West Midlands Regional Welfare

BHS launch new rehoming scheme

The British Horse Society is pleased to announce its new rehoming scheme established to assist horse owners to find safe new homes for their horses.

The British Horse Society receives many requests for help from horse owners urgently seeking new homes for their horses. For most, the prospect of parting with their horse is heartbreaking but unavoidable. As many equine rescue centres are running at, or near to, capacity, finding a safe, experienced and knowledgeable home – and doing so quickly – is not always easy. The BHS has therefore established a rehoming scheme to help existing owners find suitable new homes for their horses.   

If you are currently looking for a new horse there is also the opportunity to register your details with the BHS. This can either be for a ridden or companion horse or pony. The BHS will then aim to match up a horse wanted with those in need of a new home.

Graham Cory, Chief Executive said: “At a time of economic difficulty like this there are many horse owners who find themselves no longer able to care for their animals. It is crucial that horses in this situation are rehomed responsibly and safely. No organisation is better placed to assist with this than the British Horse Society and we are very excited to be launching our new rehoming scheme”.

For further information on the scheme please contact 01926 707791 or e.hannelly@bhs.org.uk
For further information and pictures, please contact: Alison Coleman, The British Horse Society, 01926 707737 or a.coleman@bhs.org.uk 
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Briefing Note re Draft Animal Health Bill.

The draft Bill would establish a new Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), the 'Animal Health Organisation' (AHO), to take over from Defra responsibility for animal health policy and delivery in England, though not welfare which would remain with Defra.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/animalhealth/sharing/ahbill/index.htm

Please find below the key points which will inform The British Horse Society’s detailed response to the above consultation.
Please respond to this consultation.  
Key Points:-

• The Bill will establish a new NDPB with responsibility for animal health. The Society has grave concerns that the  separation of animal health and animal welfare functions, for reasons which have no rational justification, will have a detrimental overall effect on the health and welfare of equines.

• The formation of a new NDPB imposes an expensive layer of unnecessary bureaucracy.

• Whilst there have been many years of consultation with the livestock industry on responsibility and cost sharing there has been insufficient consultation with the horse industry. This has resulted in a set of proposals that will not be in the interests of the horse industry.

• The livestock industry is significantly different to the horse industry. As a consequence proposals that are relevant to that industry will not always be appropriate to the horse industry, which is primarily a leisure pursuit, the cost of which is paid out of taxed income of the majority of equestrians.

• As the horse industry is so different to the livestock industry there is grave concern that equine health issues may be marginalised and that proposals that are relevant to the livestock sector will be inappropriately applied to the horse industry.

• The proposed cost of £2.3 million of collecting the horse tax which Defra estimates will amount to £4.5 million represents a disproportionate cost of collection.

• The draft Bill is premature. The cross sector advisory group, set up by the government to advise it on responsibility and cost sharing, is not due to submit its report to the government until the autumn.

• The draft Bill in the main currently only applies only to England. It does not make sense to pursue such proposals solely in England when England, Scotland and Wales are one epidemiological unit.

• The European Community has no proposals to consider or implement such responsibility and cost sharing proposals until at least 2012. The draft Bill is therefore premature. Proposals for responsibility and cost sharing should only be developed in accordance with the European Community timetable.

• The decision to reserve the cost sharing proposals to a future Finance Bill could mean that there will be inadequate consultation on any such proposals.

• The published impact assessment is superficial and incomplete.

Responses to the consultation should be sent by email, by Monday 19th April to:-
animalhealthbill@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Or by post: Animal Health Bill Team
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 5E, 9 Millbank
c/o Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Dated 10th March 2010
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British Horse Society’s concerns over Animal Health Bill

The British Horse Society has today issued the key points of its proposed response to the Government’s draft Animal Health Bill.

The draft Bill would establish a new Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), the 'Animal Health Organisation' (AHO), to take over responsibility from Defra for animal health policy and delivery in England. However, this would not include welfare, which would remain with Defra.

