March 11, 2026, Webinar: What does putting the horse first really mean? Dr. Natalie (Nat) Waran

On March 11, 2026, the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) welcomed Professor Natalie (Nat) Waran for a thought-provoking webinar exploring what it truly means to put the horse first. Declarations about horse welfare are remarkably consistent worldwide. The British Horseracing Authority, the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), and racing organizations from New York to New Zealand all state that horse welfare is their top priority. Yet turning these commitments into reality requires confronting some uncomfortable truths about how horses are managed and what is expected of them in the various contexts in which they are used. Research shows that horses provided with positive welfare experiences demonstrate reduced stress, better health outcomes, improved trainability, longer competitive careers, and more successful transitions to life after sport. When horses thrive, equestrian sport thrives. For this reason, it is important for all equestrians to recognize that welfare—and understanding how to provide for horses’ welfare needs—is not simply an obligation; it is the foundation of sustainable equestrianism in both sport and leisure. The question each of us must consider is simple but profound: If we know better, are we doing better? About the Speaker Professor Natalie (Nat) Waran OBE, BSc (Hons), PhD (Cantab) International Animal Welfare Consultant – NavigateWelfare Nat is an internationally acclaimed animal behaviour and welfare scientist, educator, and opinion leader. She previously served as Professor of Animal Welfare, Director of the Jeanne Marchig Animal Welfare Education Centre, and International Dean at the Veterinary School of the University of Edinburgh. In 2016, she returned to New Zealand to become Professor of One Welfare and Executive Dean at Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT). She later directed the “A Good Life for Animals” Research and Human Behaviour Change Centre in New Zealand and now leads NavigateWelfare, an international animal welfare consultancy. Over more than 30 years, Nat has researched and published across a wide range of species, with a particular focus on equine welfare. Her work has examined topics such as horse transport, indicators of equine stress and pain, equine problem behaviour, equine quality of life, and welfare assessment. Recent research, conducted with colleagues at Charles Sturt University in Australia and Hartpury University in the UK, investigated methods for assessing positive emotion in racehorses and was funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. She has served as a trustee for several international equine charities, including The Brooke and International Fund for Animal Welfare, and collaborates closely with World Horse Welfare. A co-founder of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES), she is now an Honorary Fellow and former Trustee of the organization. In 2024, she chaired the organizing committee for the ISES conference in New Zealand, themed “A Good Life for All Horses.” As chair of the FEI Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, Nat led the development of an ambitious report proposing a new “Good Life” vision, charter, and 30 recommendations addressing key issues related to the involvement of horses in sport. In 2024, she also co-authored the Good Equine Welfare white paper for Eurogroup for Animals. In 2025, she was awarded an OBE for her services to equine welfare, research, and education. When at home in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, Nat enjoys training and riding her own horses, coaching others, and attempting to teach her mischievous donkeys—and Pickles, a very feral goat—new tricks.