Police and welfare charities were involved in the removal of some 90 horses from a farm in the Midlands last week. West Mercia Police, the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare were at the scene in Bewdley on 19 and 20 March. Police said they were called to reports of concern for animal welfare, and that officers were “assisting the RSPCA in the removal of around 90 horses from the location in an operation.” The RSPCA confirmed that two dogs were also removed.
A team from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) found that electroacupuncture has had “good success” in treating equine trigeminal nerve-mediated headshaking. The study, led by professor Bettina Dunkel, assessed the treatment’s effectiveness in 42 horses and found that it had “good success”. Nearly two thirds showed improvement; a third of the horses’ signs were completely resolved. “The findings showed that the procedure was well tolerated by all horses and achieved a significant improvement in headshaking,” an RVC spokesperson said.
Six British riders are on the wait list for Mars Badminton Horse Trials 2025, the entries for which were announced this week. There are 16 combinations yet to be accepted for the CCI5* in May, as well as a potential third ride for Harry Meade, who has entered five horses. This is the longest wait list for Badminton since the 2022 event, its first post-Covid running. There was no wait list in 2023 and one of three combinations last year.
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
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