Mark Weston, Director of Access, Safety and Welfare at the BHS said: “The Society has grave concerns that the separation of animal health and animal welfare functions, for reasons which have no rational justification, will have a detrimental overall effect on the health and welfare of equines. The formation of a new NDPB imposes an expensive layer of unnecessary bureaucracy.

“While there have been many years of consultation with the livestock industry on responsibility and cost sharing there has been insufficient consultation with the horse industry. This has resulted in a set of proposals that will not be in the interests of the horse industry.

“The livestock industry is significantly different to the horse industry. As a consequence, proposals relevant to that industry will not always be appropriate to the horse industry, which is primarily a leisure pursuit, the cost of which is paid out of taxed income of the majority of equestrians.”

The BHS believes that because of the vast differences between the two industries equine health issues may be marginalised and that proposals relevant to the livestock sector will be inappropriately applied to the horse industry. Furthermore, the Society points out that the proposed cost of collecting the horse tax, estimated to be in the region of £2.3 million, represents a disproportionate amount against the Defra estimation of £4.5 million which will be raised.

Mark Weston added: “The draft Bill is premature. The cross sector advisory group, set up by the government to advise it on responsibility and cost sharing, is not due to submit its report to the government until the autumn. In addition, the draft Bill in the main applies only to England. It does not make sense to pursue such proposals solely in England when England, Scotland and Wales are one epidemiological unit.

“The European Community has no proposals to consider or implement such responsibility and cost sharing proposals until at least 2012. Proposals for responsibility and cost sharing should only be developed in accordance with the European Community timetable.

“The decision to reserve the cost sharing proposals to a future Finance Bill could mean that there will be inadequate consultation on any such proposals.

“I would urge everyone involved in the horse industry to send their views on the consultation to Defra either by email, to animalhealthbill@defra.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Animal Health Bill Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Area 5E, 9 Millbank, c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR by Monday 19 April.”

Swamp feaver latest news

We would again like to notify you of the availability of the latest Defra/AHT/BEVA equine quarterly disease surveillance report. The report covering the period October to December 2009 has  been uploaded onto the AHT website and is accessible via the following address http://www.aht.org.uk/pdf/equine_vol5_4.pdf
Please note that all reports produced to date are available online at http://www.aht.org.uk/equine_disease.html and can also be accessed via the Animal Health Trust's home page by clicking on the Equine Disease Surveillance logo in the bottom left-hand corner of the page (http://www.aht.org.uk/).
Finally, we would again appreciate it if you could publicise this initiative to your colleagues who may be interested to register in the same way. This can be done easily via the following address http://www.aht.org.uk/equine_disease_registration.html
Your support for this initiative is much appreciated and we would welcome your feedback on it.

Dr Richard Newton
Equine Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, CB8 7UU
Tel: +44 (0)1638 751000
Fax: +44 (0)1638 555659
E-Mail: richard.newton@aht.org.uk
Web:   http://aht.org.uk/
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Equine Infectious Anaemia

You may have heard by now that two horses in Wiltshire have been humanely destroyed having tested positive for antibodies against Equine Infectious Anaemia, or Swamp Fever. Obviously this is bad news but it is important to keep it in perspective and not worry unnecessarily. There is already a lot of unhelpful and incorrect speculation flying around on the internet so the BHS felt it would be helpful to provide a few facts.

EIA is spread by insect vectors (or potentially contaminated veterinary equipment) NOT by close contact between horses. The cold snap will have ensured that insect vectors are few and far between and those that have survived will not fly far. Standards of veterinary hygiene are such in this country that contaminated veterinary equipment should not be an issue. Hence, transmission of the EIA virus between horses will be very difficult.

The two animals that tested positive were imported into this country. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that EIA has been successfully transmitted within the UK. The horses have now been destroyed so they are not acting as a reservoir to potentially infect others.

