A new law that allows plants to be genetically edited has recently been passed and will serve as a stepping stone towards the technology being used in animals.

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2003 passed into law on 23 March, with its main intent being reinforcing food security. In other words, allowing farmers to grow drought- and disease-resistant crops.

Although the green light is on for plants only at the moment, the law includes provision to explore how gene editing could be used in future to help breed animals that are protected from catching diseases. That means establishing a proportionate regulatory system for precision-bred animals, to ensure welfare is safeguarded.

Lucy Morgan, of Stallion AI Services and Gemini Genetics, told H&H there are many different areas to consider with this new technology.

“Looking at its application in plants and food production, that does relate to the animal sector as well, when you are thinking about food for animals. We are seeing with our changing climate hay yields, for example, vary dramatically year on year,” she said, adding that with the warming climate, there could also be uses for the technology in protecting against certain diseases that may come to our shores in future.

“For rare breeds and breeding horses for sport, it does have relevance potentially to enable us to be more accurate in breeding.

“A lot of the animal side is still in discussion and it’s not something that can be hurried through. There’s going to be a lot of discussion needed from different parties so we can get a full assessment of it.”

She added that discussion is also needed to understand both the benefits and the potential for unintended consequences before going further.

British Equine Veterinary Association council member James Crabtree told H&H the new act has “lots of benefits for precision breeding using modern gene-editing biotechnology in cultivated plants and farmed animals”.

“Gene editing in horses and other equines could be utilised for the eradication of genetic diseases, but is restricted by many breed societies and regulatory bodies due to the potential for the technology to be used to gain a competitive advantage or compromise welfare,” he said.

“We are not aware that gene editing is commercially available in horses.

“In the United Kingdom, breeding from a gene-edited animal is restricted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and can only be performed under licence for research purposes, so we feel this is not going to result in the opening of the floodgates to widespread gene editing in equine breeding.

“Nevertheless, there is now a pathway should it offer significant advantages in the future.”

The NFU has long campaigned for this, with vice-president David Exwood adding that he is “delighted it has passed its final hurdle”. The RSPCA, on the other hand, has described it as “opening a Pandora’s box”.

“Gene editing could be a huge step backward for animals,” said RSPCA head of campaigns and public affairs David Bowles.

“We don’t believe this act should include animals, whether they’re farm, pet or wildlife. Invasive procedures are needed to create each line of gene-edited mammals, there is no history of use for this powerful technology, and it can cause unintended changes to the genome, with unpredictable effects.

“The RSPCA has serious animal welfare and ethical concerns about this.”

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Leading figures from animal, farming, environment and insurance organisations are uniting with firefighters to call for the government to act now and ban sky lanterns.

A new coalition, comprising 18 bodies including the Countryside Alliance and the British Horse Society, has written to environment minister Rebecca Pow to “explain how the Government’s approach not to regulate sky lanterns is now significantly out of date, and out of line with other countries, where the release of sky lanterns is considered an environmental crime due to the harm they cause animals, habitats and the countryside”.

The organisations point out that by enacting section 140 of the Environmental Protection Act, the secretary of state can “prohibit or restrict the importation, use, supply or storage of injurious substances or articles, such as sky lanterns”.

So far, 152 councils have banned the release of sky lanterns on their property but with no national legislation, “the countryside and our farms remain unprotected”.

National Farmers Union deputy president Stuart Roberts said: “The global community is already recognising the dangers of sky lanterns. Countries like Australia, Brazil, and Germany already have national bans, and we must join them.

“This is a simple but incredibly effective and impactful step the Government can take towards a safer, cleaner and greener rural Britain. We wouldn’t light a naked flame in our home and walk away, so why would we send one into the air with no idea whose home or habitat it could eventually destroy?”

The National Fire Chiefs Council “fully supports” a ban, as sky lanterns have been proven to have started wildfires and property fires, killing and injuring animals and polluting the environment, as well as putting extra pressure on emergency services.

The RSPCA and Keep Britain Tidy are also among those calling for the ban.

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BHS safety team lead Des Payne said: “Sky lanterns can cause significant trauma and distress to horses and livestock. We strongly urge people not to use them.

“The pretty sight of a lantern in the sky is not worth the suffering animals can experience. As prey animals, horses can be terrified by sky lanterns looming above them and if one lands in their field, the wire can cause serious internal and external injuries.

