The demise of the AHT last summer showed it is not viable for a single entity to fulfil all its roles. H&H spoke to some of those involved in trying to find new homes for all the trust’s equine work

Progress is being made to protect vital work done by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) from being lost for ever.

The AHT closed in July after months of searching failed to source enough funding for a viable future and liquidators were appointed in September.

Stephen Atkin, former chief executive of the Racecourse Association, has been heading up the process of how to best save the AHT’s disease surveillance, disease research, diagnostic testing and expertise to the veterinary pharmaceutical industry the charity provided.

Although this does mean the charity’s services will no longer come under one umbrella, Mr Atkin explained that, sadly, the demise of the AHT meant that a single solution was not possible and they are now working to secure a long-term future for all areas of the charity’s equine work in the best possible homes.

He told H&H the disease surveillance work was protected as a priority, for the benefit of the whole UK herd, by moving senior AHT staff initially to the British Horseracing Authority payroll.

“We had to move quickly in that area, although it was difficult coping with an organisation about to go into liquidation, we moved as fast as we could, after staff had been made redundant, to ensure those services and the staff could still be available to the whole UK equine herd. said Mr Atkin.

“The thoroughbred sector was able and had the money to make that happen, and now that key service has been maintained there is a plan to engage more significantly with the non-thoroughbred sector. We want them involved to have their voice heard and, in time, to contribute to the service.”

He added money is part of it, but disease is a concern that affects the whole UK herd – not just thoroughbreds – so they want the wider equestrian world to be a part of this.

“We would gain from having their involvement, as would they,” Mr Atkin said.

British Equine Veterinary Association chief executive David Mountford added it is “great news for the sector” that plans to ensure equine infectious disease surveillance is centrally monitored are being developed. Meanwhile, a tender process took place in the autumn to find homes for the other areas of the AHT’s work, with 10 formal bids for the specialised diagnostic testing whittled down to a shortlist of five and further announcements expected in the early stages of this year.

Mr Atkin explained much of the diagnostic testing work done by the AHT is already done elsewhere in the industry, and so they are not looking to rehome that or “interfere with the marketplace”. The trickier area is finding homes for highly specialised work, which by definition has a niche caseload, often a slow turnaround, so the costs are high and there is “no ready alternative”.

“Some of the services of the AHT’s diagnostic team have been engaged while decisions are made on the future as to who is best placed to take that work on and where, so that gives us time to decide on what the best plan is for the longer term. I am optimistic about a good outcome,” he added.

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The search has started to find a replacement for the Animal Health Trust’s disease surveillance and support services. H&H seeks the opinions of the industry as calls are made for all horse owners to contribute towards a service that will help keep our horses safe from a major infectious disease outbreak...

Following the loss of the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in July, whose work included equine disease surveillance for the UK’s entire horse population, steps are being taken to ensure this important service is available to protect the UK herd in future.

Director of epidemiology and disease surveillance, Richard Newton, and administrator Maire O’Brien were transferred to the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) payroll on behalf of the racing industry, to continue providing disease surveillance services. This was funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, owners and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

The BHA formed an industry-wide stakeholder group, which has opened a tender process for a long-term solution for both the racing and wider equestrian industry. Applications close on 5 October.

The short-term fix and move to find a more permanent solution have been welcomed by the equestrian industry. While funding from the above will continue, alongside money from the Racing Foundation, key figures in the wider equine world have stressed that supporting disease surveillance is the responsibility of all horse owners.

British Equine Veterinary Association chief executive and British Horse Council (BHC) chairman David Mountford told H&H it is important for the health and welfare of the national herd that there is a “good, robust system” for monitoring infectious diseases.

“The thoroughbred industry has stepped up to the mark by ensuring the short-term continuity of disease surveillance services,” he said.

“It is important that everyone in the horse world, not just the thoroughbred industry, recognises the value of good disease surveillance and biosecurity as we would hope all quarters of the equine world would contribute to its future success.”

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers told H&H the tendering process “is a huge relief, as was the BHA stepping into the breach”.

“The demise of the AHT and its vital equine disease support work was nothing short of a tragedy and a huge threat to the health of the UK equine population,” said Mr Owers.

“It could not have come at a worse time and is certainly ironic given the current global focus on biosecurity.”

He added the charity hopes the process is a step towards securing a “long-term, effective and economically viable disease surveillance service that will be accessible to all”.

Jeanette Allen, chief executive of the Horse Trust and BHC director, told H&H “everyone has a part to play”.

“Where we need to get to is an independent entity funded by the whole sector. If you own a horse, you should be chipping in,” she said.

She explained while equine flu and racing are important, they are part of a much bigger picture, with endemic and exotic diseases that need monitoring for the benefit of the entire herd.

“[Those diseases] won’t care whether it is a racehorse, a show horse or a hacking pony. The earlier we can have a system that flags these diseases to epidemiologists, the faster we can react to contain them,” she said.

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The Animal Health Trust (AHT) will close after months of trying to source enough funding for a viable future.

The leading veterinary and scientific research charity announced the sad news today (3 July).

“It is with deep regret that today we have announced to our colleagues that the Animal Health Trust’s board of trustees have concluded that the trust needs to close and next week will formally begin the process to wind up the AHT,” said a statement from the charity.

“The decision to cease operations has been reached after several months of trying to secure funding.

“Although substantial progress was made, the charity has been unable to secure the significant funds it needs to have a long-term viable future.

“Further announcements will be made in due course. However, at this point no further comment will be made.”

The charity, which has been in existence for 75 years, is dedicated to animal health and welfare. Its veterinary service provides care for ill and injured dogs, cats and horses, while its scientific team researches cures and treatments for disease and injury, from providing specialist advice to developing vaccines.

Its work includes equine disease surveillance for the UK’s entire horse population, including playing a vital role in monitoring last year’s equine flu outbreak, and specialist veterinary research for the thoroughbred horse racing industry.

The AHT announced it was facing financial difficulties, compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, in March. Two months later, it revealed plans to close its equine hospital in May, but hope remained for its research and surveillance work.

That hope has now gone.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) and Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) met this morning with the Racing Foundation and the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) to discuss the next steps. It was agreed the BHA would lead the racing industry’s efforts to maintain the surveillance and testing capability, and it will also work with British Equestrian, the British Horse Society and the British Horse Council.

Racing provides annual funding of around £700,000 to the AHT, of which the HBLB provides some £400,000. The ROA and TBA also provide further funding.

In addition, the current HBLB research investment is around £2.8m, with research projects at various stages covering virology, bacteriology and other disciplines.

An additional £700,000 was allocated by the HBLB in 2020 after financial difficulties at the AHT became apparent. This conditional grant has not yet been paid, but is available if a solution for providing the essential disease control and veterinary research services can be agreed.

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“The Animal Health Trust has played an important role in maintaining the high standards of equine health and welfare in the racing industry and the equine sector,” said a BHA spokesman.

“Its staff, led by director Richard Newton, responded superbly when we faced an equine flu outbreak last year.

“We recognise their world-leading expertise in epidemiology and veterinary research and do not want to see this lost to the British equine sector.

“We believe that if the horse sector maintains the strong collaborative approach it has adopted in combatting disease and engaging government over issues such as Brexit, it should be possible to maintain an effective surveillance programme and the specialist veterinary research capability.”

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After many weeks of work behind the scenes to help the Animal Health Trust find a secure financial footing, a plan for the future of the charity has been revealed, which doesn’t include its referal hospitals. H&H finds out more and seeks reaction to the loss from the British Equine Veterinary Association...

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is to close its equine hospital – but hope remains for its research and surveillance work.

The charity announced this year that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, on top of a period of financial difficulty, meant it was facing imminent closure (news, 26 March).

Trustees and the executive board have been trying to save the trust’s work, and it was announced today (28 May) that this could be possible.

“In order for the AHT to go forwards, it needs to have a viable business model that demonstrates it can be self-financing and therefore can attract the short-term funding required to take it from the current dire financial position to that future viable model as quickly as possible,” a spokesman said.

“The trustees have concluded that if the charity is to continue, and it remains uncertain that the funding can be found to make that possible, the only viable option is for it to revert to its core purpose of providing world-renowned veterinary and scientific research for the benefit of companion animals.

“As a result, subject to consultation, the trustees are proposing to close the AHT’s two referral practices: for small animals and horses.”

The AHT is the leading veterinary and scientific research charity dedicated to animal health and welfare. Its veterinary service provides care for ill and injured dogs, cats and horses, while its scientific team researches cures and treatments for disease and injury, from providing specialist advice to developing vaccines.

AHT trustee Steve Shore said: “The work at the Animal Health Trust is truly unique and being told that the referral clinics could be closing and there is no longer a job for you is a terrible prospect, and especially difficult for our teams of dedicated vets, nurses and support staff, all of whom take so much pride and care in looking after their patients and owners. But we must make difficult decisions to create a possible future for the AHT.

“We also need to do this right, which means we will work closely with our employees and representatives, as appropriate, and going through a formal consultation process with everyone affected.

“The trust was founded nearly 80 years ago by Dr W Reg Wooldridge who wanted it to promote veterinary research and prevent suffering in companion animals. The trustees believe in making this difficult decision, the AHT will continue to have this vision at its heart and will give it the best chance of future success.”

British Equine Veterinary Association chief executive David Mountford told H&H the association has been in contact with the AHT throughout the process, and was “very sad” to hear the equine clinical services would close.

“It’s had an impressive history and has seen many veterinary stars,” he said. “Our thoughts are with those facing redundancy.

“We’re thrilled, however, that there are potential lifelines for the AHT’s research and equine disease surveillance work. These functions are hugely important for the health of our national horse herd and underpin all the sector’s activities.

“We hope that all parts of the equine industry will step up to the mark and help support them in the future.”

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Leading veterinary charity the Animal Health Trust (AHT) is facing closure within days if emergency funding cannot be found.

The AHT announced yesterday (22 March) that following a time of “dire financial constraints, and now with the economic implications of Covid-19 having a direct effect on funding”, the charity faces closure.

“The AHT has been in existence for more than 75 years and makes a significant difference to the health and welfare of animals,” said the trust’s statement.

“Much of the work we do is unique, and without us, this work will cease, putting thousands of animals at risk from disease and injury.”

A fundraising page set up to support the trust has raised over £3,000. Click here to donate.

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The AHT team was vital in last year’s equine flu outbreaks, carrying out testing round the clock as well as keeping the country updated on the situation.

The charity said: “The trustees and executive committee continue to seek emergency funding, including the potential use of recently announced government schemes, in order to save the unparalleled knowledge and expertise the organisation houses, but without an urgent input of significant funds the charity is likely to close at the end of this month.

“We are working with our 257 members of staff to support them through this difficult time.”

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Owners and vets will have access to a “vital tool” on the most up-to-date strangles diagnoses in the UK thanks to a new online resource.

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) created the website, which aims to provide information at the “click of a button”, as part of its surveillance of equine strangles project, launched in April 2019 in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College and the universities of Liverpool and Melbourne, with funding from the Horse Trust.

A spokesman for the AHT said the website is a “huge step forward” in sharing information about the disease.

“It will quickly become a vital tool for people owning and working with horses, especially those travelling around the country to areas that have seen higher rates of diagnoses of strangles,“ he said.

“Strangles, as one of the most commonly diagnosed infectious diseases of horses worldwide with more than 600 outbreaks in the UK each year, causes immense welfare problems for horses and significant economic costs to their owners.”

The website includes a mapping function, highlighting regions where cases have been confirmed, and allows users to view information relevant to their location.

“Information based on the geography of vet practices making diagnoses, the demographics of horses being confirmed with infection, the ways diagnoses are made and the types of samples being submitted for lab testing, is also included,” said the spokesman.

“Users can look at the time course of diagnoses over longer periods to highlight seasonal trends, and view the most important associated clinical signs and the combinations of these, as reported on submission forms sent with samples to diagnostic laboratories.”

