equine programme
Tuesday 23 June 2026
| 7am | Registration opens | Level 3 |
| 8am | Welcome | Rob Mills (NZVA President) | Theatre 1 Level 5 |
| 8.10am | Plenary: Learning through times of disruption: navigating AI | Sir
Ashley Bloomfield | Theatre 1 Level 5 |
| 9am | Morning tea | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 9.30am | Axial skeletal pain - anatomy and diagnosis | Katie Seabaugh Axial skeletal pain is an increasingly recognized contributor to poor performance and lameness in equine athletes, yet it remains challenging to localize and diagnose. This lecture will review the functional anatomy of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral regions with an emphasis on clinically relevant findings. Key components of the diagnostic workup—including physical examination, dynamic assessment, and imaging—will be discussed. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 10.25am | Axial skeletal pain - treatment | Katie Seabaugh Management of axial skeletal pain often requires a multimodal approach. This lecture will cover evidence-based therapies, including systemic medications and targeted treatments, alongside interventional techniques such as ultrasound-guided injections. Emphasis will be placed on tailoring treatment plans based on lesion type, chronicity, and intended athletic function. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 11.15am | Equine Veterinarian Branch AGM | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 12pm | Lunch | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 1pm | Acupuncture in equine practice: evidence based application | Huisheng Xie | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 2pm | Acupuncture in equine practice: case examples | Huisheng Xie | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 3pm | Afternoon tea | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 3.30pm | Back country equine helicopter rescue | Mat O'Sullivan | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 3.45pm | Septic suspensory desmitis: a case series | Casey Riley | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 4pm | Ovarian haemorrhage causing hemoperitoneum in a 9-year-old miniature horse | Sophia Jolly A case report of hemoperitoneum in a 9-year-old Miniature Horse mare, including diagnostics, treatment plans and post-mortem results. I will reflect on the viability of novel treatment options, such as standing ovariectomy if ovarian haemorrhage is identified as the cause of hemoperitoneum. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 4.15pm | Sinus feed impaction from oro-antral fistula formation in a stallion | Jemma Fenton This case describes the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of a dental sinusitis in an eight-year-old Haflinger stallion that had been referred for further investigation. Rotation of teeth 110 and 210 had resulted in oro-antral fistulae formation allowing for feed material to become packed into the maxillary sinuses. The teeth involved were extracted orally under standing sedation in two procedures, and after each extraction, sinus flap surgery was performed on the coinciding sinus to remove large quantities of feed material packed in the sinuses. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 4.30pm | Juvenile disseminated haemangiosarcoma in a thoroughbred foal | Maëva Saint-Omer A 2-month-old thoroughbred filly presented with lameness, joint effusion, and fever, initially suspected as infection. Recurrent haemarthrosis and swelling prompted further investigation, revealing blood-filled synovial structures and masses at the umbilicus and abdomen. Surgery and post-mortem identified widespread haemangiosarcoma affecting multiple organs and synovial tissues. The filly was euthanised due to disease severity. This first reported case involving the umbilical stump highlights the need to consider haemangiosarcoma in unexplained haemarthrosis or tenosynovitis and supports thorough imaging and biopsy of abnormal tissues for earlier diagnosis. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 4.45pm | Retrospective safety analysis of 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel in flat-racing thoroughbreds | Jason Lowe This presentation examines the long‑term clinical safety of repeated intra‑articular administration of 2.5% injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel (iPAAG) in flat racing Thoroughbred horses. Drawing on six years of real‑world clinical data from over 700 horses and 2,300 injections, the talk will explore adverse joint reactions, catastrophic musculoskeletal injury (CMSI) risk, and racing career outcomes. Findings show a very low incidence of clinically significant complications, no association with increased CMSI, and no detrimental effect on racing performance, supporting iPAAG as a joint‑ preserving option for managing osteoarthritis in performance horses. