Welcome to the National Equine Forum
The National Equine Forum (NEF) is the only equine conference of its kind in the UK, free from any specific equine sector affiliation, bias or commercial influence.
Recognised in the horse world as an outstanding annual event this exceptional conference brings together influential members of the equine industry, experts and government to debate pertinent topical issues and discuss current research and innovation. It also provides a unique opportunity for networking with the leaders of the industry.
The 34th National Equine Form took place on Thursday 05 March 2026 (#NEF26).
Search Begins for the #NEF27 Programme Cover Image
The National Equine Forum (NEF) is inviting amateur equine photographers to submit their finest work for the chance to feature on the cover of the #NEF27 programme. Open to amateur photographers, the competition celebrates the art of photography in capturing the character, presence and beauty of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Submissions may be of the photographer’s own equines or those that they have been given permission to photograph, subject...
Search for equine sector’s hidden champions begins
Nominations are officially open for the National Equine Forum (NEF) Sir Colin Spedding Award 2027. This prestigious accolade shines a spotlight on outstanding individuals or organisations whose vital contributions to the equine sector have not yet been formally recognised. The online nomination process is quick and easy; the form can be found here. Sir Colin Spedding was the founding chairman of the NEF and chaired the event for 20 years...
Industry Leaders Praise National Equine Forum for Uniting the Equestrian Sector
Sponsors of the National Equine Forum 2026 have highly commended this year’s event for its pivotal role in bringing the UK equine sector together to share knowledge for the advancement of welfare. As the UK’s principal independent equestrian conference, the March event attracted vital backing from 21 prominent industry sponsors. Industry leaders have highlighted the immense value of the conference: Jan Rogers, The Horse Trust: "We took the decision to...
Next Forum
The 35th National Equine Forum will take place on Thursday 04 March 2027. Details will be released in late 2026.
The 34th National Equine Forum took place on Thursday 05 March 2026. Details can be found here and sessions can be found on our YouTube Channel.
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Sir Colin Spedding Award
The Sir Colin Spedding Award is presented annually to an exceptional unsung hero or heroine of the equestrian world. Any individual or organisation from any equestrian field in the UK is eligible, as long as their outstanding qualities have not been formally acknowledged elsewhere. Past winners can be found here.
Nominations for the 2027 Sir Colin Spedding Award closed on Friday 31 July 2026. The winner will be announced at the 35th National Equine Forum on Thursday 04 March 2027.