“We have received more than 20 reports of harm caused by these lanterns – with horses dying or having to be euthanised in the worst cases. But this may be the tip of the iceberg as we know only one in 10 people report these incidents to us. The BHS encourages horse owners and farmers to be vigilant in checking their fields and hedgerows and report any incidents involving sky lanterns through our new app “Horse i” or on our website.”

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The British Horse Society (BHS) is urging people to “think twice” before releasing sky lanterns during the festive period – as owners are encouraged to be vigilant in checking their fields.

In a collaboration with the National Farmers Union (NFU), the organisation has asked people to spare a thought for horses and livestock as they plan their Christmas and new year celebrations. The NFU has had a long-running campaign calling on councils to ban the release of sky lanterns and to date more than 160 have banned their release on council-owned land, including all councils in Wales.

“While the decorative lanterns may look pretty floating across the night sky, they can cause horrific injuries to animals, or even death, when they come back down to earth,” said a BHS spokesman. “The wire used in sky lanterns can cause serious internal or external injuries if a horse encounters one in their field or even ingests it.

“As prey animals, horses can be frightened by sky lanterns looming above them. With no way of controlling where they travel or land, sky lanterns also pose a fire risk to buildings, stables and barns. The environmental harm of these lanterns can also be devastating to the UK’s green spaces.

“The BHS encourages horse owners and farmers to be vigilant in checking their fields and hedgerows.”

NFU figures show around 200,000 sky lanterns are sold and released each year. The BHS has received 21 reports of incidents involving sky lanterns since 2011 but the spokesman said only one in 10 incidents are reported.

“Tragically, three of these reports were horse fatalities and six involved horse injuries,” said the BHS spokesman.

Article continued below…

“With no national UK legislation regulating sky lanterns, the NFU are focusing their lobbying efforts at local councils, encouraging them to implement a ban on council-owned land,” said the spokesman.

BHS director of safety Alan Hiscox said sky lanterns and fireworks may be enjoyable for some, but they can cause “considerable trauma” or distress to horses.

“We would urge anyone planning on setting them off during the festive period to consider the effect it may have on local animals and the potential fire risk to stables or outbuildings,” he said.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Horse owners are urged to be on their guard, after the cost of equine crime has increased by almost 50% in a year.

The cost of equine related thefts have risen by 45% since 2012 and totalled more than £1.9m in 2013, according to rural insurers NFU Mutual.

The number of thefts is up 16%. Trailers and horsebox thefts accounted for 69% of all equine theft claims, and horse tack and equipment for 19%.

The north-east and south-west were the worst affected areas in the recent crime survey — results of which were released on 11 August — which was completed by 300 NFU agencies in rural areas.

“In 2012 thieves mainly focused their attention on horse and livestock trailers and electric fencing equipment,” said Victoria Walton of NFU. “However, in the past year, theft of tack and equipment has risen dramatically, overtaking electric fencing equipment.”

Farms and livery yards are a favourite hunting ground for thieves because they are often unattended at night.

“With many horse owners and farmers continuing to feel the financial pinch, the theft of essential items such as tack, fencing, trailers and feed is a further blow to their pockets, particularly if the items are uninsured,” Ms Walton added.

Earlier this year H&H reported on a spate of high profile equestrian break-ins — including at Olympic eventer Vittoria Panizzon’s yard —showing that thieves are increasingly aiming for large hauls.

Vittoria lost thousands of pounds worth of tack in the raid.

“We have seen a number of large tack theft claims up to £30,000 recently,” said NFU’s Nicki Whitaker. “The last time we saw large claims like this was in 2011.”

Owners are urged to be vigilant and protect their belongings.

“The onus is on horse owners to act, to prevent as much as possible — by marking equipiment — but also to report it to the police if things are stolen,” said David Collings from Hampshire Horse Watch.

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 4 September 2014

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The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) wants its members to alert it to problems they face with fly-grazing on their land.

Members reported cases at an NFU council meeting on 26 June.

They included a farmer who had 2,500 horses left on his land and another who was leaving the countryside stewardship scheme because his 15-metre field margins were being used by fly-grazers.

NFU president Peter Kendall said the NFU would survey its members about the nuisance.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (5 July 2012)

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A woman who complained when her insurance company refused to pay for alternative treatment for her mare has won the right to force them to reconsider.

Catherine Hodson made a claim for veterinary costs under her NFU Mutual policy in July 2010, after her mare, Rose, was diagnosed with navicular syndrome.

