Finnish Association of Equine Veterinarians (FAVP): CPD, Conferences & European Links

The Finnish Association of Equine Veterinarians (FAVP) represents veterinarians working with horses in Finland, operating as the equine section of the Finnish Veterinary Practitioners’ Association (Suomen Eläinlääkäripraktikot ry, SEP).

Through education, conferences, and international collaboration, FAVP supports equine practitioners in delivering high-quality, evidence-based care.

Today, FAVP connects equine veterinarians across Finland with continuing professional development (CPD), international representation, and a community dedicated to improving equine health and welfare.

What is the Finnish Association of Equine Veterinarians (FAVP)?

The Finnish Association of Equine Veterinarians (FAVP) is the equine section of the Finnish Veterinary Practitioners’ Association (SEP).

It represents veterinarians working with horses in Finland and supports them through continuing professional development (CPD), conferences, professional advocacy, and international collaboration via FEEVA and WEVA.

A Brief History

The Finnish Veterinary Practitioners’ Association (SEP) was founded on 10 April 1964 to support clinical veterinarians in Finland. Over time, special interest groups were created within SEP to represent different areas of practice, including small animals, production animals, and horses.

The equine section (hevosjaosto) emerged as a dedicated branch for horse veterinarians. This structure allows Finnish equine vets to benefit from SEP’s broad membership network while also having a professional identity focused entirely on horses.

What FAVP Does for Equine Vets

FAVP provides equine practitioners with:

Education & CPD: Courses, congress sessions, and training tailored to equine practice.
Professional community: A network of veterinarians committed to horse health, spanning local practices and specialist centres.
International access: Membership links directly into the Federation of European Equine Veterinary Associations (FEEVA) and the World Equine Veterinary Association (WEVA), ensuring Finnish vets are part of global conversations on welfare, medicine use, and clinical standards.
National representation: As part of SEP, the equine section gives horse vets a voice in Finnish veterinary policy and practice development.

In practical terms, FAVP plays an important role in supporting day-to-day equine veterinary work in Finland.

Its educational activities reflect the realities of ambulatory practice, referral work, and hospital-based care in Nordic conditions, including long travel distances, seasonal disease patterns, and sport horse medicine.

Who Is FAVP For?

FAVP represents veterinarians working primarily or exclusively in equine practice, including:

Ambulatory and first-opinion equine veterinarians
Referral and hospital-based clinicians
Vets working in sport horse, racing, breeding, and welfare-focused practice

It’s activities are designed specifically for practising equine veterinarians, rather than general veterinary audiences.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Equine Vets in Finland

Equine veterinarians in Finland benefit from both national and Nordic events:

FAVP National Congress – held annually in Helsinki, with equine-focused lectures and training alongside small animal and production animal sessions.
Nordic Equine Veterinary Conference (NEVC): Hosted with support from FAVP, this event brings together equine specialists from across Scandinavia for lectures, workshops, and networking.

These events give Finnish equine vets access to the latest research and techniques, while also building connections with colleagues across the Nordic region and beyond.

For equine veterinarians in Finland, these conferences form the backbone of structured continuing professional development, offering access to Nordic and international expertise without the need for long-distance travel.

International Collaboration

The FAVP equine section is part of a strong global network:

Through FEEVA, Finnish equine vets collaborate with European colleagues on issues such as antimicrobial stewardship, equine welfare, and professional standards.
Through WEVA, they gain access to global continuing education opportunities and congresses in regions where access to equine CPD is limited.

Through FEEVA, the Finnish Association of Equine Veterinarians maintains professional links with organisations such as BEVA (UK), allowing Finnish equine veterinarians to align with European clinical standards, welfare policy, and continuing education initiatives.

Members of FAVP may be eligible for BEVA Affiliate Membership, which provides discounted access to BEVA’s journals, CPD library, webinars, and BEVA Congress rates.

Learn about BEVA Affiliate Membership →

Be the First in Line: Worldwide Equine Event Dates & Early Bird Pricing

Why FAVP Matters to Equine Vets

For equine veterinarians in Finland, FAVP offers:

A professional identity within SEP focused on equine practice.
Access to world-class CPD at both national and Nordic levels.
Representation in both Finnish policy discussions and global veterinary organisations.
A supportive community that bridges daily practice and international collaboration.

Join Our Community

We already have a strong community of Finnish equine veterinarians among our subscribers, alongside colleagues from Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and beyond.

If you would like to join this network, meet like-minded professionals, and connect with the wider equine veterinary community, now is the perfect time to get involved.

Together with FAVP, you’ll gain access to professional support, education, and a global community committed to advancing equine medicine.

FAQ’S

What is the Finnish Association of Equine Veterinarians (FAVP)?
FAVP is the equine section of the Finnish Veterinary Practitioners’ Association (SEP), representing veterinarians who work with horses in Finland.

Is FAVP relevant for practising equine veterinarians?
Yes. FAVP focuses specifically on equine clinical practice, offering CPD, conferences, and professional representation for horse vets.

Does FAVP organise equine veterinary conferences?
The Finnish Association of Equine Veterinarians supports national equine-focused congresses in Helsinki and plays a role in the Nordic Equine Veterinary Conference (NEVC).

Is FAVP connected internationally?
Yes. FAVP links to FEEVA and WEVA, giving members access to European and global equine veterinary education and collaboration.

This article was reviewed and updated by veterinary education professionals at The Equine Practice Company, working in collaboration with international equine veterinarians and continuing professional development (CPD) providers across Europe.

Sources & professional references