It is extremely positive that these horses were identified (they were not displaying clinical signs). This goes to show that import checks are working.

The premises at which the affected horses were identified are under restrictions and Defra are conducting a full epidemiological investigation.

We are not seeking to downgrade this outbreak or denigrate anybody’s fears, this is obviously very serious news. However, it is exceedingly likely that this outbreak will be contained and the threat to other horses really is small. The best advice that we can give is to read up on Equine Infectious Anaemia and familiarise yourself with its clinical signs. Remain vigilant and if you have any concerns contact your vet immediately. There is useful information about EIA at the following links:

http://www.bhs.org.uk/Horse_Care/Campaigns/Exotic_diseases/EIA.aspx

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/eia/index.htm

This link will take you to the latest news from Defra:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2010/100119a.htm

It is important to be informed and prepared but the evidence strongly suggests that this occurrence will be of no threat to the vast majority of UK horses, even those local to the outbreak.

For more information, or to discuss any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact BHS Welfare on 01926 707804 or 01926 707791.

Lee Hackett
Senior Executive, Welfare
Tel: 01926 707804
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West Midlands Regional Welfare Report 1 June 2009
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Defra/AHT/BEVA equine quarterly disease surveillance report

Dear all
We would again like to notify you of the availability of the latest Defra/AHT/BEVA equine quarterly disease surveillance report. The report covering the period July to Septmber 2009 has now been uploaded onto the AHT website and is now accessible via the following address http://www.aht.org.uk/pdf/equine_vol5_3.pdf
Please note that all reports produced to date are available online at http://www.aht.org.uk/equine_disease.html and can also be accessed via the Animal Health Trust's home page by clicking on the Equine Disease Surveillance logo in the bottom left-hand corner of the page (http://www.aht.org.uk/).
Finally, we would again appreciate it if you could publicise this initiative to your colleagues who may be interested to register in the same way. This can be done easily via the following address http://www.aht.org.uk/equine_disease_registration.html
Your support for this initiative is much appreciated and we would welcome your feedback on it.
May we take this opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Dr Richard Newton
Equine Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
Animal Health Trust
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Help the BHS ‘Draw the Line on Indiscriminate Breeding’

The British Horse Society’s ‘Drawing the Line on Indiscriminate Breeding’ campaign continues to gain momentum as more famous faces show their support and encourage the equestrian world to ‘Think Before You Breed’.

Carl Hester is the latest well-known equestrian to show his support for the Society’s campaign, which over the last few months has received great support from numerous celebrities.

Alan Titchmarsh, Ian Stark, Lucinda Green and Kelly Marks have drawn pictures for the campaign, while Barry Humphries and Martin Clunes have added their names to our cause. With a lesson from David Broome and a visit to Carl Hester’s yard also donated, we are sure next year’s auction will be a great success, offering something for everyone.

All donations to The British Horse Society will be auctioned in October 2010, with all proceeds going to the BHS welfare department in support of this important cause.

Details of next year’s auction will be available shortly. For more information on our ‘Drawing the Line’ campaign, news and information on the latest donations received, or to donate to welfare, please visit our website at www.bhs.org.uk

For further information and pictures, please contact: Lee Hackett, BHS Head of Welfare, 01926 707804, 07968 214008 or l.hackett@bhs.org.uk
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Famous faces get creative to help the BHS fight indiscriminate breeding in horses

A number of famous faces are among those supporting a new welfare campaign which was launched by The British Horse Society (BHS) earlier this month. The BHS’s “Drawing the Line on Indiscriminate Breeding” campaign is set to see a host of celebrities from the horse world and beyond produce original works of art that will be auctioned in support of the BHS campaign against the overproduction of horses. Triple Olympic Gold Medallist Matt Ryan and Eventing legend Lucinda Green were the first to create their masterpieces when both were brave enough to draw live at Badminton Horse Trials.