AHT director of disease surveillance and epidemiology Richard Newton said the website provides “comprehensive insights” about the disease that have never been available before.

“However, the resource is only as useful as the data supplied from vets on the ground. I would urge colleagues to help us to keep this resource as up-to-date and comprehensive as possible by completing full details on submission forms being sent to any laboratory, so this information can contribute – anonymously – to the national picture of strangles,” he said.

AHT PhD student Abbi McGlennon, who led the development of the website, said: “Our aim with the surveillance of equine strangles scheme is to reduce the spread of the disease. This website is one of the first key tools to emerge from the larger surveillance project.

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“It joins the dots across the equine industry by collating information from laboratory-confirmed strangles diagnoses and communicating this back in almost real time. I’m excited about the prospect of extending this internationally, and the difference that could make for horses globally. We are extremely grateful to the Horse Trust for funding the wider project, and to SEIB insurance brokers for supporting the website.”

Horse Trust CEO Jeanette Allen said the charity is delighted to be funding the work.

“We support a number of crucial horse health projects throughout the UK and with worldwide collaboration. Strangles is a disease which is very worrying to owners. With accurate information about where outbreaks are and proper information about what owners can do to help reduce the spread of strangles and other diseases, we hope to be able to significantly improve horse wellbeing,” she said.

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A Welsh show is standing by its decision not to insist horses attending its competition are vaccinated against equine flu – as fresh outbreaks continue to be confirmed.

The society of the Pontardulais show, which takes place on 26 August at the show park in Pontardulais, Swansea, announced in May that owners are advised to vaccinate against flu – but said it was not obligatory.

In a statement on 26 May the society said: “After careful consideration, the society advises that owners of all equines other than foals under six months old, taking part in the show have all entries properly vaccinated against equine influenza.

“However this is not obligatory. Animals that are not vaccinated may also be entered and compete. No passports will be checked for up to date vaccination.

“We do ask that you ensure that your horses are fit and well prior to departure to the show and do not compete if they are showing any signs of equine influenza in order that this is not passed on to other competitor’s animals.”

On 1 August the society announced it would be standing by its original decision.

“Following discussion at last night’s committee meeting, the committee decided to abide by the decision made at May’s meeting,” said the statement.

“This was not a decision made by the secretary or by any individual member of the committee. It was a decision made by the committee present at the meeting.”

Chairman of the Pontardulais show society Trevor Thomas told H&H yesterday (7 August) the committee “did not feel it was necessary” to enforce vaccinations.

“We have left it up to the owners to make the decision whether they come to the show or not,” he said.

“The secretary spoke to the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and we were told it was up to the discretion of our committee and we have decided to go ahead as advertised in the beginning.”

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The society’s announcement on social media has received a mixed reaction with many people calling the decision “irresponsible” and “shocking”, saying they will not be attending as a result.

Latest figures show 219 outbreaks of equine flu have been confirmed, three in the first week of August. One outbreak in Neath Port Talbot on 1 August is around 15 miles from Pontardulais.

A spokesman for the AHT told H&H their advice remains the same; owners should remain vigilant and show organisers are encouraged to make vaccination mandatory.

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The Animal Health Trust (AHT) has warned it believes equine flu outbreaks are “gathering pace” as the number of cases tops 130 in 2019.

The trust told H&H it has seen more outbreaks in the second quarter of 2019 than the first and is urging owners not to drop their guard.

“Equine influenza [EI] has definitely not gone away,” an AHT spokesman told H&H.

“We strongly believe it is gathering pace; with the recent resurgence in activity undoubtedly related to the increased movement and mixing of horses and ponies attending events at this time of year.

“We urge all horse owners to remain extremely vigilant and recommend vaccination of entire premises and quarantining of new or returning animals to help limit the spread of the disease.

“On premises where EI is confirmed we urge horse and yard owners to implement voluntary movement restrictions and not send animals to events, even if they appear outwardly healthy.”

AHT records as of today (24 June) show 33 outbreaks for the month across England, Wales and Scotland. To put this into context, February — the month with the highest number of recorded outbreaks — had 35.

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The majority of cases have been in unvaccinated horses and the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) is also calling on owners to “maintain their vigilance” and ensure vaccinations are up to date.

“It is thought that the higher number of positive diagnoses is due to the increased movement and mixing of horses that typically occurs during this time of year, with these horses then returning to their home yards and mixing with unvaccinated individuals,” said a BEF spokesman.

“We strongly recommend that if it has been longer than six months since the last vaccination, owners should discuss a booster with their veterinary surgeon.

“It is also vital that unvaccinated horses do not mix with other equines due to the increased risk of such an infectious disease spreading. In addition, the Animal Health Trust has suggested that new or returning horses are quarantined to try to limit the spread of the disease.”

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The equine flu outbreak shows no sign of abating – and the number of cases is likely to rise as the competition season continues, experts have warned.

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is continuing to confirm cases of the virus, with 21 so far diagnosed this month, following 12 in April. Last week, 15 cases were confirmed, the second-highest number in one week since the start of this year.

The AHT is urging horse owners to continue to be vigilant and take all necessary precautions to minimise the spread of the virus.

“As the competition season is getting into its busiest period the number of outbreaks is likely to continue to rise with the movement of horses across the country,” said AHT director of epidemiology and disease surveillance Richard Newton.

“Flu is still as much of a threat as it was earlier this year.

“Our advice to horse owners remains the same; be aware of the clinical signs of equine influenza and boost your horse’s vaccination if it was given more than six months ago. Importantly, isolate new arrivals on your yard and continue to practise good biosecurity at competitions and at home”.

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Dr Newton said: “We are still urging all competition and event organisers to support vaccination within six months in order to maximise the chance of horses’ having protective immunity. 

“If all parts of the equestrian community pull together we stand a much better chance of containing these outbreaks which show no sign of abating.”

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A promising vaccine said to work “really well” against strangles is expected in 2020.

Protein-based Strangvac is due to be released in the UK next year following successful trials. 

Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology research at the Animal Health Trust, said the vaccine had taken a long time to develop and while there is “still room for improvement” to get the equine industry to embrace it, it will be a “real help” for people worried about the disease, of which 600 outbreaks are estimated in the UK each year.

“Where the vaccine comes in, is with naïve horses who haven’t had strangles – it reduces the number of horses who become carriers, and then we can gradually make a difference over time,” said Dr Waller. “The catch is the vaccine only has a short duration of two months’ immunity.”

Dr Waller said the vaccine can have an important role at “high risk” events despite the short duration of immunity.

“If your horse is going to a competition, for example, you can vaccinate and it will be protected really well and be much less likely to bring strangles back to the yard which will be really useful,” said Dr Waller. “Although the horse isn’t fully protected for the 10 months after their first course, they should be less susceptible for that period.”

Unlike the current vaccine, equilis strep E – which is not widely used – Strangvac is safe for intramuscular injection and will allow blood tests to differentiate between a vaccinated horse and an infected horse. 

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Dr Waller said it would be possible to “eradicate” the disease in the future if more horses were identified as carriers.

“It’s very easy during an outbreak to say my horse didn’t have strangles and not get it checked out but actually those horses could be the carriers who then trigger the next outbreak. If we were screening horses before they moved around to identify and treat carriers we could knock strangles on the head but it’s not happening and part of the reason for that is it isn’t being recognised as a serious problem,” he said.

“It’s important horses can move around and that’s where vaccination can play a really important role in improving herd immunity and reducing the number of cases we have in the future.”

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Vaccination and biosecurity remain crucial in controlling equine flu outbreaks across the UK, the Animal Health Trust (AHT) has reminded owners.

There have now been 61 confirmed cases since the start of the year, with the outbreak following the expected pattern.

“We are certainly hopeful that events raising their game and requiring vaccination will have had a positive effect on reducing transmission,” an AHT spokesman told H&H.

“But the continued testing and positives does suggest that there is still a problem with a sufficiently large proportion of susceptible non-vaccinated horses and movement of them to allow equine flu to continue to circulate.”

Many venues and national governing bodies are continuing to insist on horses’ having received a flu vaccination booster within six months of arrival at an event.

In January there were five confirmed cases of equine flu, with four involving vaccinated horses — more than double the total number of cases in both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses in the whole of 2018.

“February was busier with 35 outbreaks confirmed and with nine [of those] involving vaccinated horses, there was heightened awareness from the headlines around racing,” added the AHT spokesman.

“This was reflected in the amount of testing undertaken; this was more than all of the most recent year where we saw increased equine flu activity, 2014.

“March has quietened down, although we have still confirmed 21 positive outbreaks so far in March making it 61 altogether and we may see several outbreaks confirmed in a day, for example three were confirmed on Wednesday.

“However, this is a pattern that we might expect. The outbreak will almost certainly continue to grumble on and we expect to continue to make positive diagnoses, especially in clinically sicker non-vaccinated animals.”

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The spokesman warned it is not always accurate to compare numbers of confirmed outbreaks as a measure of the extent of the spread of the virus. This is because increased testing can mean an increase in diagnoses.

“But the 61 confirmed outbreaks before the end of March makes this the largest detected in several decades, even accepting for the inevitable heightened awareness around the disease increasing the numbers submitted for testing,” he added.

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Weight gain more than doubles the risk of equines’ developing laminitis – as do some techniques aimed at reducing the risk.

The study, carried out by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and Rossdales Equine Hospital and funded by World Horse Welfare, found the condition developed “significantly” more often if horses gained weight, compared to when they lost or maintained it.

Owners recorded estimates of their horses’ or ponies’ weight at regular intervals over 29 months, more than half of them using a custom-built online tracking tool.(Link)

“Worryingly, weight gain was often occurring unintentionally, even when owners were aiming for weight maintenance or loss,” an AHT spokesman said.

“This emphasises the importance of consistent weight and body condition recording, so undesirable weight gain can be recognised before it has a negative impact on health.

“Owners need to review their animals’ current diet, exercise and health management routines as soon as undesirable weight gain is detected and take action.”

The study also identified groups at particularly high risk of developing laminitis.

Owners of native ponies, full- or part-bred, those with a history of laminitis and who suffer lameness or soreness after routine hoof care should be “particularly vigilant”.

Equine shod or trimmed at intervals of longer than eight weeks were also at high risk of future episodes, as were those who showed a “lengthy return to soundness” after their most recent episodes.

“Earlier recognition of laminitis, along with adequate and prompt veterinary attention, farriery support and diagnostic testing of underlying metabolic disorders should give animals the best chance of recovery and a potential to reduce the risk of future episodes,” the spokesman said.

Other factors associated with laminitis development include features of grass management. Equines who wore grazing muzzles for only part of the time they were at grass were more likely to develop the condition than those who had it on all the time or not at all. Similarly, those who were only turned out to graze for a brief period in the mornings were at more risk than those who went out all day, overnight or not at all.

It is thought these findings maybe owing to the fact the horses gorged on grass when they had limited access to it, but they need to be investigated more fully.

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“These findings suggest that some grazing management interventions were not optimal at preventing laminitis,” the spokesman said.

The study involved more than 1,000 horses and ponies.

Dr Dee Pollard of the AHT said: “This is one of the largest laminitis studies where we collected regular information from the same group of owners in real time. We assessed the relationship between laminitis and many potential management and health factors and identified those more likely to be present before a laminitis episode was reported.

“We now have good evidence to develop laminitis prevention guidelines, and a number of different avenues to explore in the future. We cannot emphasise enough how important systematic and regular weight and body condition monitoring are. It’s very easy to miss weight gain when you are just relying on your eyes and you see your horse or pony every day. You need to get hands on, feel for the fat deposits and take measurements; remember the figures don’t lie!”

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SEIB Insurance Brokers’ customers have decided who would be the worthy winners of the company’s annual £100,000 charity awards.

World Horse Welfare was given the top grant of £50,000, while nine other charities that reached the final voting stage received £50,000 between them.

SEIB chief executive Barry Fehler presented World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers with the cheque and commemorative plaque at a ceremony at the Grange City Hotel in London on 22 March.