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 5pm | Diagnostic imaging findings of the caudal spine and pelvis in horses presented for poor performance investigations | Alice Addis The presentation is a collation of interesting musculoskeletal pathologies of the caudal spine and pelvis diagnosed in sports horses in New Zealand who presented for poor performance complaints. Only basic and accessible diagnostic imaging techniques, more specifically a portable X-ray machine and ultrasound scanner were used in the work up of the patients and acquisition of the images. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 5.15pm | Surprising benefits of CT for a racetrack vet | Sam Taylor RVC installed a CT three years ago. I was initially skeptical how useful it would be for a track vet, but over time it has become a key part of our diagnostic arsenal, and has given greater insight into the common lameness causes we are dealing with in race horses, particularly POD, unicortical parasagittal fractures and fracture repairs | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 5.30pm | Happy hour | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 7pm | NZVA Special Interest Branch Dinners and NZVNA Dinner | Room 502 Level 5 |
Wednesday 24 June 2026
| 7am | Registration opens | Level 3 |
| 8am | Plenary: Thriving and striving at work - the ultimate win win |
Charlotte Cantley | Theatre 1 Level 5 |
| 8.45am | NZVA AGM | Theatre 1 Level 5 |
| 9.30am | Morning tea | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 10am | Intra-articular injection techniques | Katie Seabaugh Accurate intra-articular injection is critical for both diagnostic and therapeutic success in equine practice. This session will review key principles of joint injection, including patient preparation, aseptic technique, and appropriate drug selection. Step-by-step guidance for commonly performed injections, as well as more technically challenging joints, will be presented. The role of imaging guidance will be discussed to enhance accuracy and safety. Common complications and strategies to minimize risk will also be addressed. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 11.10am | Modalities for pain management | Katie Seabaugh A wide range of modalities are available for managing pain in equine patients, extending beyond traditional pharmacologic approaches. This lecture will review adjunctive therapies such as extracorporeal shockwave therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, and neuromodulation techniques. Mechanisms of action, current evidence, and practical applications for each modality will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on integrating these tools into a comprehensive, multimodal pain management plan. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 12.30pm | Lunch | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 1.30pm | Equine endocrinology: recent research developments that should influence your approach | David Rendle | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 3.30pm | Afternoon tea | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 4pm | Professional indemnity - stories from the trenches! | Paul Fraser This presentation deals with professional indemnity and regulatory claims involving horses that were processed by the Veterinary Professional Insurance Society (VPIS) during the preceding 12 months. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 4.30pm | Gouldie hour | Joe Mayhew, Katie Seabaugh and Allison Stewart The Gouldie hour was initiated at the 2013 NZEVA Conference to recognise the considerable contributions made by Dr Brian Goulden to undergraduate, to post-graduate, and to continuing equine veterinary education in New Zealand. As continued celebration of Brian’s superb input to equine veterinary science, Katie Seabaugh, Allison Stewart and Joe Mayhew will attempt to titillate, annoy, stimulate, entertain, challenge, and hopefully edify colleagues on papers and issues from the current equine veterinary literature. A bit of science, a bit of blarney, a bit of wrangling, and maybe some skepticism? | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 5.45pm | NZVA Awards | Theatre 1 Level 5 |
| 6.30pm | Networking dinner | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
Thursday 25 June 2026
| 7am | Registration opens | Level 3 |
| 7.30am | Ceva breakfast | Room 101 Level 1 |
| 9am | AMR surveillance and audits - an update for equine veterinarians | Lucy Johnston Learn about the Ministry for Primary Industries antimicrobial resistance (AMR) programme as it relates to equine practice, including surveillance for AMR, trends in antibiotic sales, and AMR audit findings. AMR surveillance relevant to the equine industry will be presented highlighting emerging trends and implications for veterinary practice. MPI’s new AMR dashboard: an interactive tool designed to make surveillance data accessible and actionable to practitioners will be introduced. The session will include a brief overview of the AMR team’s broader work, including outcomes of the AMR audits. