Nanna Luthersson is an equine veterinary practitioner
from Denmark with a special interest in nutrition and
gastro-intestinal problems. She graduated in 1992
and has been working at different equine clinics in
Denmark. She is now a partner at the equine clinic
“Hestedoktoren” and has specialized in internal
medicine with focus on EGUS, chronic diarrhoea and
laminitis. She has lectured worldwide on equine
nutrition as it affects health, performance and welfare
of the horse. She is author and co-author of several
lay-publications, scientific papers and book chapters. Research focuses most on EGUS, with risk
factors, epidemiology and influence on nutrition. She has also undertaken research into laminitis and
current study is focusing on chronic diarrhoea and the possibility to use faecal transplantation in
horses.
Dr. Ingrid Vervuert is a faculty member at the University
of Leipzig, Germany. She received her veterinary degree
from the Free University of Berlin. Then, went on to
complete her doctoral thesis in equine energy
metabolism in exercising horses from the University of
Hannover and postdoctoral program in starch digestion
in horses at the University of Leipzig. She is a German
diplomate in Animal Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr.
Vervuert’s current research covers equine gastric ulcers,
obesity management in horses and ponies, selenium
metabolism and impact of different feedstuffs on
equine teeth abrasion. Dr. Vervuert is a member of the scientific board of the European workshop on
Equine nutrition, a leading conference for equine nutrition in Europe. Dr. Vervuert has greatly
contributed to our knowledge of equine nutrition today.
Professor Caroline Argo graduated from the University of
Aberdeen (1981) with Honours in Zoology and received
the Kilgour Scholarship to fund PhD (1985) studies at the
Rowett Research Institute. Postdoctoral Research
Fellowships and a Temporary Lectureship at the
Universities of Leeds, Liverpool and the Zoological
Society of London followed. During this time, studies
incorporated work in deer, sheep and horses. Caroline
gained her Veterinary degree from the University of
Liverpool (2003). She joined the University of Liverpool Veterinary School as a Lecturer then Senior
Lecturer (2004), before taking up a post at the new School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of
Surrey in 2014. Caroline’s research focus includes nutrition and metabolism in sheep, deer and ponies
exploring the impact of seasonal environments and photoperiodic entrainment of endogenous
circannual rhythms of appetite, metabolic rate and body fat reserves. Recent studies (Waltham/World
Horse Welfare) focused on associations between body composition, weight loss resistance and health
in horses for which obesity is a major risk factor for insulin dysregulation and laminitis.
Professor Pat Harris MA PhD DipECVCN VetMB MRCVS After qualifying from the University of Cambridge
Veterinary School, Prof Pat Harris completed her PhD at
the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket into the Equine
Rhabdomyolysis Syndrome. She joined the WALTHAM
Centre for Pet Nutrition in the 1990s and is responsible
for the research carried out by the WALTHAM Equine
Studies group in collaboration with experts at institutes
and universities around the world. She is also an Adjunct
Professor of Equine Studies at Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, an Honorary Research
Fellow at the University of Liverpool, an Honorary
Professor in Equine Nutrition, University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science,
and an Adjunct Professor at University of Queensland Australia. Prof Harris is a European Specialist in
Veterinary Clinical and Comparative Nutrition, in addition to being a Past President of the British
Equine Veterinary Association. She is a member of the scientific advisory group to the British
Equestrian Federation’s World Class Performance team and the veterinary advisory group of World
Horse Welfare. She is also a member of the board of American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition and
the US based equine Science Society as well as the President of the European Society of Veterinary
and Comparative Nutrition. She is the author or co-author of over 500 scientific papers, abstracts and
book chapters and recently was the co-editor of, and an author in, the 2013 textbook Equine Applied
and Clinical Nutrition: Health, Welfare and Nutrition. Pat has a particular passion for senior horse
nutrition especially as she currently has a very elderly horse who has no ability to chew long or short
fibre and has been kept healthy and in good body condition for nearly 5 years despite this and she
looks forward to sharing her knowledge and experience with those present.
Professor Meriel Moore-Colyer graduated with a BSc hons in
Agriculture in 1984 from University College of Wales Aberystwyth.
Meriel went on to become a lecturer in animal science at
Aberystwyth University from 1989 to 2004. Meriel completed her
PhD in Equine Digestive Physiology at the University of Edinburgh in
2000. She is a registered Animal Scientist with the Royal Society of
Biology and an active researcher in equine nutrition, and health and
welfare of the stabled horse. Meriel has worked with numerous UKbased feed companies in product development and is committed to
the translation of equine research to the horse industry. To this end
she regularly gives talks at international conferences and industry
CPD days across the UK and Europe. Meriel is now the Director of
Research and Knowledge Exchange at the Royal Agricultural
University and remains actively involved with teaching and research in the Centre of Equine
Management and Science. A keen horsewoman Meriel has ridden from an early age, participating in
hunting, eventing and dressage in Ireland and UK. She currently completes her home-bred Irish
Draught horse in dressage at Small-Tour level.