The charity plans to use the cash for “vital” new equipment including a new tractor, trailer, and a drone with high-resolution camera for helping locate horses in need hard-to-reach locations.

Barry Fehler said: “I have been at the helm of SEIB for over 50 years and it is with great pride that we are able to make these grants totalling £100,000 to projects voted for by our clients.

“I am delighted that since last year, with the support of our owners Ecclesiastical, we have been able to double the sum granted by SEIB to charity”.

More than 1,000 small to medium-sized charities were nominated by the public. From these, shortlisted finalists were invited to submit detailed plans for the grant, before SEIB customers voted on the winner.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary received the runner-up grant of £15,000 which it will use for a “horse hospital treatment room” project and the Welsh Pony Rescue and Rehoming Charitable Trust received £10,000 to be used for their Every Life is Precious project. The Animal Health Trust received £5,000 for its digital X–ray appeal which it is believed could help diagnose orthopaedic conditions.

Bransby Horses and Rescue Welfare, Lindsey Lodge Hospice, James Hopkins Trust, Wildlife Aid Foundation and South Essex Wildlife Hospital received £2,000 each.

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“We are delighted that our customers have decided which of these very worthy causes should receive the grant,” said Mr Fehler. “SEIB is so successful because we are totally customer-focused and this is another way our clients can have their say.

“Each of the charities that reached the final judging had important projects that would really make a difference to the areas within which they operate and that was our aim when we set up this initiative.”

An SEIB spokesman added: “Giving is embedded in the culture of SEIB. From supporting grass roots competition that gives opportunities to amateur riders that they could only otherwise dream about, right through to the company’s unwavering loyalty to promoting nationwide equine.”

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A new form of stem cell treatment could give horses a better chance of recovering from tendon injuries, researchers have suggested.

Stem cell researchers at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) have found positive signs that stem cells originally sourced from embryos coped well in laboratory tests when exposed to inflammation. This is important as inflammation that occurs following an injury can prove damaging to adult tendon cells.

Tendon injuries are a common problem in horses and instead of regenerating healthy tendon tissue, they repair by forming scar tissue which pre-disposes the horse to a high risk of re-injury.

Stem cell treatment has been available for some years, but current treatments use the horse’s own stem cells.

This means they are not available for immediate use as they need to be extracted, cultured and separated from other cells, with the overall timeframe taking several weeks.

Current treatments also work by releasing factors to help tissue repair, rather than rebuilding the tissue itself.

However the embryonic stem cells grow forever in the lab so can be ready immediately and scientists also believe they work by helping to rebuild the tissue directly, reducing the amount of scar tissue laid down.

The recent work has been funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, Racing Foundation, Alice Noakes Memorial Charitable Trust and Beryl Evetts and Robert Lugg Animal Welfare Trust.

Using a laboratory model they found that adult tendon cells cannot produce “artificial” tendons efficiently when exposed to inflammation.

In contrast, they found that embryonic stem cells that were directed to turn into tendon cells behaved as normal when exposed to inflammation.

Dr Debbie Guest, head of stem cell research at the AHT said: “We were able to demonstrate that these tendon cells express different levels of receptors for inflammatory proteins on their surface.

“This means that these stem cells may provide a useful source of cells for clinical transplantation into the injured tendon as they are unlikely to suffer any negative effects from being placed into an inflamed environment.”

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A spokesman for the AHT said the team believes this opens up the possibility of further studies to understand more about how embryonic stem cell-derived tendon cells protect themselves from inflammation, with a view to developing new treatments that could be used to protect adult tendon cells following injury.

“Protecting tendon cells from inflammation could help to improve the regeneration of healthy tendon tissue to reduce the risk of re-injury and allow more horses to remain in active work,” added the spokesman.

“Funding for a follow up study by the Animal Health Trust, in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College, has been secured from the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the team are hopeful that new treatment options for this old problem may soon be developed.”

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Owners are being encouraged to discuss flu vaccination boosters with their vet as more cases are confirmed.

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) shared details of seven more positive tests across four counties yesterday (13 February). None of the affected horses had been vaccinated.

These included three non-thoroughbreds in Sussex; a non-thoroughbred in Worcestershire, who has been in contact with eight other unvaccinated horses; plus two non-thoroughbreds in Leicestershire who had recently arrived from Scotland and have been isolated.

A thoroughbred in Sussex, not on a racing yard, who had recently been imported from Ireland and developed a cough after arrival has also tested positive for the virus.

Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary in Hertfordshire also confirmed this morning (14 February) that it is on lockdown as it has confirmed cases of flu.

The British Equestrian Federation’s update today repeated its call for owners to be vigilant for signs of flu and to contact their vet with any concerns.

“As has been demonstrated in this outbreak, vaccinations are vital in tackling the spread of the disease so all owners must ensure their vaccination records are up to date,” said a BEF spokesman.

“If it has been longer than six months since the last vaccination, we strongly recommend discussing a booster with their veterinary surgeon.

“The BEF notes that some venues are insisting – as they are perfectly entitled to – that all horses must have received a booster within the last six months. This is a decision based on a local veterinary risk assessment so we would remind participants to check the requirements of venues before they set off.”

The spokesman also reminded owners to isolate any recently imported horses for at least 21 days.

A number of fixtures have been postponed, including British Eventing’s (BE) Jump Training Championships at Hartpury, which has been moved from 17 February to 19 April. This is because Hartpury requires a clear six days between vaccination and horses arriving at the venue.

“After consultation with various parties, it was noted that many owners will have taken the advised precaution and vaccinated their horses in the past few days following the outbreak of equine flu, and would therefore not be permitted on to the venue by Hartpury College,” said a statement from BE.

“Postponing the championships will now give as many competitors as possible the opportunity to compete at a later date.”

British Breeding’s stallion event at Addington has also been postponed from 16 February to 16 March.

Praise for the Animal Health Trust

Racing resumed in Britain yesterday (13 February) after a six-day absence.

Nick Rust, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), thanked the AHT for its “round-the-clock efforts” to help the sport get back to normal.

Mr Rust also thanked all those involved, including owners, trainers, vets, stable staff, the Horserace Betting Levy Board for its financial contributions, MPs Laurence Robertson and Conor McGinn of the all-party parliamentary racing group and members of the veterinary committee that advised the BHA.

The trust dealt with more than a normal year’s worth of tests in a matter of days.

“Racing owes a tremendous vote of thanks to Dr Richard Newton [head of epidemiology and disease surveillance at the AHT], his team and all the vets who made some tough decisions which they knew would have difficult consequences for many in the sport,” said Mr Rust.

“It is very reassuring to have the solid support of world-leading scientists and veterinarians, and by their actions they have helped us reduce the risk of a prolonged outbreak which would have caused greater damage to the sport and further compromised the health of our horses.

“We are fortunate that our preparation for events such as this is aided by the sport’s long-term commitment to veterinary science and education, in which the Horserace Betting Levy Board plays a pivotal role.”

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He added all 190 declarations for today’s racing have been cleared to run, and the BHA is working as fast as it can to give the all-clear to horses and yards still awaiting results.

“As Clive Hamblin, the NTF veterinary advisor, said last night — we’re not out of the woods yet. With the influenza virus still affecting unvaccinated horses outside the British thoroughbred herd, continuing vigilance is vital,” Mr Rust said.

“We are likely to see more positive tests in Britain before the outbreak dies down but we now have the understanding we need to manage the risk to racing.”

He added: “The sport has received significant media attention over the last seven days and the message to the world has been clear from start to finish – this is an industry that puts the health and welfare of its horses first.”

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Three separate outbreaks of equine flu have been confirmed in the UK.

Horses in Essex, Cheshire and Derbyshire have been affected this month, and more outbreaks have been reported in Belgium, France and Germany.

Dr Adam Rash, research scientist in the equine influenza surveillance team at AHT told H&H: “In all three outbreaks in the UK, only unvaccinated horses have tested positive for the virus so far, but there have been reports of clinical signs in some vaccinated horses.”

Richard Newton, director of epidemiology and disease surveillance at the AHT, told H&H although the number of outbreaks is “small at the moment”, they have occurred in a short period.

“To put the numbers in context we saw three outbreaks throughout 2018 and we have seen three in a week in 2019. It is true that this may go as quickly as it appeared but we have to be alert and warn folks this may signal that flu is picking up in horses and we rely on owners and their vets to act as the eyes and ears of flu surveillance for us,” said Dr Newton.

Early work carried out at the Animal Health Trust suggests the virus causing the Essex outbreak belongs to the ‘Florida clade 1’ strain.

“This clade of virus has not been the cause of major outbreaks in Europe before, although we have seen it in the UK in the past. Florida clade 1 viruses are usually found in North America, however they were responsible for extensive outbreaks in South America last year,” said Dr Rash.

While there are several signs of flu in horses, those affected may only show one or two of them. Signs include:

• Harsh, dry or hacking cough
• Fever (>38.5°C)
• Lethargy / poor performance
• Loss of appetite
• Nasal discharge

Owners should seek veterinary advice if they suspect there is flu on the yard.

“Call your vet and they can take a swab sample from your horse’s nose and a blood sample, to confirm if your horse has flu. If your horse has been sick for a while before you call the vet, it can be harder to diagnose your horse correctly. Swabs are best taken early on in the course of the infection,” said Dr Rash.

Samples can be tested for free through the AHT’s equine influenza surveillance scheme, support by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

“If your vet hasn’t signed up to our scheme, ask them to contact us. If you suspect another horse on your yard may also have had flu-like signs, they can also be sampled through this scheme,” said Dr Rash.

“Making a quick diagnosis helps to ensure the best supportive care is given to your horse and that the correct preventative measures are put in place to stop the virus spreading. Not only will you get a diagnosis but you are also helping to monitor equine influenza activity in the UK. This allows us to study how the virus is evolving and helps us to make sure the right strains are recommended for inclusion in future horse flu vaccines.

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“Ultimately this means that the most effective and up-to-date vaccines are produced to protect your horse from equine flu.”

Dr Rash said if flu is confirmed, measures to prevent its spread will be yard-specific, and developed by the vet, but will include:

• Isolation of infected horses. Infected horses will spread the virus in respiratory droplets, through coughing, and can spread the virus for up to 10 days. They must be isolated until the vet advises they are no longer infected.
• All horse movements on and off the yard should be stopped.
• Monitor all horses on the yard for clinical signs and record their rectal temperature daily, it should be less than 38.5˚C. A rise in temperature can be an early sign of an infection.
• Booster vaccinating all in-contact horses, even if they are not yet due their annual booster, has been shown to provide horses with even more protection against flu.

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“We owe it to them to listen” is the opinion of an expert behind a series of videos aimed at helping identify musculoskeletal pain and subtle lameness.

Dr Sue Dyson, head of clinical orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust (AHT), played a leading role in the educational videos, which it is hoped will “improve the welfare and performance of the ridden horse”.

Recognising subtle lameness, a series of four videos “bringing to life the key findings of Dr Dyson’s studies”, also feature the expertise of Saddle Research Trust founder Anne Bondi, veterinary medicine behavioural specialist Jeannine Berger, equine vet and rehabilitation specialist Karin Liebbrandt and eventing coach, author and bridle designer William Micklem.

“Together they deliver a crisp, concise perspective on the many variable factors associated with pain-induced lameness including primary musculoskeletal pain, tack induced pain or rider induced pain,” said a spokesman for the series.

The first video covers familiar signs of lameness, moving on to less obvious signs such as equine facial expressions and behaviour.

The second “outlines a protocol for establishing the main sources of underlying pain associated with subtle or obvious lameness in horses”.

The third covers recognising the facial expressions of horses in pain and the fourth, to be released this month, is on rehabilitating a lame horse.

Dr Dyson, who has showjumped and evented to a high level, said she had repeatedly observed behavioural adaptations to pain, which inspired her research on the subject.