Among the non-horsy celebrities who added their support to the campaign at Royal Windsor Horse Show were Martin Clunes and Barry Humphries. Alan Titchmarsh also visited the BHS hospitality tent to put his image down on paper. Many other celebrities will produce their own piece of artwork during the coming year.

As one of the UK’s leading horse welfare charities, The British Horse Society takes the view that most of the welfare problems in this country can be traced back to one cause: we simply have more horses and ponies than we have experienced and knowledgeable homes to care for them.   

The issue has been brought into even sharper focus by the economic difficulties faced by many horse owners in the current recession. Equine charities have been reporting a huge increase in the number of requests for help for some time.

The British Horse Society, in common with other welfare organisations, responds annually to hundreds of reports of suffering and neglected horses. At some markets it is currently possible to buy a young unhandled horse for just £30, a similar price to purchasing a rabbit from a pet shop. The future faced by horses that change hands for such small sums of money has to be open to serious question.

Consequently the BHS, supported by South Essex Insurance Brokers, is launching this long term campaign to encourage horse owners to ‘Think Before You Breed’. Lee Hackett, Head of BHS Welfare said: “Putting an end to the indiscriminate breeding of low quality horses and ponies will mean a more secure future for those that are bred. Put simply, less horses means better welfare.”

A selection of images are available, including scans of the artwork.

For further information and pictures, please contact: Lee Hackett, BHS Head of Welfare, 01926 707804, 07968 214008 or l.hackett@bhs.org.uk
Click here to read more from the BHS
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BHS West Midlands Regional Welfare Report 10 March 2009

County Level Activity There have been relatively few reported welfare issues reported in the West Midlands over the winter period, which is good news particularly as a rise was expected due to the ‘credit crunch’. There have been no very serious cases, and as far as I am aware, all cases have been appropriately dealt with.

Shropshire, Warwickshire and Herefordshire have each successfully recruited an additional welfare representative, these new representatives have either been or will be trained in the forthcoming round of training dates. Additionally, at least one further application is pending for Staffordshire County.

Police/ Horse Watch
West Mercia Police Service covers much of the BHS ‘West Midlands’ region, however contact and relations between the BHS, Worcestershire and Herefordshire Horse Watch schemes and the police was scant to say the least. Although some relations may have been better in individual instances, there was no overall policy for communication with either the BHS or Horse Watch, although clearly in instances of horse related and rural crime, there would be a great deal of benefit to all parties through such contact.

Through former police colleagues I was able to arrange a meeting which was held in January with an officer from the central Safety and Justice Department (West Mercia Police Headquarters, Hindlip Hall, Worcester) together with two regional neighbourhood watch co-ordinators and representatives of Midlands Horse Watch groups. This was a very productive and beneficial meeting for all concerned. Communications from police sources with both the BHS and local Horse Watch co-ordinators has improved greatly and as a result this information is passed on. This information will hopefully enable people to be aware of crime within their areas and to take suitable crime prevention precautions. This is a positive step to keep horses and their owners safer.

Additionally, through further negotiations, West Mercia Police have agreed to host the annual meeting of the National Horse Watch Alliance at Police Headquarters at Hindlip Hall, Worcester. West Mercia Police will provide the venue and tea/coffee for the day, at no cost to the Horse Watch Alliance. This Annual Meeting will be held on a date yet to be finalised September 2009.
Lisa Randle West Midlands Regional Welfare Officer
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The BHS Welfare Department is actively involved in all aspects of horse care, including the provision of a telephone advisory service and the publication and distribution of free leaflets.

Through a network of over 100 experienced and dedicated volunteers across the country the Society is able to respond in an informed, sympathetic manner to reports of equine suffering and neglect. Often cases are caused by a lack of knowledge on the part of the owner of the horse or pony concerned and problems can usually be solved with advice. In more serious cases it can be necessary for the BHS to get help from the Police or other organizations which have the resources to bring charges against alleged offenders.