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Preface of A Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation Workshop
Horse Behavior and Welfare
13 - 16 June 2002

Welcome

Welcome to Hólar, Iceland, for what we hope will be a fun and productive workshop on horse behavior and welfare.  This workshop was made possible by the Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation.  We are particularly grateful to the Foundation’s President, Gene Pranzo, for his vision in supporting scientific exchange of this type.  

Our local host at Hólar College is Vikingur Gunnarsson.  He and his colleagues throughout Iceland have welcomed us with open arms to one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth, where horses are hardly ever out of view.

The primary purpose of this workshop was to bring together people from around the world who have already made significant contributions, or who are well on their way toward a career in horse behavior and welfare. We hope to share recent research findings and directions and also to consider important areas for future study and collaboration. Another objective was to bring together potential contributors to a book on the topic, to be produced by Cambridge University Press within the next year. We welcome their editor, Tracey Sanderson, who will join us here in Hólar.

This workshop’s participants include scientists representing laboratories in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, and The United States.  Our active research and academic interests range from basic descriptive and experimental work, to applied management and veterinary clinical issues. We are particularly fortunate to have among our participants several senior scientists who have led the field of horse behavior and welfare.  Their research, writing, and teaching span nearly five decades.   We very much appreciate their tireless enthusiasm and their continued participation in this workshop and similar endeavors.  

            Thank you for all coming.  We wish you a good scientific workshop, a good time together, and a pleasant visit to Iceland.