One outcome of her research is an ethogram for ridden horses’ facial expressions as a tool to help identify pain.

“I was fed up with seeing horses, often a long time after behavioural signs may have indicated something wasn’t quite right,” explains Dr Dyson.

“Owners would say ‘he’s always been a grumpy horse’, ‘he’s never been a willing horse’, ‘he’s never wanted to stand to be mounted’ and so on. So many vets are missing a trick by not seeing horses ridden as part of a lameness investigation – despite the fact most owners have horses in order to ride them. These things get missed at pre-purchase examinations too. Early recognition is nearly always advantageous for a better prognosis.

“I do understand why owners may want to bury their heads in the sand and not recognise that their horse has a problem, but it is just so important from a welfare perspective.

“Horses should be happy and it is our obligation not to exploit them. Quite simply, a pain-free horse will perform so much better. These videos should help riders, owners, trainers and vets understand what the horse is actually trying to say. We owe it to them to listen.”

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The Animal Health Trust (AHT) has started work on developing a “potentially ground-breaking” vaccination against equine herpes.

The AHT set up a steering group, including world-renowned experts on both human and equine herpes viruses, who have agreed that the AHT should design a modified live virus vaccine.

Equine herpes virus (EHV) can cause respiratory disease, abortion or fatal illness in newborn foals and neurological problems in adult horses.

It can lie dormant in horses for years and there is no vaccine licenced to protect against the neurological strain of the disease (EHV-1).

Dr Neil Bryant of the AHT, who is leading the research, said the disease is a “major welfare concern for horses”.

“It causes emotional, as well as financial strains, on horse owners and breeders around the world,” he added.

“It can strike any horse at any time so a vaccine will be of global welfare benefit to all horses, including the thoroughbred and sports horse breeding industries, and would help control this serious and sometimes fatal disease.

“We have become aware of a pressing need for progress towards a new and improved EHV-1 vaccine.

“Just last month, the AHT was again called upon to work with the racing industry and affected parties in dealing with confirmed cases of EHV-1 abortion in premises in Yorkshire and Suffolk.”

AHT trustees Professor David Silk and David Ellis, along with Professor Sidney Ricketts and Professor Joe Brownlie, are among those who have put the project together.

Their work has encouraged many leaders in the equestrian world to support and fund the research.

These include the Alborada Trust, EBM Charitable Trust, Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Racing Foundation, Paul Mellon Estate, Thompson Family Charitable Trust, Coolmore Ireland, Newsells Park Stud, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and Juddmonte Farms.

“I have been very happy to have been associated with this research project,” said Professor Silk.

“Funding for it has been truly international with contributions coming from horsemen based in Europe, the US, and the Gulf States.

“This international funding has supplemented the very significant donations the AHT has received from our UK supporters. I am certain that our quest to develop an effective vaccine will succeed.”

Dr Bryant added the AHT is at the start of “a very exciting and potentially ground-breaking vaccine development”.

“Through our research, we will construct different viruses with attenuating mutations and assess their suitability as modified live vaccine,” he said.

“We hope our findings will enable further development by vaccine manufacturers in creating an effective vaccine to protect against the serious clinical signs induced by EHV-1.”

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An “extremely exciting” vaccine against strangles could be on the market within two years.

Scientists from the Animal Health Trust (AHT), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Karolinska Institute and Intervacc AB, have developed protein-based vaccine Strangvac, to prevent equines contracting the highly contagious disease.

The group trialled the vaccine on 16 horses and its findings were published in scientific journal Vaccine.

Strangvac protected 13 of the equines from strangles. They were exposed to the infection and then monitored twice daily for the onset of clinical signs of disease and temperatures were recorded daily as the primary indicator of infection.

None of the animals developed adverse reactions to the vaccination.

“We are delighted to have shown that our Strangvac vaccine protected over 80% of horses from this dreadful disease,” said Professor Jan-Ingmar Flock, chief executuve of Intervacc AB, the company that produced the vaccine.

“Strangles is a scourge of the equine world and the development of Strangvac has the potential to prevent many thousands of horses from falling ill each year.”

Strangles is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus equi, which causes horses to suffer from large pus-filled abscesses in their throat and neck.

With an estimated 600 outbreaks of strangles each year in the UK alone, the development of the vaccine is hoped to have benefits to the health of horses around the world.

“Strangvac is an extremely exciting vaccine,” added Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the AHT.

“The vaccine was designed using information from sequencing the DNA of streptococcus equi and highlights the potential that the genome-era heralds for improving the health of animals and people.

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“Improving the health of horses is a core aim of the AHT and we are proud to have helped make this vaccine a reality towards finally breaking the hold this disease currently has on our horses.”

Professor Flock anticipates that Strangvac will be available for use in 2020.

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Strangles research has helped scientists discover how bacteria that causes sore throats survives in humans.

The process of unravelling the way bacteria cause disease has traditionally needed to be carried out one gene at a time.

But scientists at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) have discovered a method that enabled every gene in streptococcus equi, the bacteria that causes strangles, to be tested at once.

Meanwhile, world-leading scientists at the Houston Methodist Research Institute were trying to find out about which of 1,800 genes in streptococcus pyogenes are responsible for it infecting people and living in their throats.

Streptococcus pyogenes is responsible for 600 million cases of pharyngitis in humans each year.

The bacterium is also responsible for 100 million cases of other diseases, including scarlet fever, acute rheumatic fever and the flesh-eating infection necrotising fasciitis.

The technique developed by the AHT was transferred to the Houston laboratory, where scientists found it worked as well on the human disease as its closely-related equine cousin.

They quickly identified 92 of its 1,800 genes that were needed by the bug to grow in human saliva in the lab, which replicated the first step on the path to causing illness in people.

“We are delighted that a technique developed at the AHT to learn more about streptococcus equi and strangles in horses has provided new results that could benefit people too,” said Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the AHT.

“We have learnt a huge amount about our bug through following the work being done on human diseases, and it is great to be able to give something back in return.

“This study highlights the similarities of animal and human pathogens.

“We hope that our technique will also prove useful for the study and prevention of other diseases, regardless of the animal they affect.”

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Dr James Musser, professor of pathology and genome medicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, added the ability to establish the importance of every gene in the human disease within one experiment “has the potential to accelerate research” into this pathogen.

“In follow on tests, we were immediately able to confirm that six of these new genes really did affect growth in human saliva,” he said.

“[This suggests] that this new information has exciting potential for developing novel therapeutics and vaccines with which to improve human health.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Redwings Horse Sanctuary has received a national award for its campaign to encourage owners to speak out on strangles.

The charity was named winner of the health and welfare category at the Animal Health Trust’s (AHT) UK Equestrian Awards, held at the London Marriott Hotel, yesterday evening (31 October).

Redwings was praised for the boldness of its ‘Stamp out strangles’ campaign, which aims to increase awareness of strangles and its prevention by removing the stigma associated with the disease.

The campaign encouraged effective biosecurity practices among owners with the ultimate aim of eradicating the disease in the UK.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have been recognised for our ‘Stamp out strangles’ campaign and wish to thank the Animal Health Trust for its support, both during our outbreak and for our ongoing campaign work,” said Redwings chief executive Lynn Cutress.

“Our own experience of a strangles outbreak affected every team in the charity; I am so proud of everyone for their unwavering dedication and support at this challenging time, and I am honoured to be accepting this award for each and every one of them as well as those who continue to lead the way in encouraging owners to speak out about strangles.

“At the time of our outbreak we felt it was essential for us to speak out immediately and continued to do so with the launch of our survey in 2016. While our herd is now disease-free, the battle rages on to remove the shroud of shame and, sometimes, ambivalence associated with strangles which sadly still allows this diseases to exist.”

The charity’s own outbreak was at one of its Norfolk farms in February 2015. At the worst point, 30 horses tested positive for strangles, many more required testing and quarantine zones were in operation resulting in costs of over £4,000 a week to contain, manage and treat the disease.

In April 2016, Redwings launched a strangles survey – which was completed by more than 2,000 horse owners – to assess attitudes to the disease and biosecurity practices.

The findings, which were presented at this year’s National Equine Forum, revealed that while there was a demand among horse owners for improved biosecurity and investment in screening, misconceptions and myths about how strangles is contracted and its preventability were common.

Redwings is continuing to share these findings with the equine veterinary community, while a free strangles information and prevention pack for livery yards and horse owners is available to download from its website.

Continued below…

‘Time to ditch the strangles stigma’: Redwings reveals survey

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In light of a recent spate of strangles

“The AHT has worked closely with Redwings for over two decades on better understanding the persistence of streptococcus equi, the bug responsible for strangles,” said Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the AHT.

“The AHT’s scientists and diagnostic laboratory staff worked closely with Redwings in 2015 and together we have learned valuable lessons to better prepare owners and yards in the future.

“The AHT applauds Redwings openness in publicising that it had strangles, and its thoroughness and timeliness in dealing with the problem – we think this is a great example for others in the horse sector, which is why they are worthy winners of this year’s award.”

2017 winners

The other winners of the 2017 AHT awards were:

• Bet Solutions international racing award – Trainer John Gosden
• Harvey Spack Field dressage award – Para team trainer Michel Assouline
• British Showjumping award – Rider Oliver Fletcher
• Eventing award- Britain’s 2017 European Championships team: Nicola Wilson, Oliver Townend, Tina Cook and Rosalind Canter
• Dr Reginald Wooldridge veterinary achievement award – Vet Anthony Stirk
• LGT Vestra under-25 star of the future award – Dressage rider Charlotte Fry
• Animal Health Trust special award – Lady Harris

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The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is asking owners to volunteer their horses to help in a “ground-breaking” study on rider weight.

The AHT aims to develop guidelines for the appropriate rider to horse weight ratio, a topic which has been hitting the headlines in recent years.

“There is an apparent growing problem of riders who are oversized for their horses,” said an AHT spokesman. “It has become a hot topic within the industry and has thankfully drawn attention to the welfare risk to horses, which the AHT seeks to help resolve.”

The spokesman said there is currently a lack of “reliable” scientific research on which to base guidelines for appropriate rider weight.

The Great Yorkshire show last year asked riders to dismount if they weighed more than 20% of their horses’ weight, while Retraining of Racehorses set the maximum at 17% at its competitions.

“However, excessive rider size has clear welfare implications for horses and ponies in all types of work,” added the AHT spokesman. “Riders who are too heavy for their horses or ponies can cause chronic back pain and lameness, as well as giving the horse a negative association to being ridden as they pre-empt pain.

“There is therefore an urgent need to start to provide some evidence-based guidelines to the equine industry as to what constitutes excessive rider size, under different circumstances.”

Horses put forward for the study must weigh 450-550kg, (approximately 15-16hh) be in regular work and capable of two 30-minute sessions per day. They must be vaccinated against flu and tetanus, capable of working “on the bit” in walk, trot and canter and available from 3-8 September.

Horses will be stabled at World Horse Welfare’s Snetterton base throughout the study and travel costs will be reimbursed.

“The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are any short term measurable differences when horses are ridden,” said the spokesman. “During the study each horse will be ridden by four competent riders of different weights.

“Owners of the horses will have access to free advice from experts, including vets, saddle fitters, nutritionists and professional riders. Your horse will be given a free saddle-fit assessment and any adjustments will also be carried out free of charge.

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“Whether you have a happy hacker happy to help, a youngster in need of some life experience, or a riding school horse who would enjoy a change of scenery – the AHT needs volunteers. If you horse is able to take part, they would be helping to take the weight off many other horses’ shoulders, for which they and the AHT would be very grateful.”

Email equine.centre@aht.org.uk or call 01638 751908.

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Runners swapped riding boots for trainers to take on the London Marathon and raise thousands of pounds for equestrian causes.

H&H news writer Rachael Turner was among the 40,000 people pounding the capital’s streets on Sunday (23 April) for charity.

She was running for World Horse Welfare — H&H’s 2017 charity of the year — finishing in a time of 4 hours 52 minutes and raising £1,793.