But the company refused to fund treatment at Rockley Farm, near Barnstaple, Devon – which practises barefoot rehabilitation.

Now, the Financial Ombudsman has ordered NFU Mutual to reconsider Miss Hodson’s claim.

“I am over the moon,” she told H&H. “I am so pleased that common sense has prevailed.”

Miss Hodson, of Bishop Monkton, North Yorks, told H&H she had always shod her horses until Rose, a Dutch warmblood, began suffering from navicular.

Miss Hodson, a lecturer in equine science, researched the options and decided that Rockley Farm – which advocates controlled exercise over a variety of surfaces and dietary changes – would give Rose the best chance. Her vet agreed to write a referral.

But NFU Mutual rejected the claim, saying the treatment provided by Rockley Farm did not need to be carried out by a specialist.

Miss Hodson’s policy provided cover up to £1,000 for complementary therapies – but only if the practitioner complied with NFU’s definition of a specialist.

“If I’d said to them, ‘I want my vet to come every day until I’ve used up all £5,000 of my policy’, they would have paid,” said Miss Hodson.

“But they wouldn’t pay the £780 for Rockley,” she added.

Following treatment at Rockley Farm, Rose has been sound and in ridden work since November 2010.

In his ruling of 30 May, the Ombudsman Christopher Tilson said NFU’s definition of the term “specialist” gave an “unfair and unreasonable result” in this case.

He added that the treatment provided by Rockley Farm had “proven efficacious results” and did not represent an alternative therapy of “dubious nature and quality”.

In a statement, NFU Mutual said it was “taking time to review thoroughly the Ombudsman’s decision before providing any comment”.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (14 June 2012)

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The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for revellers celebrating the Chinese New Year today (Monday January 23) to not let off Chinese lanterns.

The NFU has in the past called for an outright ban on the candle-powered lanterns, which are already outlawed in Spain and parts of Germany.

Their concern is that when the lanterns return to the ground they can be eaten by grazing animals or start fires.

NFU rural surveyor Louise Staples said: “Our members know how these lanterns can harm or kill farm animals and they can also cause fires to thatch roofs and bales of hay and straw.

“We hope everyone has a wonderful Chinese New Year but urge people to think twice about setting lanterns off.”

BBC wildlife camera man Mark Vinall is also calling for a ban on the sale of Chinese lanterns in the UK.

Mark has launched an e-petition on the Government’s website – https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/13051 .

• Would you be insured if a chinese lantern set your buildings on fire or led to your horse being injured? For all your insurance needs, contact KBIS

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More than half of horsebox users are putting their horses’ lives at risk every time they go on the road, according to a recent survey.

The survey of 2,000 trailer and lorry users returned the worrying result that 64% of boxes are over-laden, 30% of drivers do not know the legal tread for tyres and 56.5% admit failing to check the tyre pressure, indicators or the oil and water levels of their vehicles before making a journey.

A campaign to investigate people’s attitudes towards horsebox safety launched earlier this year by NFU Mutual, the British Horse Society (BHS) and PRP Equine Rescue Services, involved an online survey and a weighing exercise.

An additional 100 vehicles – from 4x4s with trailers to 18-tonne horseboxes – were weighed at Equifest in August as they entered the East of England Showground.

Half of all vehicles weighed were overweight. Had they been subject to an official roadside check, 64% of cases would have resulted in a fixed penalty notice.

In the survey, 62% of respondents said they did not think loading and transporting horses was taken as seriously as it should be – and 66% cited a lack of knowledge, as well as complacency, as the reason why.

Jon Phillips at PRP Equine Rescue Services said: “If you drive an overweight lorry, at some point you are going to have an accident.

“You could also face fines of up to £2,000. The most concerning thing is that most people are convinced they are not overweight. It’s a real worry.”

The number of accidents involving horseboxes is increasing. In 2008/09 PRP had 1,276 call outs, in 2010/11 it had risen to 1,502.

Sheila Hardy from the BHS said the survey results highlighted the need for education.

“Many drivers had underestimated the loaded weight of their vehicles and/or their axle-bearing weight,” she told H&H.

“We hope that during the next 12 months, the partnership will offer voluntary weighing at more equestrian events across the UK and that as many drivers as possible will find out the weight of what they are carrying and the dangers of being overloaded.”

Read this news story in full in the current issue of Horse & Hound (27 October, 2011)

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