event found a new home this year at the University of Arizona Al-Marah Equine Center, the very heart of the university’s equine studies program. This relocation offered an invaluable opportunity for attendees to connect directly with University of Arizona students and faculty who actively participated as volunteers, presenters, riders, and informational booth representatives.

Over 100 participants benefited from the insights of equine experts and veterinarians who delivered more than 15 in-person lectures and demonstrations. The diverse range of topics, spanning from introductory to advanced levels, was carefully curated based on feedback from previous years’ attendees, ensuring the content was highly relevant and sought-after.

A highlight of the day included a presentation by nationally recognized equine nutritionist, Dr. Masa Williams, who addressed the frequently requested topic of old horse nutrition. Dr. Williams provided practical solutions for the feeding, management, and overall comfort of senior equine companions.

Attendees also gained valuable knowledge from Dr. Madelyn Melchiors, who discussed and demonstrated the benefits of equine chiropractic care through a live examination. In another insightful session, Dr. Melchiors emphasized the critical role of equine dental care, offering a unique perspective by sharing real-time views from an equine oral exam using a phone camera.

Dr. Angelo Telatin captivated the audience with his morning lecture on horse behavior and training theories, followed by practical demonstrations of in-hand work, trailer loading techniques, and an under-saddle session featuring University of Arizona student riders.

The Al-Marah Equine Center’s show barn transformed into an interactive learning environment, offering attendees opportunities to participate in small, focused learning rotations covering essential topics such as body condition scoring, basic conformation, taking vital signs, and selecting appropriate feeds. Informational tables showcasing various University of Arizona programs further enriched the learning experience.

The success of the 2025 Informed Arizona Equestrian Horse Symposium underscores the program’s commitment to providing valuable and engaging educational opportunities for the Arizona equestrian community.

The University of Arizona Equine Extension Program extends its sincere gratitude to an anonymous donor whose generous support significantly enhanced the Horse Symposium through the donation of a new sound system, as well as new chairs and tables, which will also benefit future extension and ACBS events held at the Al-Marah Equine Center.