Rachael said it was an “incredible experience” and thanked everyone who donated.

“The second half of the marathon was really tough and I had to dig deep to keep going,” she said.

“The crowds were incredible — I don’t think I could have made it without them. Nothing beats that incredible atmosphere. Running past Buckingham Palace at the end was something I will never forget.

“Thinking of all the horses that would be helped though the money people had donated helped me through the last miles — my temporary suffering does not compare to theirs.

“I’m so glad I could do something to support them and World Horse Welfare’s work.”

Rosie Arbuthnot, Ann Bowe, James Hemingfield and Vikki Scott also ran for World Horse Welfare.

“We would like to express a huge thank you to all those who ran the 2017 London Marathon to raise money for World Horse Welfare,” said Frances Plume, on behalf of the charity.

“Tackling a marathon is no small task and it’s an amazing achievement which all our runners should be very proud of.”

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Racing Welfare’s nine runners raised more than £34,000 for the charity, which provides help and support to anyone working — or who has worked — in the horseracing and breeding industry.

Godolphin employee Alex Cairns crossed the line in a speedy 3 hours 6 minutes.

Also running for Racing Welfare was Racing Foundation chief executive and marathon first-timer Rob Hezel, Godolphin managing director Hugh Anderson, Fergal O’Brien’s head lad Kevin Brown, Jane Petrucci, Megan Hurst and groundsmen Darrin Lenharth and Sam Butler-Spelzini.

Ben Blowes completed the team of nine — running the 26.3-mile route with a tumble dryer attached to his back.

“This year’s Racing Welfare Marathon team have been truly awe-inspiring, not least for their physical efforts, but for their outstanding fundraising skills as well,” said chief executive Dawn Goodfellow.

“To date they have raised over £34,000 and the total is still rising. It is amazing to have such a fantastic team running for the charity and we cannot thank them enough.”

Taking part for the Animal Health Trust (AHT) were six brave runners.

These were Daniel Mead, Harry Fielder, Charlotte Meelam, Becki Hayes, Anysia Huggins and Kate Flory.

Anysia, who shattered her femur in a riding accident seven years ago, and had to learn to walk again. She finished in 5 hours 21 minutes.

“We are so proud of Anysia and all of our runners,” said Andrew Simmonds, head of individual giving at the AHT.

“We are so grateful for their huge commitment to training and fundraising, especially in our 75th anniversary year. Together they have raised almost £10,500, which will benefit so many animals as we are able to continue our vital research into improving treatments and discovering cures. A massive thank you and well done to them — we hope they have their feet up today.”

Brooke had 17 London Marathon runners, who raised a total of £36,000 for the charity.

“We can’t thank them enough for all their amazing support and hard work,” said a spokesman.

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This year the Animal Health Trust celebrates its 75th anniversary. To mark the occasion we meet Lula — one of the charity's recent success stories

The case

Suspensory ligament injuries, although manageable, can limit and even end a horse’s competitive career. Horses in all disciplines are at risk of overloading and causing repetitive strain injuries to this structure, but dressage will see a much higher prevalence due to the nature of the movements and training regimes.

In 2014 almost 60% of horses referred to the Animal Health Trust (AHT) equine clinic with mystery lameness or poor performance problems, were suffering from suspensory ligament injuries.

Lula is one of these patients. She was first referred to the equine clinic in October 2015 after displaying some very out of character behaviour. When competing at dressage in the spring Lula reared during the test, which she had never done before and this was Eleanor’s first sign that something wasn’t quite right.

Through the summer Lula’s behaviour became more unpredictable at competitions and at home and Eleanor lost her confidence in their partnership. After checking Lula’s teeth, tack and feet to see what was causing these outbursts, she was referred by their vet to the Animal Health Trust (AHT), suspecting that there was an underlying pain-related problem.

The treatment

At the AHT Lula was assessed on the lunge and ridden and showed a reluctance to go forwards and a low-grade lameness in both hindlimbs. She was nerve blocked in her hindlimbs to pin point where the pain causing lameness was originating from.

The AHT Head of Equine Orthopaedics, Dr Sue Dyson, found blocking just below the back of the hock substantially improved Lula’s gait. Having identified the problem area, further ultrasonographic investigation confirmed there was proximal suspensory desmopathy (damage to the suspensory ligament) in both hindlimbs.

This is a very common injury that AHT clinicians see in performance horses and treat on a regular basis.

Lula was recommended for a neurectomy and fasciotomy. This involves detaching the nerve that triggers movement of the ligament which is causing pain. It also involves an incision into the band of tissue (fascia) which effectively squashes the ligament between the back of the cannon bone and the splint bones.

Sue was confident in Lula being a good candidate for the surgery, which would potentially give Eleanor and Lula a much needed positive step towards a better competitive future. “Approximately 76% of horses with primary proximal suspensory desmopathy are able to return to full athletic function for a minimum of two years,” says Sue.

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The outcome

Lula made good post-operative progress and Eleanor had a strict rehabilitation plan to follow at home, giving the two of them time to build their relationship again.

Over a year on, and the pair have gone from strength to strength.

Eleanor’s mother Mary is thrilled. “We took her rehabilitation slowly and Eleanor spent nearly six months doing a lot of groundwork, re-building the trust she had lost when Lula had been reacting to her discomfort,” she says. “Our patience has paid off and Lula and Eleanor are enjoying their ridden work together again.

“They are now both at Hartpury College where Eleanor is studying equine science with a particular interest in rehabilitation and therapies. It has been an invaluable learning experience for Eleanor. She is so pleased to have persevered and to be able to trust and enjoy her horse again.”

The Animal Health Trust will be celebrating its 75th anniversary with a variety of events this year. Visit www.aht.org.uk to find out more

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Runners are hoping to raise thousands for equestrian causes as the London Marathon edges closer.

With just six weeks to go until the big day (23 April), runners are entering their final stretch of training.

H&H news writer and digital sub-editor Rachael Turner (pictured, top) will be among those pounding the capital’s pavements as she takes on the 26.2-mile route in aid of World Horse Welfare — which is also H&H’s charity of the year.

“I write many news stories about the charity’s often harrowing welfare cases and campaigning work, so it’s a cause close to my heart,” said Rachael.

“World Horse Welfare works tirelessly to help these animals and it’s charity I’m proud to be able to run for.

“Any funds, however big or small will help make a difference. Thank you so much for your support.”

Click here to support Rachael

Freddie Allen (pictured, below) is running the marathon for Brooke in memory of his mother, eventer Jo Lomas, who passed away in 2012 following an accident turning her horses out.

This will be the first marathon he has run for charity and he said that Brooke was his “first and only choice”.

Donations on his JustGiving page have already topped £2,000.

Click here to support Freddie

Also fundraising for Brooke are vets Carolyne Crowe and Brian Faulkner, who are taking on 10 marathons in 10 days.

They will be running in extreme locations across the British Isles, finishing with the London Marathon on 23 April, and hope to raise £10,000.

The pair start their 260-mile journey in Wahilgoe, Northern Scotland, and will take on punishing terrains including Land’s End and Galway.

“I will be 40 in 2017 and I wanted a big challenge; this seemed as good as any,” said Carolyne.

“I also believe in creating stories to tell my grandchildren and I’m sure a few good ones will come from this adventure.”

Click here to support Carolyne and Brian

Running for the Animal Health Trust is Anysia Huggins.

This will be the first marathon for Anysia, who is hoping to raise £2,000.

The 24-year-old overcame a serious leg injury seven years ago to learn to walk, ride and eventually run again.

A fall during a gridwork lesson left her with a shattered femur. She was rushed to hospital and spent four hours in theatre having emergency surgery, where she needed blood transfusions and pins and rods were inserted into her leg.

Anysia said she is feeling “very nervous”, but is looking forward to the celebratory glass of fizz at the finish line.

Click here to support Anysia

Are you running the London Marathon for an equine cause, or know someone who is? Get in touch with lucy.elder@timeinc.com to be added to the article.

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An outbreak of equine herpes has been confirmed at a private yard in Bedfordshire.

It is understood to be the neurological strain of the disease (EHV-1).

A report from the Animal Health Trust said the organisation has confirmed a case of EHV-1 neurological disease affecting a non-vaccinated 19-year-old part-bred thoroughbred mare.

The outbreak is on a small, private yard with five horses and a lab test on a swab taken from the infected horse confirmed EHV-1 was present.

In a separate case, EHV-1 was also found to be present in a horse in Worcestershire earlier this month.

“For both cases, due to the presenting neurological signs, the attending vets collected blood samples and nasal swabs to determine if EHV was the underlying cause,” an AHT spokesman told H&H.

“The AHT carried out diagnostic tests and in conjunction with the presenting clinical signs and no recent history of vaccination, confirmed the diagnosis of EHV-1 neurological disease.

“The AHT is in regular contact with the veterinary surgeons involved, providing advice on outbreak management and diagnostic surveillance to minimise onward transmission.

“This outbreak is being closely monitored by all vets involved. As of 9 March, no further cases of EHV-1 have occurred on these two premises.”

He added biosecurity measures — including quarantine, further diagnostic testing and monitoring of the affected and in-contact horses — have been implemented and will be continued as necessary.

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Veterinary practices in the surrounding areas have shared the news and information on what to do if owners suspect their horses might be infected.

“As for all infectious diseases, it is important for owners to be vigilant and monitor their horses for any signs of respiratory disease or changes in normal behaviour,” added the AHT spokesman.

“If anyone is concerned that their horse may have been exposed to EHV-1 or any other infectious disease, they should consult their vet for advice.”

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Hannah Francis’s Willberry Wonder Pony charity was among the winners at last night’s Animal Health Trust (AHT) UK Equestrian Awards 2016.

“I have to say a big thank you to everyone who has got behind her charity and who helped her achieve so much of her bucket list,” said Hannah’s father James as he received the SEIB Insurance Brokers voluntary service award alongside Hannah’s mother Rachel.

Hannah was a teenage event rider who died in August this year aged 18 from bone cancer. She inspired thousands with her blog written from the point of view of soft toy Willberry Wonder Pony.

The charity in his name raises funds for bone cancer research and to grant equine wishes to seriously ill people.

Hannah’s parents will also be accepting the inspiration of the year award on behalf of their daughter at the inaugural H&H Awards next Thursday (3 November).

The other winners last night included Olympic champion Nick Skelton, who took the British Showjumping award.

“I’m overwhelmed by all the accolades and videos,” he said. “It’s been a remarkable year.

“I’m very grateful for what happened. I don’t think I could have done it without Big Star and everyone around him. I’ve been lucky through my career with great horses and great people.

“It’s great for the sport and I hope we can make something of this. I want to thank the AHT.”

Dressage rider Rebecca Edwards, the only British young rider to make it to the freestyle at the European Championships this year, won the Chris Potter Country Sports under 25’s star of the future award.

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She was at the event at the Dorchester Hotel, London, with her parents and boyfriend.

“I wouldn’t be here without all my support team and thank you to the AHT for this incredible evening and the award,” she said.

AHT award winners 2016

• Bet Solutions International racing award: Jim Crowley
• Harvey Spack Field dressage award: Olympic dressage and Paralympic dressage teams
• Eventing award: William Fox-Pitt
• Chris Potter Country Sports under 25’s star of the future award: Rebecca Edwards
• British Showjumping award: Nick Skelton
• Balta veterinary achievement award: John McEwen
• SEIB Insurance Brokers voluntary service award: Willberry Wonder Pony
• Tapi Carpets & Floors and the Animal Health Trust special award: Pete Brady

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A morning with Carl Hester, a box at Ascot and a polo session are among the items on offer at the Animal Health Trust’s (AHT) silent auction.

The auction is running in the build-up to the AHT’s equestrian awards ceremony, which takes place this evening (27 October).

There are 45 lots to bid on offer, all of which have been donated to raise funds for the AHT’s work fighting disease and injury in animals.

