ESER 2024

The Mare and Foal: From Womb to Weaning
European Practitioner Symposium on Equine Reproduction
10 - 11 October 2024
Ghent, Belgium

Thank you for attending ESER 2024!

It was a pleasure to welcome you all back to Ghent for the 4th edition of the European Practitioners Symposium on Equine Reproduction.
Relive the symposium now: watch the recordings and download the proceedings below.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2026!

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View the ESER 2024 recordings (access code required)

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Focus on Perinatal Events
This year's theme

The Mare and Foal: From Womb to Weaning

Europe's largest CPD event for field veterinarians and clinicians interested in Stud Farm Medicine features more than 30 experts from Europe and North America alongside over 400 veterinarians/clinicians. Top-quality lectures will focus on clinical issues spanning the peri-parturient mare, the newborn foal, and medicine and surgery in the growing foal. Following the success of previous editions on mare and stallion fertility in 2018 and 2022, and on the late pregnant mare, parturition, and neonatology in 2020, the ESER-2024 is again about late pregnancy, periparturient events in mare and foal, neonatology, and the spectrum of medicine, surgery, and orthopedics in the nursing foal. The ESER Symposium presents ample networking opportunities with colleagues from over 30 countries. Moreover, the event will host over 30 companies affiliated with the equine industry, converging in one space to offer attendees the chance to explore cutting-edge materials and services.

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Courses and Workshops

These carefully crafted courses and workshops will advance your knowledge to new heights. For each workshop, a panel of 4-6 experts will give short, in-depth presentations followed by highly interactive group discussions. Attendance is limited to allow for maximum interactivity.

Focus on Perinatal Events
Workshop

Raising the Foal for Future Performance

Raising a foal for optimal performance is a challenging and complex process. In this workshop, the early-life determinants of future performance will be covered in depth. Risk-factors during pregnancy and early life, environmental influences, daily handling, nutrition, proper weaning techniques and disease prevention will be discussed with some of world’s leading experts.

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Focus on Perinatal Events
Course

Equine Embryo Transfer: From Basics to Perfection

In this two-day course, Pat McCue, Peter Daels and the team at the Keros ET Center will provide lectures and hands-on, clinical training in equine embryo transfer. At the end of the course, participants will be ready to offer embryo transfer services in their practice. The course is limited to 15 participants to optimize interactivity and hands-on training.

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Focus on Perinatal Events
Workshop

Foal Imaging: Technique and Interpretation

Diagnostic imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis and monitoring in the neonate foal. This workshop will review ultrasonographic and radiologic imaging techniques of the chest and abdomen in foals. The use of appropriate imaging protocols and the recognition of patient-associated artefacts is critical for accurate image interpretation. Expert lectures and interactive discussions will help you gain more confidence in interpreting radiographs and ultrasound images.

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Focus on Perinatal Events
Course

Semen Handling Course

This one-day course will guide you through the complexities of collecting, preparing, storing and shipping semen. Peter De Blende (ERC DeMorette, Belgium), Tullis Matson (Stallion AI Services, UK) and Bart Kools (Stallion Station Paul Schockemohle) will share their experience during this highly interactive and hands-on course.

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Focus on Perinatal Events
Workshop

Foal Surgery and Orthopaedics

Bladder problems, navel infections, colic, joint infections and orthopaedic issues are complications that sometimes require surgical intervention. In this workshop, experienced surgeons will present their latest approach to solving these problems and engage in highly interactive discussion with participants. This workshop is mainly directed to surgeons and surgeons-in-training.

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Focus on Perinatal Events
Workshop

OPU/ICSI

This workshop aims at bringing together veterinarians with working experience in ovum pick-up for a full day of updates by experts, question-and-answers, and discussions. This highly interactive workshop offers a unique opportunity to exchange insights, experiences, tips and tricks with colleagues with a common interest. Participants are encouraged to send in their questions or cases before the start of the workshop.

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Focus on Perinatal Events
Workshop

Periparturient Complications in Mares

Perinatal death accounts for a large percentage of foal mortality. The most serious threats to perinatal survival remain placentitis, septicaemia, hypoxia, and dysmaturity. In this workshop, we will also discuss placentitis, obstetrical complications, foaling injuries, and postnatal care of the mare. Participants will be invited to discuss the different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches with the panel of experts.

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Focus on Perinatal Events
Workshop

Infectious Diseases in Foals

This half-day workshop will focus on proper recognition, diagnostic and treatment strategies of the sick foal. Foal diarrhoea and pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. However, when it comes to diagnosing, it can be difficult to pinpoint a specific cause. Lectures and discussions will alternate and guide you to the most efficient diagnostic approaches and sound therapeutic choices.

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Networking

Meet up With Colleagues and Friends

Did you know that nearly 80% of the delegates have participated in one or more of the previous ESER symposia? What entices them to return is undoubtedly the exceptional talks delivered by world-renowned experts, as well as the opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues. The seamless blend of insightful lectures, leisurely coffee breaks, delectable lunches, and the cherished tradition of the Thursday night walking dinner makes the ESER symposium an unparalleled experience.

Focus on Perinatal Events

Discover the Latest Equipment

Throughout the breaks, meals, and social events, our sponsors eagerly await your presence to address any inquiries, nurture existing relationships, and potentially offer you interesting deals. The commercial booths are conveniently placed around the courtyard and the ever so friendly representatives will help you with all your queries.

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Focus on Perinatal Events

VSGp

The ESER symposium would not be possible without the enthusiastic and hard work of our student team. Our local student association, the VSGp - Veterinary Study Group paard ('horse' in Dutch) - unites all our veterinary students with a special interest in horses. At each edition of the symposium, they have been the motor behind this event and they are essential to the success of the symposium. On Thursday night after the dinner, they organize a Ghent-by-night tour that comes highly recommended but is only for trained individuals with lots of stamina!

Focus on Perinatal Events

ISER

The International Symposium on Equine Reproduction, better know as “ISER”, is a scientific and research meeting on all aspects of equine reproduction. The first symposium was held in Cambridge, UK in 1974 and has been organized every 4 years since. The next ISER symposium will be held in 2027 in Dublin, Ireland. The proceeds of the ESER symposium provide financial support for travel and registration of young scientists attending the ISER 2027 meeting.

Focus on Perinatal Events

ISER Global Education

The ISER Global Education is a comprehensive catalogue of “How to…” webinars aimed at enhancing core knowledge and clinical skill development on all aspects of Equine Reproduction. All webinars are easily accessible on multiple platforms, including mobile devices. Webinar speakers are world-renowned experts in their respective fields of equine reproduction, encompassing the mare, stallion, foal and assisted reproductive techniques. All webinars have been reviewed by panel of expert reviewers. The target audience for these "How to..." webinars is veterinarians, ranging from final year students through to early career or experienced clinicians who need to learn a specific skill or refresh their knowledge. To download a comprehensive overview of all available, upcoming and planned webinars, click here.

Our sponsors


Our partners

VSGp
Ghent University
Faculty Veterinary Science
IVIS