Forum PFERD – THE HEALTH FORUM

Prof. Dr. Christoph Mülling has been Professor of Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Leipzig since 2010. After studying veterinary medicine at the Free University of Berlin and working for five years in large animal practice, he obtained his doctorate in 1993, followed by extensive international research stays in Berlin, Cornell and Sapporo. In 2006 he became Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham and in 2007 Full Professor and Associate Dean Academic at the University of Calgary. In recent years he has developed a particular passion for the functional anatomy of the horse. His research interests include movement analysis, functional anatomy and biomechanics, the pathogenesis of hoof and claw diseases and in-vitro research on the skin, hoof and claw. Prof. Mülling was already present at PARTNER PFERD last year and emphasized how important the transfer of knowledge is to him: “If, as an expert, you can actually give people who have to deal with animals information that leads to them recognizing problems earlier, perhaps even preventing them. That they understand things better, that they perhaps also improve their riding actions and handling of the animal - that's an exciting thing,” says Müllling.

This year, he will delve deeper into the horse’s nervous system and kick off the Forum Saturday with an engaging lecture on fascia, lymphatic vessels, and more.

Dr. Corinna Arnold is a specialist veterinarian for equine internal medicine and senior consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine and Reproductive Medicine at the Equine Clinic of the University of Leipzig. Her field of activity includes the diagnosis and treatment of internal diseases in horses. She is also involved in clinical veterinary medicine and in the training and further education of students. With her expertise, she contributes significantly to the health care of horses and to the promotion of young veterinarians.

Fittingly on Isi-Friday, Dr. Corinna Arnold will open this year’s Forum PFERD with her lecture “Herz, Lunge, Muskel – Ursachen von Leistungsinsuffizienz bei Pferden – Was wissen wir beim Islandpferd?.” She will round off the Forum on Saturday with “Liebe geht durch den Magen, Stress auch! Was hat der Pferdemagen mit Tierwohl zu tun?.”

Dr. Karoline von Bassewitz studied veterinary medicine in Leipzig and specialized early on in equine medicine. After obtaining her veterinary license in 2009 and completing her doctorate in 2011, she pursued additional training in chiropractic care and founded her mobile equine practice in 2013. Her main focus lies in the examination and treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Since 2022, she has been running Pferdereha Tannengrund in Bargteheide near Hamburg. Whether dealing with orthopedic diagnoses, rideability issues, or post-surgical recovery – horses here receive optimal, comprehensive care that goes far beyond purely medical treatment.

With her lecture “Frust und Verzweiflung nach gestellter Diagnose – Wie Rehamaßnahmen Pferd und Besitzer entlasten können,” Dr. von Bassewitz will conclude the Forum Friday.

Dr. Franziska Wagner is a veterinarian and certified chiropractor. At the Veterinary Anatomical Institute of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Leipzig University, she teaches and conducts research with a focus on biomechanics and the functional health of the equine musculoskeletal system. Her special interest lies in the connection between structure and function – a central aspect both in research and in chiropractic practice.

Beyond her academic work, she remains deeply connected to horses: as an experienced rider, she combines theoretical knowledge with practical understanding, giving horses valuable support through her work in research, teaching, and practice.

At the Forum PFERD, she will focus on evidence-based chiropractic care in her presentation “Mehr als nur Einrenken – Chiropraktik zwischen Mythos und Methode.”

Since completing her degree in veterinary medicine in 2019, Dr. Julia Merten has been working as an assistant veterinarian at the Equine Clinic of Leipzig University. In 2023, she completed her training as an equine osteopath according to the method of Barbara Welter-Böller, and since the beginning of this year, she has been running her own equine osteopathy practice in the Leipzig area.

As an osteopath and veterinarian, Dr. Merten is deeply committed to promoting the health and well-being of horses. For her, horse owners play a crucial role in this process. That’s why she takes the opportunity to give two lectures – to present as many aspects of her work as possible and to encourage and empower owners to take an active role in maintaining their horse’s health.

On Saturday, she will enrich the Forum PFERD with her two presentations, in which she will explore the key factors influencing horses’ well-being and performance, as well as the possibilities and limitations of equine osteopathy.

Prof. Dr. Frédéric Marin heads the Professorship of Movement Science in Prevention and Rehabilitation at Chemnitz University of Technology. His research focuses on the biomechanics of movement, viewed as a neuromusculoskeletal biomarker. Indeed, information about well-being and performance can be derived from the local joint system up to the global neuromusculoskeletal system — in both humans and animals.

In line with the Health Day, Prof. Dr. Frédéric Marin provides a deeper insight into the locomotion of horses and analyzes their movement patterns using inertial sensors.

Prof. Dr. med. vet. Ingrid Vervuert is a specialist veterinarian in animal nutrition and dietetics, as well as the head of the service division at the Institute for Animal Nutrition, Nutritional Disorders, and Dietetics. In her scientific work, she focuses on roughage supply and gastric health in horses, as well as the feeding of donkeys.

She studied veterinary medicine at FU Berlin (1989-1995) and obtained the additional qualification as a specialist veterinarian in animal nutrition and dietetics in 2003. In 2010, she completed her habilitation in the field of animal nutrition and dietetics.

At the Health Day, she will deliver a lecture titled „Zu wenig, zu viel, dem Pferd auf’s Maul geschaut: Tierschutzrelevante Aspekte in der Pferdefütterung“, where she will provide valuable insights into proper and animal welfare-oriented feeding practices for horses.