“The annual AHT UK Equestrian Awards take place this Thursday and you too can join in the festivities by bidding in the pre-event silent auction,” said an AHT spokesman.

“There are 45 exclusive lots to bid on, all of which have been donated especially to raise money for our important work fighting disease and injury in animals.

“Up for grabs is a private morning with dressage Olympic gold medallist Carl Hester, a holiday in St Lucia, beautiful artwork, once in a lifetime sporting experiences and much, much more.”

A selection of the lots on offer

• ‘Colour of Africa’ artwork by Yvonne Lamden Cooper
• A morning for two with Carl Hester
• An Ascot box for 16 people
• Lunch or dinner for 12 at Tramshed in London
• ‘The Scotsman’ artwork by Debbie Boon
• ‘Thistledown’ artwork by Debbie Boon
• A bottle of Champagne Salmanazar, Taittinger Brut Reserve
• A week’s stay at Le Chateau de Rochebonne
• A ladies Kilim handbag
• A polo Lesson for two at Beaufort Polo Club
• A morning on the gallops with Nicky Henderson
• ‘Schools Out’ artwork by Aaminah Snowdon
• ‘Just five more minutes’ artwork by Aaminah Snowdon
• A two-night spa stay at Alexander House Hotel
• ‘Blue Tit’ artwork by Adam Binder
• ‘A date with Hattie’ artwork by Sam Toft
• A flying lesson with Aero Club, Cambridge
• ‘Peanut’ artwork by Becky Mair
• Qatar Goodwood Festival 2017 box for 16
• A two-night golfing stay at the K Club, Ireland
• A seven-day stay in Marigot Bay, St Lucia

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The bidding closes at midday today, so don’t miss your chance to take part.

Click here to bid

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Riders are struggling to tell when their horse is lame, a recent study has found.

Almost half of the 57 “sound” sport horses involved in the project were in fact lame when ridden, found Dr Sue Dyson and Line Greve of the Animal Health Trust.

Only horses in regular work and believed to be sound by their riders, trainers and owners were selected for last year’s study.

The sample of horses was chosen from a professional showjumping yard, a dressage competition yard, a dressage training centre and a private dressage yard.

The horses were assessed in hand, on the lunge on both soft and firm surfaces, and ridden. Flexion tests on all four limbs were carried out and lameness was graded between zero and eight. In total, only 14 horses were sound under all circumstances.

Dr Dyson told H&H she believes owners and riders need to have a better awareness of when their animals are lame.

Of those tested, 27 (47%) showed lameness while ridden and seven were unsound only when ridden. Six were sound in-hand, on the lunge and ridden, but showed a grade one or two lameness after a flexion test on a single limb. Sixteen were lame in-hand, 24 showed lameness on the lunge on a soft surface and 23 were unsound on the firm surface.

The sample included 47 warmbloods, seven ponies and three Arabians, who ranged from three to 13 years old. The showjumpers competed at 1m to 1.40m and dressage horses from novice to grand prix.

The study found that there was no significant relationship between age or work discipline and lameness.

The study concluded that a horse being sound on a straight line “is not a reliable indicator of soundness”, and that riders “may be poor judges of lameness”.

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“Unless you see a horse ridden, you are going to miss lameness,” Dr Dyson added.

“Ridden exercise is standard practice in a five-stage vetting, but a lot of people only do it to listen to a horse’s breathing rather than watching the horse’s gait. In many cases it is not used as well as it might be to assess how the horse is moving.”

H&H vet Karen Coumbe suggested a possible explanation for the findings could be that riders become accustomed to the way their own horse moves, which may explain why they do not notice lameness.

She added that it makes sense to obtain an impartial expert view.

The findings of the study were published online in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science on 4 January.

Ref: H&H 11 February, 2016

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A study to investigate the health of endurance horses in Britain has been launched by the Animal Health Trust and Endurance GB (EGB).

In 2015, 1,209 horses were registered with EGB, however, no objective information is available on the general health status or specific veterinary problems of British endurance horses.

The study, led by Dr Annamaria Nagy, a senior orthopaedic clinician at the AHT, was set up to “establish the prevalence of veterinary problems and to investigate whether horse, rider or management-related risk factors are associated with specific problems”.

EGB members are urged to complete a questionnaire for their horse.

“We will take information about the horse and tack that is used, as well as practical things such as shoeing, feeding and then the horse’s competition record and its general health in the past 12 months,” Dr Nagy told H&H.

Riders are only allowed to submit information about two horses.

“We’ve already had responses about 200 horses, but the more the better,” she added.

“From what I’ve seen in practice is there is a prevalence of lameness in endurance horses. We want to find out more. Sometimes horses are lame after a long distance ride. They then improve over shorter distances but the lameness returns when they tackle longer distances. There is currently no veterinary information available for endurance horses in the UK. We aim to identify the risk factors for the issues we find.”

She added that they will also look at respiratory conditions and colic, among others.

“The welfare of horses taking part in Endurance GB rides is absolutely paramount. We believe any study which helps broaden our knowledge of potential issues is worthy of our support,” said Harry Ingram from EGB.

“We look forward to reading the full results and encourage all of our members to take part in the survey. We are hopeful the results of the study will help Endurance GB further improve on an already excellent welfare record in the UK.”

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Industry experts are warning that a rise in obesity is a real and significant threat to the health of Britain’s equines.

The 2015 National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) recorded 23% of horses and ponies in the UK as overweight — up from 16.9% in 2014 and 7.8% in 2013. As in humans, too much weight can increase the risk of serious and life- threatening conditions for horses.

Dr Sue Dyson, from the Animal Health Trust, described obesity as “a potential silent torturer” at the World Horse Welfare conference this month (10 November).

She warned there is a common misconception about what constitutes a healthy weight and urged vets to be clearer.

“We must be direct and tell people when their horses are too fat,” she said.

“There has to be global education — not just the lay person but the veterinary professional as well. We have to educate owners, trainers and judges.”

She said she now sends around an eighth of her equine clients home with diet plans.

Laminitis in horses not usually susceptible to the condition and increased risk of injury and arthritis are areas of particular concern to Dr Dyson.

“Not only does increased body load potentially exacerbate the clinical signs of osteoarthritis, we also know that through the metabolism of fat, there are chemical mediators that can actually enhance the osteoarthritic process,” she added.

“You do not see obese racehorses, elite endurance horses, elite event horses or professional polo ponies.

“However, we do see obese show ponies, dressage horses and lower-level competition horses.”

Other recent studies also show excess weight is a problem for British equines.

Out of 792 veterinary-registered horses in Great Britain, 31.2% were overweight

(Robin et al, 2015) and in 158 horses studied in the East Midlands, 20.6% were too fat (Stephenson et al, 2014).

Dr Pat Harris, from the Waltham Equine Studies group, is a European veterinary specialist in equine nutrition.

“Obesity is a problem, particularly in our leisure and pleasure horse population,” she told H&H. “All the work that we are doing and our surveys show us that.”

However, the NEHS recorded the number of owners using weight tapes increased from 50% in 2014 to 64% this year — perhaps showing an increased awareness.

It also found that almost all owners and keepers of overweight equines took steps to manage their horse’s weight.

What is causing it?

Over-rugging, the human obesity crisis, lack of exercise and “fashion” are among the causes for fat horses, said Dr Dyson.

Dr Harris added that other factors, such as the nutrient content of many equine pastures and perhaps even selection over the years towards good doers, could be resulting in the increase of recorded cases.

Raised awareness coupled with owners being more honest about their animal’s body condition could also be to blame, she added.

Sam Chubbock, from World Horse Welfare, agreed that much of the evidence is based on owner questionnaires rather than veterinary diagnosis.

“Even so, the results of this year’s NEHS make alarming reading,” she told H&H. “The problem of excess weight is too prevalent and can be as much of a welfare concern as being significantly underweight.”

What can be done?

“Worryingly we are seeing an increasing number of concerns relating to overweight or obese horses,” said Gemma Stanford of the British Horse Society.

World Horse Welfare has a series of “right weight” materials on its website.

“We also need to give owners the confidence to take the necessary steps in managing their horse’s weight, which can be made very difficult due to the peer pressure often experienced in livery yard situations,” added Ms Chubbock.

“If all horses on a yard are grazing on a lush field of grass, in thick rugs — it makes it very difficult for one owner to strip graze their horse or leave it unrugged.”

Rugged horses do not need to use as much energy to keep them warm, so this can be stored as fat instead.

Steps such as soaking hay, using small- holed hay nets, minimal energy-providing concentrate feeds, no treats, more exercise and removing rugs can all help.

Dr Harris added that prevention is better than cure and that managing weight loss involves more than just reducing energy intake — horses need the right quality protein, vitamin and mineral support. Any weight loss programmes also have to take into account that horses are trickle feeders and cannot be left for long periods without forage.

“There may be an increase in awareness, but there needs to be even more,” said Dr Harris. “We need to encourage all areas of the industry to promote a lower body condition score as being positive.”

H&H advises owners to speak to your vet or nutritionist if you have concerns.

Case study

Dollar, a 14hh gelding, arrived at World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm centre when very overweight, suffering from laminitis and intermittent lameness.

Over nine months of rehabilitation, Dollar lost 28 stone to reach a healthy weight.

“This figure often shocks people, as it can be very difficult to judge how much extra weight a horse is carrying,” Ms Chubbock said.

“To many people, Dollar only appears slightly overweight initially, so it comes as a real shock to discover that his excess weight is equivalent to carrying two or more adults 24 hours a day.”

Once he had lost the weight, he was no longer lame and his laminitis was brought under control.

Ref: H&H 26 November, 2015

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The British dressage pony team (pictured), world number one showjumper Scott Brash and actor Martin Clunes were among the winners at this year’s Animal Health Trust awards.

The awards, which are now in their 27th year, took place in London on Thursday (29 October) and celebrate successes of the equestrian year.

The showjumping award went to world number one Scott Brash after his historical win in the Rolex Grand Slam this year with Hello Sanctos.

The dressage award was won by Britain’s pony team of Phoebe Peters with SL Lucci, Rebecca Bell with Valido’s Sunshine, Isobel Berrington with DHI Langar and Clare Hole with Rembrandt DDH.

Earlier this year, in Malmo, Sweden, the team claimed gold ahead of Germany and Denmark – making history as the first time that Great Britain has ever won the team gold.

Young eventer Will Furlong was named the under 25s star of the future, which is a new award for 2015.

Will is this year’s young rider European double gold medallist, winning both the individual and team gold medal at the Europeans at Strezgom in Poland.

The eventing award went to Yvonne Smith who has been working at Scottish and north of England British Eventing competitions for more than 30 years. She was nominated by Alec Lochore, director at Blair Castle Horse Trials.

Derby, Arc and Coral-Eclipse winner Golden Horn was crowned the winner of the racing award.

Bred in England by his owner Anthony Oppenheimer, Golden Horn is trained by John Gosden and was partnered in his victories by Frankie Dettori.

Tim Greet, managing partner and senior surgeon at Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket, won the veterinary award.

The voluntary award was collected by Brough Scott on behalf of the Injured Jockey’s Fund. The IJF, established in 1964, has helped more than 1,000 jockeys and their families to date and has paid out more than £18m in charitable assistance.

The Animal Health Trust special award went to actor Martin Clunes, who has been President of The British Horse Society since June 2011.

“The AHT UK Equestrian Awards is the flagship event in our fundraising calendar, raising vital funds for our work fighting disease and injury and horses, dogs and cats. We’re thrilled that it has been so well supported yet again and would especially like to thank Lady Harris, who has chaired the organising committee during 2015,” said Sophie Tyser, of the AHT.

“The addition on the Under 25’s star of the future award and new venue have really helped to keep the awards evening exciting and more relevant to those who will no doubt go on to make equestrian history and will be celebrated in these awards for years to come.”

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New research into sacroiliac (SI) joint region pain in horses has shown that nerve blocking the joint can help pinpoint the source of the pain, while assessing the horse under saddle is also vital.

