7 Experts, One Goal: Your Horse's Comfort

What is this event?
Join us for a friendly, practical day focused on helping you understand and support your horse’s comfort and wellbeing. We’ll begin with a live demonstration from the Merseyside Mounted Police, showing how to observe your horse’s behaviour, ask the right questions, and build confidence step by step. After that, move through seven expert-led stations with your horse, each designed to give you useful insights in key areas of horse care and training:

🔹 Understanding Your Horse’s Behaviour
With Lindsay Gaven BHS Stage 5 Coach, learn more about how to read your horse and respond in ways that build trust and improve training outcomes.

🔹 Subtle Signs of Discomfort
With David Stack MVB MSc DipECVS MRCVS, find out more about early signs of lameness or discomfort, and when to seek veterinary advice.

🔹 Bitting Tailored to Your Horse
Get a dental check with Samantha Baker BVSc CertAVP(ED) MRCVS, then work with bit expert Dr Ginny-Marie Bradley to explore the type of bit to suit your horse’s unique mouth anatomy.

🔹 Saddling Success
With Steph Bradley MSc from Freedom Saddlery, explore how the right saddle fit can support your horse’s movement, comfort, and long-term soundness.

🔹 Am I Suitably Mounted?
Work with the BHS Horse Care and Welfare team to explore how you and your horse match in size, fit, and function.

🔹 Rider Awareness
With Rachel Galley BHS Stage 4 Coach, understand how your position and balance might affect your horse and get some tips to ride more effectively.

🔹 Safe Travels
With the BHS Safety Team, learn how to travel your horse safely, from checking payloads to maintaining your transport.

Who Is This Event For?

This event is designed especially for horse owners who want to do right by their ridden horse, but perhaps aren’t quite sure where to start. Maybe you’ve recently taken on a horse and feel a bit out of your depth. Maybe you’re facing challenges with your horse such as mild discomfort, behaviour concerns, training issues and would like some guidance, but feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice or unsure who to ask. Please note: If your horse is currently under veterinary care or receiving treatment, this event isn't the right fit for you, we recommend following your own vet’s advice or treatment plan.

You don’t need to be an expert, that’s what the team will be here for. If you want to understand your horse better, help improve your partnership, and feel more confident in the choices you make for their care and comfort we want to hear from you.

The day will be about learning, not judgement, in a relaxed, practical environment where curiosity is encouraged, and expert advice is made accessible. Whether you're new to horse ownership or just looking to fill in some gaps, we’re here to help you and your horse feel more connected, understood, and comfortable together.

Criteria to apply:

• Your horse must be no younger than 4 years of age.
• You horse must have had a vaccination against equine influenza sometime in the 6 months prior to attending.
• Your horse must be either in ridden work or coming back into ridden work, and you will need to bring your current tack with you.
• You must consent to your horse being sedated for the dental check.
• You must consent to a static and dynamic orthopaedic assessment.
• You must be available to transport yourself and your horse to Aintree Racecourse on Tuesday 29^th July 2025.
• You must arrive no later than 10am and be able to stay until 5pm.
• If under the age of 18 years old, you must be accompanied by a responsible adult who remains at the venue for the duration of the event.
• Once your application has been accepted, you must agree to pay £45 in advance of attending. Payment must be received within 3 working days or your space will be reallocated.

What happens next?

If you meet the initial criteria, fill out the expression of interest form at the button at the top of this page.  We’ll review your form, and if your needs align with the focus of the event, we’ll invite you to complete a short application form to tell us more about you and your horse. As places are limited and interest is expected to be high, this helps us ensure the opportunity goes to those who will benefit most. If you do not hear from us following your expression of interest, it means we are unable to invite you to apply on this occasion. Thank you for your understanding and interest.