The inaugural Equine Collaboration for Health and Outreach (ECHO) event was held on 12 September at the Irish National Stud and Gardens, bringing together over 100 breeders, trainers, vets, educators, and industry professionals from across Ireland. Organized by leading institutions such as CAFRE, the Irish Equine Centre, Teagasc, University of Limerick, and University College Dublin, the event focused on practical skills to support sustainable equine health. Through live demonstrations and workshops, participants developed tailored risk profiles for their farms and learned actionable steps to improve biosecurity, parasite and pasture management, and neonatal foal care.

Speakers emphasized the importance of practical, evidence-based advice, with key messages including the need for high hygiene standards around newborn foals and the understanding that parasites are primarily a pasture issue. The event also launched a new publication, ‘Grassland for Horses,’ collaboratively produced by Teagasc and the Irish Equine Centre. The success of the event highlights the demand for locally relevant equine health guidance, with ECHO committed to ongoing outreach programs and resources to empower horse owners in Ireland.