The research, published last month (20 May), gives guidance for both vets and owners on the clinical signs of SI joint region pain and how best to examine it.

Signs of SI joint region pain include canter quality that is worse than trot, and bucking and kicking out, especially in canter.

A stilted or bunny-hopping type canter, being on the forehand and croup high, changing legs behind, spontaneously breaking from canter to trot and being reluctant to canter were also commonly observed, as well as the tendency to come above the bit.

Benefits of nerve blocking

The study highlighted that for horses showing these signs, blocking the SI joint in a diagnostic investigation could provide crucial answers.

It found that nuclear scintigraphy alone is unreliable for the diagnosis of SI joint pain — only 42% of horses that had a positive response to an SI block and underwent nuclear scintigraphy had abnormal radiopharmaceutical uptake (RU).

However, the use of ultrasonography and scintigraphy in conjunction with an SI block can provide additional information in some horses.

“Assessing the effect of treatment of the SI joints is not an effective method of diagnosis; the use of nerve blocks is much more reliable,” said Dr Sue Dyson.

Importance of ridden assessment

The majority of horses in the study had SI joint region pain and hindlimb lameness.

Although clear improvement in lameness in-hand was seen in some horses after removing the source of pain in the lame limb, ridden exercise highlighted the persistence of another source of pain, which was sometimes worse after abolishing the lameness.

This emphasised the importance of ridden exercise in both trot and canter when assessing lameness and poor performance.

The Animal Health Trust

The study is the first large-scale study of its kind and was conducted at the veterinary charity The Animal Health Trust (AHT) by Dr Sue Dyson, head of clinical orthopaedics at the AHT, and Amy Barstow, a previous AHT intern.

The research analysed 295 past cases of horses treated by the charity and builds on previous AHT research that recognised SI joint region pain as a contributor to poor performance and/or hindlimb lameness.

“The Animal Health Trust’s Equine Clinic is experienced in diagnosing and treating SI joint region pain in horses and offers a fully comprehensive referral service,” said a spokesman for the AHT.

“If you are concerned that your horse is showing signs suggestive of SI joint region pain, speak to your vet and ask for a referral.”

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A pony that defied the odds and survived a life-threatening condition is taking part in a 300-mile trek.

Candyfloss was diagnosed with acute equine grass sickness (EGS) in June 2013 and has since made a full recovery.

Grass sickness is fatal in 95% and is most prevalent between April and September, especially in Scotland.

The six-year-old mare accompanied by her owner, Leanne MacDonald, set off from her home in Spey Bay, Moray, on 23 May.

The 13hh fell cross cob is also joined by her stable companion Tinkerbelle, a miniature Shetland, and terrier Foxy.

The team is hoping to raise awareness of the condition and money for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund.

Their route is set to take them to the Royal Highland Show on 21 June, where Candyfloss will lead a parade of survivors.

It is set to finish the following day at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh.

Candyfloss’ adventure has not been without drama.

As they crossed the Cairngorms, the path became increasingly steep and narrow.

The weather closed in and, being unsafe to continue, the trekkers climbed to 700ft and were rescued by Braemar Mountain Rescue.

Leanne spoke about why she decided to take on the walk.

“When EGS paralysis the gut you can see that they want to eat but they simply can’t,” she said.

“It is just such a horrendous thing to go through.”

Candyfloss suffered from weightloss, tremors, difficulty swallowing, sweating, loss of coordination and dropped six inches from her girth.

The trek is part of a series of fundraisers organized by Leanne and four other owners whose horses were affected by the disease – known as the Fabulous Five.

Last month H&H reported that vets were urging owners to be vigilant after a rise in cases of equine grass sickness (EGS) in the past year.

EGS is now thought to be caused by a toxin produced by clostridia bacteria, the same bacteria that, in different circumstances, can cause botulism. They affect the nervous system.

The Animal Health Trust is currently undertaking a trial of a vaccine for the condition.

Donate here.

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Commentator Mike Tucker and the British dressage pony team were among those honoured at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) UK Equestrian Awards last week (6 November).

The awards, which are now in their 26th year, were held in London and celebrated the work of riders, trainers, vets and volunteers in the equestrian industry.

Mike, who was presenting the awards on the evening, was “surprised and delighted” to receive the AHT special award for his contribution to the sport. He evented internationally for 20 years — including competing at two European Championships and completing Badminton 12 times — and is also a course designer and a famous voice in equestrianism.

The dressage award went to Britain’s pony team of Rebecca Bell, Alex Hellings, Bethany-Rose Horobin and Phoebe Peters.

The girls claimed team silver at the FEI European Championships in Millstreet, Ireland in August 2014. All four members scored over 70% to finish on 222.25%, only 3.08% behind Germany.

The late John Huntridge, an owner and avid supporter of the sport for 35 years, was posthumously named the winner of the eventing award. He died last month aged 95.

The award was collected by Alex Liddle, rider of John’s Romeo Z, who was part of the British team who won gold at the junior European championships in 2012.

British showjumping team vet Robrecht Cnockaert took the showjumping award. He has been team vet since 2005 and worked at two Olympics, three World Equestrian Games and four European championships.

French trainer Criquette Head-Maarek travelled across the channel to collect the racing award for her star filly Treve, who won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second year running in October — the first horse to do so since Alleged in the 1970s.

The veterinary award went to Dr Pat Harris for her contribution to nutrition over the past 30 years. Dr Harris is a former president of the British Equine Veterinary Association and current director of science at Mars Horsecare.

Trainer Richard Phillips picked up the voluntary award for his “fantastic contribution to charities, particularly equine, devoting his time to raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for causes across the UK”.

“The AHT UK Equestrian Awards is the flagship event in our fundraising calendar, raising vital funds for our work fighting disease and injury in animals,” said Chloë Bowler of the AHT.

“We are thrilled that it has been so well supported yet again. We’d especially like to thank Lady Harris, who has chaired the organising committee during 2014 and helped us reach a record-breaking fundraising total, all other members of the committee and, of course, all our sponsors who make this event possible each year. We are already looking forward to celebrating equestrian excellence in 2015.”

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Over 3,000 volunteers are needed for a new four-year research project into the causes and management of laminitis.

The study called “CARE (Creating Awareness and Reporting Evidence) about laminitis” aims to help horse owners reduce the threat of laminitis.

The research is being carried out by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), with funding from World Horse Welfare.

“We need input from as many owners as possible, so please register your animal today. Each and every horse is an eligible candidate and can join the study, regardless of past or present health status,” said PhD student Dee Pollard, who is doing the research.

The study builds on previous research by Dr Claire Wylie where factors such as rapid weight gain, increasing time since last deworming, recent box rest and new access to grass were shown to increase the risk of laminitis.

Dr Wylie’s study also showed that transport in the previous week and the feeding of supplements reduced laminitis occurrence.

In the new study owners are asked to keep an online diary giving general information about management, feeding, exercise and recent health history.

The information from the registered horses will be collected over two years, with monthly updates on changes in the management routine.

“Laminitis is a very complex disease and it will take a Herculean team effort to help tackle it. That is why we are asking all horse owners to participate in this fight against laminitis,” said Roly Owers, chief executive at World Horse Welfare.

Veterinary reports show between 2009 and 2011 laminitis accounted for nearly one in 200 equine visits.

Register for the project

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Are horses getting even fatter? UK horse owners think so.

Owners have assessed 1 in 3 of their horses as obese, according to an Animal Health Trust survey published in the Equine Veterinary Journal in February. This is up from 1 in 5 in a similar study 3 years ago.

Researchers aimed to find out the prevalence of owner-reported obesity in horses and ponies registered with 30 British veterinary practices, via a postal questionnaire. The survey covered 792 horses, with 247 classified by their owners as either fat or very fat.

This research follows a comparable study, published by Nottingham University in 2011, that found at least 1 in 5 horses used for leisure was overweight or obese.

In 2007, World Horse Welfare launched the Right Weight project to tackle what it then described as “an obesity epidemic”.

So are horses really getting fatter, despite efforts to stem the tide? Or are owners becoming more attentive?

Equine vet Gil Riley, of Pool House Veterinary Group,is optimistic.

“Obesity in horses has really come on to owners’ radars, and the rise in ‘obese’ horses is mainly down to an increased awareness,” he said.

“Many of my clients now monitor their horse’s condition as a matter of routine and act quickly if they notice the pounds piling on. They are more aware than ever that excess fat can contribute to so many ailments.”

A spokesman for World Horse Welfare agreed. 5 years ago, it estimated that as many as 50% of horses were overweight or obese.

“In our experience and on anecdotal evidence, the prevalence of overweight horses has not changed significantly,” said deputy head of UK support Sam Chubbock.

“But we have noticed an increase in owner awareness of weight issues since launching our Right Weight project [for weight loss management and tips] in 2007.”

This article was first published in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (Thursday 26 May)

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Horse charities are set to benefit from this year’s Virgin London Marathon (13 April), with several runners representing them.

7 hunt supporters have swapped their long boots for trainers in support of The Countryside Alliance Foundation (TCAF), ranging from a schoolgirl to a duo from the Portman hunt.

Countryside Alliance executive chairman Barney White-Spunner said: “Our team comes from a variety of backgrounds, but they are united in their love of the countryside and passion for hunting.

56-year-old Sharon Baldwin — secretary to national hunt trainer Fergal O’Brien — is running in her first marathon and hopes to finish in less than 3hr45min. She has ridden in point-to-points and has completed several half-marathons.

“The countryside is, and always has been, very close to my heart,” said Sharon.

Portman joint-master Charlie Gundry and kennel-huntsman Thomas Baker are also both running in their first marathons, although former serviceman Thomas is expecting to make a decent time of less than 3hr30min. They are hoping to raise £10,000 for TCAF.

World Horse Welfare’s deputy chief executive Tony Tyler and international programme officer Alana Chapman will represent their charity (pictured).

This will be Tony’s 5^th “and final” London marathon, while it is Alana’s first attempt.

“Alana made the mistake of telling me she was keen to do one too,” said Tony. “We’ve set a target of £2,000 between us, and also have 5 runners through World Horse Welfare places as well as others in the ballot fund-raising for the charity.”

The Animal Health Trust is also represented, with 3 runners for the charity. 2 ladies — Julia Baldwin and Helen Cain — have been putting on Parelli lectures around East Anglia as part of their fund-raising efforts. They have so far totted up more than £7,000.

And 8 top names from racing are raising money for Racing Welfare, including Classic-winning trainers Andrew Balding and Richard Hannon.

Qatar Racing’s Sheikh Fahad Al Thani has set up the team, and will run himself, joined by his racing and bloodstock manager David Redvers, who is also master of the Ledbury. Qatar Racing trainers Robert Cowell, Charlie Hills, David Simmock and Olly Stevens complete the team.

“The idea to field a team in the marathon raising money for Racing Welfare was entirely Sheikh Fahad’s,” said Mr Redvers. “Although I have to admit I was not 100% convinced at the outset that he was serious about running himself.”

And equestrian figure of a different kind will be lining up at the start — a fibreglass horse. “Colin the horse” will be carried the 26.2 miles by 4 runners on behalf of the Chichester Poppy Appeal.

The horse has already raised nearly £40,000 for numerous charities since 2006.

The quartet expects to take 7hrs to complete the race.

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As part of Horse & Hound's 130th birthday celebrations, we will be supporting and promoting "130 equestrian good causes" via regular online round-ups of events being run by the equestrian community

Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre celebrates 25 years

Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre is marking its 25^th anniversary by launching a £250,000 appeal. As part of this the centre has planned an open day on 10 June and a gala dinner on 13 June.

“I am immensely proud to be able to celebrate our 25^th anniversary this year,” said Sister Mary Joy who runs the non-profit centre.

“It is a major milestone in our history and one which is testimony to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, without whom this could never have been achieved.”

