#NEF21 JUST IN TIME - USING SCIENCE TO SAVE OUR BREEDS SIW1 Thoroughbred Cleveland Bay Suffolk Horse

Welcome to our first special interest webinar, Just in Time - Using Science to Save Our Breeds, which took place on Wednesday 13th January 2021 prior to the 29th National Equine Forum (#NEF21).

Delivered by industry leaders, the audience is taken on a journey to understand how many of our breeds are facing decline, and what needs to happen now in order to safe-guard their future. Opening with a fascinating presentation from Tullis Matson considering how the extinction vortex has impacted the natural world and its application to our equine breeds, the webinar continues with Simon Cooper examining the challenging situation of inbreeding in Thoroughbreds. The role of DNA analysis in providing breed societies and breeders with keystone support to guide decisions to increase effective populations is analysed by Paul Flynn, and this is followed by Dr Andy Dell discussing a case study giving proof of the concept that breeds in decline have a chance to be saved when genomics and kinship analysis are utilised.

0:00 - Opening Tim Brigstocke MBE
2:38 - Introduction Prof Tim Morris
8:16 - The extinction vortex – might it happen? Tullis Matson, Founder & Managing Director, Stallion AI Services
27:55 - Inbreeding – even in Thoroughbreds? Simon Cooper, Director, The General Studbook, Weatherbys
47:27 - DNA analysis – how can it help? Paul Flynn Head of Research & Development, Weatherbys Scientific
1:05:10 Breeders – what should we do? Dr Andy Dell, Trustee & Member of The Breed Committee, Cleveland Bay Horse Society
1:17:07 - Panel discussion Chaired by Prof Tim Morris
1:57:41 - Closing Tim Brigstocke MBE

The full programme, including speaker biogs, can be found here: https://www.nationalequineforum.com/siw-1-2021/

Resources from the event can be found on our website: https://www.nationalequineforum.com/resources-siw1/

With thanks to the Forum Family who kindly supported this webinar:
SPONSORS: The British Horse Society; The Horse Trust
CORPORATE FRIENDS: Weatherbys Scientific; World Horse Welfare
FRIENDS: The 826 Studbooks Association; Central Prefix Register; Cob Care; Exmoor Pony Society; Neue Schule; James Rayner; Traditional Gypsy Cob Association

Whilst the National Equine Forum is responsible for hosting this event, the views of the individual speakers and panellists, and the content of the speakers slides, are not necessarily representative of the National Equine Forum. The National Equine Forum is not responsible for any inaccuracies which may be contained in the content above or expressed by individual speakers, panellists or audience members posing questions.