Conferences
BETA Bits, Bridles & Saddlery Conference 2025 !!!
Took place on 28th and 29th October 2025–Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough University Campus.
This was a two-day event packed with valuable content and expert presentations, the latest science and practice in equestrian tack, all focused on equine welfare and performance. For riders, equestrian professionals and all in the saddlery and lorinery trade.
Day 1
Lorinery -Horse bits and bridles
Making Equitation a BIT Better
Day 2
Saddlery –saddles and saddle fitting saddles
Helping Equitation to SIT Better
Programme available now>>>
Missed our recent conference? You can now book access to the full recordings of both days!
Booking and Payment Details
You can book access to the recordings for each day individually.
Upon submitting this form, we will email you an invoice with a link for payment (American Express not accepted).
Members: £55 + vat per person/device
Non-Members: £62.50 + vat pp/device
Once your payment is successfully processed, you will receive the secure link to access the selected day(s) of recordings.
To book acess to recordings follow a link >>>
If you a student, please contact the BETA office for rates (info@beta-uk.org).
The BETA Feed & NOPS Conference was a huge success. Thank you to all who attended!
11th & 12th June 2025– at East Midlands Airport Hotel
The Two Day BETA Feed Conference 2025 was be held at the Hilton Hotel, East Midlands Airport.
Day One: tackled the main issues facing the equine nutrition industry with sessions on sustainability, the responsible marketing of products and two sets of afternoon workshops, one focussing on a nutritional aspect of feeding and the other on claims and labelling.
Day Two: focused not only on NOPS and prohibited substances, looking at the current state of the NOPS code and auditing, but also gave us the chance to hear from the sporting regulators as well as looking at the issue of liability. We also had a case study of a feed contamination that went to tribunal to share.
The two days provided not only essential CPD but the chance to network with industry colleagues.
Find out more about our sponsors:
BETA AGM & Business Conference
HOT TOPICS IN EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS AND SPORT HIGHLIGHTED AT CONFERENCE
Delegates found time to network, too.
The 2025 British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Conference tackled the many challenges – and opportunities – facing businesses.
The annual event, which was open to all and attended by delegates in person and online from across the equestrian industry, took place at the East Midlands Airport Hotel last Monday (24 February).
The conference followed the trade association’s members-only AGM.
A series of speakers inspired with ways forward amid concerns over the public image of equestrian sports and a raft of recent legislative and fiscal measures to affect firms.
Madeleine Campbell, Professor of Veterinary Ethics at Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, and a specialist in animal welfare science, ethics and law asked ‘is the use of horses in sport ethical?’
We need to prove that horses can have a good life, she said. And that the trade has a responsibility when developing new products to minimise negative impacts and maximise positive impacts – and that doing so presented an opportunity to businesses.
Professor Simon Shibli from Sheffield Hallam University spoke about how social value is an increasingly important measure of a sport’s wider contribution to society.
He concluded that equestrian sport delivers some unique types of social worth.
Marketing and social media expert Rhea Freeman emphasised the need for brands to use images showing equestrianism in a good light.
A ‘good impression’ checklist could cover tack fitting, rider safety gear, correct use of equipment and the condition of featured horses, she said.
Rhea also suggested showing different aspects of how horses are enjoyed in the wider context, for example by the RDA. And she warned brands to monitor their ambassadors’ and sponsored riders’ contributions to social media.
BETA is developing document of guidelines on the use of horses and riders in promotional images, she revealed.
Politics and trade
Political commentator John Arnold delivered his ever-popular review of activities in Westminster and beyond. While Gillian McAteer from Citation gave a fact-packed presentation on the new Employment Rights Bill and its implication for firms.
Another topical presentation was by Ian Rea from Lariot Europe who considered how AI can enhance efficiency in the equestrian industry and finally Adam Kay from Tyler Packaging tackled the practice of green washing where companies hold themselves out to have sustainable credentials where none exist.
As always at the BETA Conference, delegates appreciated the chance to network during breaks for refreshments and lunch.
>>>BETA CONFERENCE Programme 25
For those who couldn’t attend or wish to reawaken those inspiring moments, the conference recordings will soon be available for on-demand viewing.
Please reach out to the BETA office at info@beta-uk.org for details.
