News
October, 2011
Equine welfare groups call for hot branding ban
10/10/2011
Equine welfare groups are making further calls to ban hot branding after a report commissioned by the RSPCA confirmed the procedure causes "significant pain". Last year, the charity commissioned equine welfare expert Dr Mark Kennedy to write an independent report into the hot branding and microchipping of horses and ponies.
Champion pony breeder receives three-year ban
10/10/2011
Dartmoor pony breeder and judge David Hinde has been banned from keeping horses for three years, after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to a pony. Mr Hinde — who bred, but no longer owns, last year’s dual Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Olympia champion Pumphill Buckthorn — pleaded guilty at Beverley Magistrates Court, East Yorks on 26 September.
April, 2011
Liverpool vet school builds £2million intensive care unit
26/04/2011
The University of Liverpool is to build a £2 million intensive care unit (ICU) at its equine hospital. The ICU, due to be completed in July this year, will provide state-of-the-art-facilities for the care of injured and sick horses, as well as specially designed areas for the treatment of foals.
Horse dealer is fined under passport law
26/04/2011
A former police officer has been found guilty of nine horse passport offences and two cruelty charges, by Wrexham magistrates sitting in Mold.
Horse dealer Peter Kenneth Jones, of Plas Power Stables, Bersham near Wrexham denied 12 charges brought by Wrexham Trading Standards, but admitted selling a horse without a passport.
Client education on out-of-hours care
06/04/2010
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is to start a campaign to educate owners about the professions obligation to provide night-time and weekend emergency care in the absence of an NHS for pets.
Notifiable Disease Diagnosed
06/04/2010
It has been confirmed that a notifiable venereal disease has been diagnosed in a Devon-based stallion. The condition, contagious equine metritis (CEM), was found following routine testing in March.
January, 2010
Laminitis Grant
13/01/2010
The RVC, in conjunction with the Laminitis Research Consortium, has been awarded a grant of £132,425 by the Laminitis Trust.
Horse owners have contined to spend despite recession
06/01/2010
Horse owners have continued to spend, despite the recession, according to research from the British Equine Trade Association (BETA). And it's good news to end a difficult 2009.
December, 2009
Welfare Codes
21/12/2009
Defra has launched its animal welfare codes, including one offering advice for horse owners. Jim Fitzpatrick, Minister for the Horse, launched the booklets outlining the responsibilities horse, cat and dog owners have under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 on 8 December.
November, 2009
Man charged with murder of teenage jockeys
27/11/2009
A man appeared in court this morning (Friday, 27 November), charged with the murder of two jockeys that died in a fire in Yorkshire in September.
Horse Tax
13/11/2009
World Horse Welfare has voiced its support for the British Horse Industry Confederation's "rethink the horse tax" campaign, which wants DEFRA to change its mind on proposals for a tax on horse owners as part of responsibility and cost sharing plans.
October, 2009
Horse homes
28/10/2009
The horse trust has launched a rehoming scheme in response to an increase in calls from financially burdened horse owners.
March, 2008
All foals to be microchipped from 2009
21/03/2008
All foals born after 1st July 2009 will require microchipping under new EU legislation governing equine identifications.
Equine Influenza outbreak eradicated in Australia
03/03/2008
The Australian horse industry received some welcome news with the anouncement from the New South Wales Government that the devastating equine influenza outbreak has been eradicated.
Studbook society no longer able to issue passports
03/03/2008
A studbook society has had its authority to issue passports revoked by the Scottish government in what appears to be the first case of this kind, following complaints that it was not operating efficiently.
September, 2007
Ragwort hits 'epidemic' levels in UK
10/09/2007
The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) has claimed that equine vets should be doing more to warn clients about a ragwort epidemic sweeping the UK. It is feared that the wet weather of the summer has left many fields being left uncut allowing the deadly weed to increase in numbers.
New hope in strangles diagnosis
10/09/2007
A new test is being developed to help diagnose strangles. This new test will be from a blood sample and will allow fast results without being as invasive as previous tests have been.
June, 2007
Horse drowns at Appleby Fair
20/06/2007
On Friday, 8 June at Appleby fair in Cumbria a horse drowned after being washed in the river Eden. According to tradition, the animals' heads must be dunked beneath the water before they can be returned to dry land.
Equine grass sickness cases increase
18/06/2007
There are growing fears that equine dysautonomia, more commonly known as equine grass sickness, is becoming more common as anecdotal cases rise. The disease is invariably fatal and affects the nervous system of horses, ponies and donkeys causing colic signs, rapid weight loss and trouble swallowing.
Deadly horse disease may come to UK
18/06/2007
There are growing fears that african horse sickness, a viral disease transmitted by midges (Culicoides) may strike the UK in the next few years. It is believed current weather conditions and the increased number of midges make this country susceptible to the disease which is notifiable. One other problem is that current vaccines are inefficient and don't have a license for use in Europe.
10-year plan for horse health and welfare launched
18/06/2007
A health and welfare strategy for horses has been launched to ensure good health and humane treatment of all horses, donkeys and ponies in the UK. The plan is aimed at all people involved in horses form owners, riders, and trainers to vets, farriers, insurers and feed merchants and hopes to help people to understand their responsibilities and, by supplying relevant information, to be able to act upon them.
Livery yard licensing delayed
18/06/2007
Many people had been appealing for horse liveries to require licenses as with catteries and kennels, however, it has been decided that the 10,000 livery yards in the UK need not be put under such obligation at present. The introduction of licensing is hoped to bring to an end bad practice and sub-standard conditions and may still come into force at a later date.
Stomach ulcer month
18/06/2007
A gastric (stomach) ulcer awareness month (GUAM) is to take place in May and aims to increase awareness and understanding of the condition. GUAM is sponsored by Merial Equine Health, a drugs company that manufactures Gastroguard a treatment for stomach ulcers, to educate vets and horse owners on what is one of the most under-diagnosed conditions.
Nottingham vet school official opening
18/06/2007
The new vet school at the University of Nottingham was officially opened on 3rd April by HRH The Princess Royal.
Vet struck-off for false entry on vaccination cards
18/06/2007
A prominent equine vet has been removed from the register of veterinary surgeons and is, therefore, unable to practice in the UK for falsely entering vaccinations for two horses. Despite admitting the charge and showing deep regret for his actions the RCVS Disciplinary Committee came to the decision in January. An appeal against the harshness of the punishment is being launched and many equine vets around the country are showing their support.