For further details, visit: www.wormwoodscrubsponycentre.org

Bythams sponsored ride

The annual Bythams charity sponsored ride for horses is taking place on 4-5 May. It’s being held at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire in aid of 4 local churches and the Animal Health Trust.

“The rides are suitable for any age group, and there is a great family atmosphere,” said treasurer Robin Davies.

“The sister event, the fun carriage drive takes place on Sunday 4 May and gives carriage drivers an opportunity to enjoy a tour of the magnificent parkland.”

For more info visit www.bccride.com

Thousands raised for World Horse Welfare

Wimbledon Village Stables has raised £5,000 for World Horse Welfare at its annual fundraising ball.

“We selected World Horse Welfare as it is a charity that works to improve the lives of horses, not only in the UK, but all over the world and this is a cause close to all of our hearts,” said Carol Andrews, owner of Wimbledon Village Stables.

For more information on World Horse Welfare, see www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Support-Us

Wellington Riding’s gala charity ball

Wellington Riding is holding a gala charity ball in aid of The Hampshire Air Ambulance, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and Riding for the Disabled on 7 June.

“Planning this celebration gives us the chance to look back and see how far we have evolved, what we have achieved and also to enjoy many laughs, catch up with old friends and share a wealth of stories and history,” said David Sheerin, chief instructor at Wellington Riding. Find out more

Camel racing for the Cotley point-to-point

Cotley point-to-point on 30 March near Chard in Somerset is going to include camel racing to raise money for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.

“We have 4 camel races, each with 4 camels competing and we’ve been inundated with riders willing to raise sponsorship in order to be jockeys and from businesses wanting to sponsor the camel,” said Tom Eames, Cotley point-to-point organiser.

“We are hoping to raise more than £4,000 for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance from both the camel racing and the Cotley hedge laying competition, which is taking place the day before the point-to-point.”

The Cotley Point-to-Point can be found on Twitter @cotleyp2p

Polo for Heroes

The Polo for Heroes fundraising event is being held at St Albans Polo Club, Hertfordshire, on 28 June.

“This promises to be a spectacular event for all, with a 1st class view of the battle between the military and civilian polo teams, captained by boxing legend and Polo for Heroes host, Steve Collins,” said a spokesman from St Albans Polo Team.

“We will also be joined by celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment.”

Tickets cost £25. Click here for more info

Macmillan at York racecourse

Macmillan Cancer Support is holding its annual fundraising event at York racecourse on 14 June.

“The day will include 7 top-class races, as well as the great charity race,” said a spokesman from the charity. “It’s the perfect way to combine glamour and excitement with a chance to help a great cause.”

For more information, visit www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

Brighton marathon in aid of the Horse Rangers

Nicola Briggs is running the Brighton marathon on 6 April to raise money for the Horse Rangers.

“This is the year to make my dream come true while raising much-needed cash for my worthy charity as it celebrates its 60th year,” said Nicola.

Sponsor Nicola

Race for Repeal

7 hunt supporters are taking part in the Race for Repeal at Ascot on Mother’s Day (Sunday 30 March) in aid of the Countryside Alliance. Sponsor the riders

Charity team chase

Antrim Chase are holding a charity team chase at Dirraw Farm Equestrian in Finvoy, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland on 29 March. All proceeds will be going to the Jonjo Bright Trust. Entries are still open and can be made by email at Antrimchaseequestrian@yahoo.co.uk. Click here for more info

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The Animal Health Trust (AHT) infectious disease group has been recognised for its efforts in protecting the UK’s equine population.

The group received the Sir Colin Spedding Award at the National Equine Forum (NEF) earlier this month (6 March).

The award recognises the AHT’s “outstanding work” on disease research, surveillance and management to help protect and safeguard the future of the UK’s horses and ponies.

It was received by Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the AHT.

“The group has made a number of significant breakthroughs in the diagnosis, surveillance, containment and treatment of a number of equine ‘nasties’ commonly seen in the UK including equine influenza, strangles and equine herpesvirus,” said Dr Waller.

“Our work has considerably improved the health and welfare of horses internationally and we are grateful that the NEF has acknowledged the important role we play in protecting horses from infectious disease.”

Tim Brigstocke, chairman of the NEF added: “Equine disease poses a growing threat to all of our horses, which makes the work of the AHT group ever more important, hence we wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you.”

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) has a new chief executive, Dr Mark Vaudin.

Dr Vaudin, who is currently deputy chief executive of the organisation, will take over from Dr Peter Webbon at the end of September.

Dr Vaudin has been at the AHT for 9 years. The veterinary charity, which is based in Suffolk, does vital work and research into disease in companion animals (horses, dogs and cats).

“I am, like everyone at the AHT, committed to fighting disease and injury in animals,” said Dr Vaudin.

“I’m determined that we will continue to make significant scientific and clinical advances that will have a major impact on the lives of all companion animals and their owners.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (25 July 2013)

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The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is appealing for riders to help with a research project assessing the interaction between horse, saddle and rider, by completing an online survey.

Dr Sue Dyson, head of clinical orthopaedics at the centre for equine studies at the AHT, is conducting the study with PhD student Line Greve.

“Saddle slip is a problem seen in all sorts of horses and ponies, and can contribute to back pain and impaired performance,” said Ms Greve. “Research suggests 25% of British dressage horses have a history of back-related problems and subsequent reduced performance.”

The project currently involves around 700 riders, but they want to boost this figure to 1,000. They are particularly interested in understanding why a saddle may persistently slip to one side in some horses.

Participants would need to complete an anonymous online questionnaire at http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/premise_questionnaire.html. It should take 15mins maximum to complete.

Results will be presented at the Saddle Research Trust Conference, 29 November 2014

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New research by the Animal Health Trust (AHT) has shown that its blood test for strangles is “significantly more accurate” compared with other tests.

The AHT method checks for the immune response to the bacteria Streptococcus equi, which causes strangles. Research compared the effectiveness of a blood test marketed by IDvet with that developed by the AHT.

Dr Andrew Waller of the AHT, said: “Our test enables vets to be more confident in identifying horses that may be infected with Streptococcus equi. Horses that are subsequently confirmed as infected can be treated, the infection eradicated and future outbreaks prevented.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (25 April 2013)

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Equine vets at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) – who usually deal with large competition horses – have turned their attentions to a rather smaller patient; a 29″ high pony suffering from a painful eye condition.

Prince, a four-year-old miniature pony, who works as a therapy horse, was referred to the AHT’s eye specialists in Newmarket suffering from entropion. The condition causes the eyelids to fold in, making the eyelashes grow inwards and irritate the eye. If untreated, animals with entropion can lose their sight.

Claudia Hartley, who is head of ophthalmology at the AHT, was able to operate and save Prince’s sight.

“He is an absolute darling!” she said. “It’s great for all of the team here when we can help such deserving cases. Enabling Prince to carry on with his therapy work, free of pain and discomfort, is really rewarding for all of us.”

Prince was able to return home to his owner, Amanda Poulton, shortly after his surgery and was expected to be back ‘on duty’, providing therapy at an event the same week.

Mrs Poulton explained: “My husband and I take him and our other pony, Applause, into hospices and local schools to aid the recovery of patients, or learning of students with special needs.”

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Further funding is needed for research to help horses and ponies with sweet itch.

For the past four years, the Exmoor Pony Society has been collecting blood and hair samples for a joint project with the Animal Health Trust to carry out research into a possible genetic predisposition to the condition.

But due to a lack of funding, the project has been passed to researchers in Sweden. They have been granted €200,000 to start work in the autumn, but €25,000 is still needed.

The Exmoor Pony Society has donated £5,000 from its Scientific Research Fund.

The research should benefit all breeds and if anyone would like to contribute, email: coedywern@tiscali.co.uk.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (12 July 2012)

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The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is offering free testing for equine influenza to vets in a bid to ensure the London 2012 Olympics are not marred by an outbreak of the virus.

There was an outbreak at the Nations Cup show at La Baule, France, on 12 May. Two horses tested positive for equine flu and another four were tested.

Thanks to funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board, the AHT will provide nose and throat swabbing equipment and free lab testing for the infection to vets between now and July.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (7 June 2012)

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Scientists and industry experts need to improve the way they communicate to ensure that cutting edge research in horse, rider and saddle interaction reaches a wider audience.

This was the one of the key messages of the inaugural Saddle Research Trust’s (SRT) international conference, which took place at the Anglia Ruskin University of Cambridge and the Animal Health Trust (AHT) last month.

The three-day seminar – the first of its kind worldwide – included eminent speakers such as Dr Hilary Clayton from Michigan State University.

It brought together vets, researchers, saddlers, physiotherapists, riders and trainers to discuss where current research in this field is heading and target key new areas for investigation.

SRT director Anne Bondi, said: “There is a huge amount of new technology becoming available to researchers in this field, which makes it very exciting.

“A lot of work needs to be done, but this workshop represents the first important step. We are thrilled that this subject has caught the public imagination and hope that this will stimulate fund-raising for future research.”

Conference chair Dr Sue Dyson, head of orthopaedics at the AHT, added: “This was a fantastic opportunity to share ideas and collaborate for the future, which will ultimately benefit both horses and riders.”

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Horse shows in the Netherlands have been disrupted by an outbreak of the neurological strain of the equine herpes virus (EHV-1).

All equestrian competitions have been cancelled since the outbreak in eastern Holland at the end of February and had not restarted as H&H went to press.

And in the UK the Animal Health Trust is urging owners of in-foal mares who abort to have them investigated for the virus, which can cause abortions.

In January and February there were four cases of EHV-1 diagnosed in UK mares.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (22 March 2012)

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Who would you like to see honoured at this year’s Animal Health Trust awards?

The nominees for the dressage, eventing and showjumping awards have been announced by the welfare charity.

Dressage:

• Stephen Clarke – dressage judge and the first Brit to judge at an Olympics
• David Hunt – founder and president of the International Dressage Trainers Club
• British gold medal winning team – Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer, Charlotte Du Jardin, Emile Faurie, who became the first British dressage team to win gold at a European Championships

Eventing:

• Mitsubishi Motors – sponsors of Badminton since 1992
• Jean Russell – a volunteer fence judge for more than 25 years
• Rachel Tolley – the groom of Miner’s Frolic who helped the horse pull through when he was suffered colitis earlier this year

Showjumping:

• The Pony European Championship gold medal winning team – Amy Inglis, Beth Vernon, Graham Babes and Jessica Mendoza
• Beth Vernon – European Pony individual gold medalist 2011
• Nick Skelton – Senior European team and individual bronze medalist

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in London on 3 November.

To vote, email the name of the person you would like to nominate with the title of the award in the subject box to equestrian.awards@aht.org.uk by Friday 14 October.

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The Animal Health Trust (AHT) has begun building a new cancer centre at its Lanwades Park base in Suffolk — but needs to raise £1.5 million to complete the project.

Due to open next summer, it will treat horses, dogs and cats as well as conduct research into treatments for animals and humans.

The AHT hopes to treat more than 100 equine cases a year at the new centre.

Sue Murphy, head of clinical cancer treatment, said: “Having all three treatment options [surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy] on one site means that whatever the diagnosis, we will be able to offer patients the very best option for their case.”

An extra £250,000 is needed to buy a linear accelerator — a radiotherapy machine that irradiates cancerous cells without destroying the surrounding tissue.

Stamford-based Ian Scott, whose showjumper Lackaview Cruise (known as “Fern”) has been diagnosed with cancer, said the centre was much needed.

“Fern has inoperable and untreatable tumours — hopefully research could lead to treatment being an option for owners in the future living with this diagnosis,” he said.

And Dr Tim Mair of the Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic in Kent, who has studied cancerous tumours in the horse, said: “Equine cancer is an area that needs a lot more work to improve treatment as it lags far behind other small animals and humans.

“All types of cancer are problematic and generally have a high reoccurrence rate — by the time of diagnosis we often can’t do anything.”

For more information, including how to donate, visit: www.aht.org.uk or tel: 01638 555648.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (28 July, 2011)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now