THE Irish Equine Veterinary Association hosts IEVA’26 at the Lyrath Estate in Co Kilkenny from Thursday to Saturday, November 5th-7th.
Billed as Ireland’s largest equine veterinary continuing professional development [CPD] event, the conference boasts an ambitious and wide-ranging programme of speakers, topics, talks, presentations and wetlabs.
The programme has been curated to ‘keep the horse at the centre’ of the Conference. An expert panel of speakers have been secured to deliver thought-provoking presentations. Keynote speakers include Emma Adam, David Freeman, Giorgio Ricardi, Peter Ramzan and Pat Sells.
The wetlab at Clinic na gCapall in Co Carlow on day one of the conference will focus on Peri Carpal, Ultrasonography and Radiography.
The programme for the Nursing Stream on day two covers topics, such as feeding the colic patient, the administration of catheters and fluids, as well as wound management. There will be a section entitled ‘What’s new in the Papers’ plus a series of panel discussions, one on sales and the other on sports.
Once again, IEVA will be hosting a group of veterinary students at the conference, as part of its Future Proof campaign. An engaging and immersive series of workshops have been woven into the programme, which will all appeal to the veterinary practitioners’ community, from the recently graduated to the more established vet.
The IEVA’26 Exhibitor Hall has secured an impressive selection of key industry stakeholders from home and abroad, whose participation collectively makes the conference possible.
While there will be much learning and networking taking place at the conference, the Gala Ball on Friday night promises some serious horseplay also.
Further information can be found on the IEVA Facebook and Instagram pages. Delegates can purchase tickets on irisheva.ie
Dr David Freeman
David graduated from the Veterinary College of Ireland in 1972 and has spent the majority of his career in the USA. He was awarded a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985 and became a board-certified surgeon in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1989.
He joined the faculty at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 and became Head of Equine Medicine and Surgery in 1998.
David was recognised by the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil in 2011 for “outstanding contributions to the development of equine surgery worldwide”. He received the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Founders Award for Career Achievement in 2022. His main area of clinical interest is improving survival and reducing postoperative complications after gastrointestinal surgery in horses.
Dr Patrick Sells
Pat qualified from Liverpool Vet School in 2007 with the Equine Clinical Prize. He spent five years at Rossdales in Newmarket, where he obtained his Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice and supported busy breeding operations, such as Juddmonte Farms. Pat subsequently set up a stud and racing practice in New Zealand at Windsor Park Stud. He returned to the UK in 2016 and set up a stud and racing practice based at Chasemore Farm, where he is now a non-executive director. Having moved to the Newbury area in 2025, he is now co-director and co-founder at Arrowdown Equine Vets.
Areas of clinical interest include podiatry, sales, reproduction and orthopaedic development. Pat sits on two committees for the Horserace Betting Levy Board and is a keen owner-breeder.
Dr Pete Ramzan
Pete graduated from the University of Sydney in 1994. He subsequently worked in the cattle industry in the Kimberely region of Northern Australia before moving to the UK in 1996. He gained experience in large animal practice in the West Country before joining Rossdales in Newmarket in 1998. He became a partner in 2005 and a clinical director from 2021 to 2025.
Pete is a member of Rossdale’s busy racing team and is involved in pre-purchase work (both private and at public auction) within the UK and worldwide.
Pete is a previous recipient of BEVA’s Richard Hartley Clinical Award and, in 2018, was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice.
Emma Adam
Emma grew up on a commercial thoroughbred breeding farm in Newmarket and started working for Sir Michael Stoute during vet school, staying on after graduating as assistant for a few years.
After that, she joined an ambulatory practice near Newmarket before furthering her education with stints in Australia, before heading to the US for more formal training. In the US, where she now resides and works, she undertook an internship at Colorado State University, an internal medicine residency at Texas A&M, and a surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.
She now works at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center in a position that combines research with outreach. Her role forms the bridge between academic and clinical research, engaging with local farms and veterinarians to help address issues affecting our industry.
Giorgio Ricardi
Giorgio qualified from the University of Turin, Italy, in 1989. After a few externships, he did an Internship Equine Surgery in 1991-1992 at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK. He then moved back to Italy, where he was in private practice in 1993- 2014.
He has been Contract Professor in Equine Surgery at the University of Pisa and Visiting Equine Surgeon at the University of Milan.
In 2014-’15, he moved to the United Arab Emirates, where he was Senior Clinician at W’rsan Racing Stables, Abu Dhabi, attending to flat and endurance racehorses.
Since 2016, Giorgio is a senior lameness clinician and surgeon at Donnington Grove Equine Hospital in Newbury. His main field of interest is orthopaedic disease in racing and sport horses, with special emphasis on scintigraphy and diagnostic ultrasonography.
Emma Adam, Jane Boswell, Jill Bryan, Joe Collins, Don Collins, Ann Cullinane, Lisa Devane, Dominique Doyle, Sean Finan, Michelle Fogarty, David Freeman, John Hanly, Jennie Henderson, Simon Hennessy, Lynn Hillyer, Des Leadon, Siobhan McAuliffe, Kirsty McCann, Orla McGlynn, Mark MacRedmond, Peter O’Reilly, Tom O’Brien, Anne O’Brien, Jerry O’Sullivan, Kevin Quigg, Pete Ramzan, Lisa Reidy, Giorgio Ricardi, Jackie Ryan, Pat Sells, Hugh Suffern, Marcus Swail and Rebecca Watson.
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