Horse owners urged to take National Health Survey

Leading equestrian organisations are urging horse owners to participate in the National Equine Health Survey (18-24 May) to help identify priorities for research into equine diseases.

Many veterinary authorities and equine charities have committed their support for the survey, which is organised by the Blue Cross in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association.

The online survey — which should take around 5mins — records common health issues in horses, directly from their owners, to build a picture of health and disease of horses in the UK. New questions have been devised this year on equine infectious diseases and ragwort to reflect both current government debate on surveillance measures and concern among welfare organisations.

BEVA chief executive David Mountford said: “In the face of Defra’s plan to downgrade the status of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) and Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) it is more important than ever that the UK Equine Industry can demonstrate that it is taking share of responsibility for equine health.

“Your time in completing the survey is tangible evidence of the industry’s willingness to work together and will lend weight to the efforts being made to force the government to change tack on the status of CEM and EVA.”

All participants will be entered into a draw, with potential prizes including a Jefferies bridle, Olympia tickets, and an Arthur Carter hay steamer.

Visit www.bluecross.org.uk/NEHS or email NEHS@bluecross.org.uk to find out more and register.

Martha Terry

H&H features editor

Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on dogs of all shapes and sizes. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs, one a street dog from Gambia who was abandoned at three weeks old. Now, her constant companion, whether by her feet at her desk or walking cross-country courses, is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.