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 9.15am | Treatment of gastric disease: effective, ineffective or simply misguided? | David Rendle | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 10am | Morning tea | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 10.30am | Panel session: Words of wisdom from 120 years of equine practice | Ivan Bridge, Tim Pearce and Brendon Bell | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 11.30am | Cases: 50 shades of lame | Katie Seabaugh This case-based session will include a series of challenging and representative cases, emphasising clinical reasoning and decision-making. Diagnostic approaches, treatment selection, and response to therapy will be critically evaluated. Audience participation and discussion will be encouraged to explore alternative strategies and perspectives. The goal is to reinforce practical take-home points that can be directly applied in practice with a side of humility discussing the mistakes that were made. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 12.30pm | Lunch | Exhibition Hall Level 3 |
| 1.30pm | Prevalence of nasopharyngeal cicatrix syndrome in thoroughbred broodmares in New Zealand | Laurinda Oliver Nasopharyngeal cicatrix syndrome has a high prevalence in New Zealand. A new grading system is proposed to score both acute (A0-A3) and chronic (C0-C3) cases. Acute inflammatory changes in the pharynx and larynx appear to cause chronic scarring after repeated episodes. Acute inflammation can be clinically silent and chronic cases may not be identified before acute respiratory obstruction, or advanced irreversible scarring occurs. This study identifies the prevalence of both acute (61%) and chronic (44%) changes in 366 TB broodmares in New Zealand. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 2pm | "Under the care" and what it will mean for equine practice | Michelle Logan Recent changes to the Code of Professional Conduct introduced new and clarified definitions of “under the care of a veterinarian” and “specific and limited range of veterinary services,” with important implications for equine practice. This session will outline the key changes, including requirements for written care agreements and, importantly, clarified responsibilities for emergency cover. The presentation will focus on how these changes apply in common equine veterinary scenarios, with the aim of supporting shared understanding and encouraging informed discussion about practical implementation in equine practice. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 2.15pm | Worm worries: Welcoming New Zealand's updated equine anthelmintic guidelines | Holly Blue This presentation will provide an update on the forthcoming internal parasite management guidelines for New Zealand. National data on anthelmintic resistance and relevant case studies will be presented, demonstrating the need for revised recommendations tailored to practitioners in New Zealand. This presentation will concentrate on chemical management strategies, serving as a complement to Victoria Chapman's subsequent discussion on optimal farming practices for parasite control. Attendees will have the opportunity to register for an upcoming workshop to provide feedback on the final draft of the guidelines. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 2.45pm | Parasite management - practical advice for horse owners | Victoria Chapman | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 3pm | AI (Artificial Intelligence) in equine clinical practice: practical uses, real risks, and how to start | Sarah Rosanowski | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 3.15pm | From microchips to biosecurity: NEIT updates for equine clinicians | Sarah Rosanowski and Hillary Milne The National Equine Identification and Traceability (NEIT) system is now live in New Zealand, with regulatory requirements being developed For equine veterinarians, the key questions are no longer “what is NEIT?”, but “what do I need to do?” and “how do I bring my clients along?”. This session provides a concise, clinician focused update on where NEIT is at following the launch of the database in October 2025. It will outline steps currently underway in the legislative and regulatory space, what is likely to be expected of veterinarians as the system matures, and how equine practices can integrate microchipping into routine workflows without adding unnecessary burden. The talk will focus on practical considerations including how veterinarians can confidently communicate the value of NEIT to horse owners. Designed as a brief, high‑level update, this session will inform and equip equine veterinarians with the key messages, practical context, and talking points needed as equine identification and registration into a central database becomes standard practice in New Zealand. | Room 502 Level 5 |
| 3.30pm | Afternoon tea | Foyer Level 5 |
| 4pm | After hours project - where it has landed | Brendan Hickman Shared talk with Veterinary Business stream | Room 516 Level 5 |
| Combined session with another stream. |
This programme was correct at the time of publication. Speakers and titles are subject to change. |