BHS volunteer made an MBE for services to public rights of way

Brenda receives her BHS Golden Jubilee Medal from Alun Michael at the BHS November Awards in 2002

British Horse Society veteran campaigner Brenda Wickham has been made an MBE for her services to public rights of way - in The Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Brenda is a long-serving member of The British Horse Society, and has worked tirelessly over many years to improve access for all horse riders.

She was the Society's Southern Region Access and Bridleways Officer for more than 20 years, and despite resigning from this role last year, still contributes a great deal to the Society's Access and Rights of Way work.

Brenda is a driving force behind the National Bridleroute Network and has been instrumental in devising many long distance routes throughout the UK, including the Sabrina Way, Three Downs Link, Three Rivers Ride, Radnor Forest Ride and the Prince Llywelyn Ride.

Mark Weston, BHS Director of Access, Safety and Welfare, said: "I cannot think of a more worthy recipient than Brenda.  The work that Brenda has carried out to date and continues to do benefits not only today's riders but also riders for generations to come."

Brenda Wickham said: "I am absolutely thrilled to receive this honour. Working to improve rights of way has been my interest and passion for many years, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the BHS Access Department throughout my time as a volunteer."See the article on the BHS Web site: Brenda on BHS web site

Showing off On-Line (Photo Show)

Join in the fun and submit your photos.  Winners to be announced at our Annual Meeting on 4th October 07.  Schedule and Entry form available via the links below. See the Schedule: Schedule

Word Entry Form: Entry Form

The British Horse Society today (Friday, 11 May 2007) announced that plans for a Cavalcade in Windsor Great Park on 7 July have been cancelled following a safety review. 

BHS Chief Executive Graham Cory said:  “In an event of this size, the safety of participants and spectators is the Society’s paramount concern, eclipsing considerations of spectacle and celebration. 

"It has become clear to the BHS's Trustees, who have been monitoring the preparatory arrangements, that the precautions necessary to guarantee the safety of all those present in the Great Park on the day were either disproportionate, in terms of their high cost, for an event lasting only a few hours, or impossible to deliver with a high degree of confidence.”

The large number of applicant riders and horses of unproven ability meant it would have been necessary to recruit an unprecedentedly high ratio of experienced equestrian safety marshals to participants.  This the Society is unable to be sure of doing at the height of the show season.

Mr Cory added: “Although necessary, this decision is a disappointment to us, given the hard work put in by the Organising Committee, and given our desire to showcase British equestrianism in this, our Diamond Jubilee year.  But better by far to err on the side of caution when adequate safety margins appear not to be achievable than to wait for a rider, horse or spectator to be hurt and then ponder on the actions which might have prevented the accident.

"Clearly we are sorry to disappoint the riders who had been looking forward to taking part.  Naturally we will refund their registration fees in full, and I hope they will get involved in one of the other BHS Diamond Jubilee events that are taking place around Britain."

For further information, please contact: Graham Cory, Chief Executive, 01926 707700, or Oliver Wilson, Director of Communications, The British Horse Society, 07909 874918 or o.wilson@bhs.org.uk

Please see the following link for full details:  BHS Cancels Windsor Cavalcade

BHS Bucks County Committee Annual Meeting

Thursday 4th October 2007 7.30pm start    Great Missenden Memorial Hall, Link Road, Great Missenden

Speakers:  Jim Green & Anton Phillips - from Hampshire Fire & Rescue ServiceThey will speak (and show slides) of the new Rescue Service they have devised for rescuing horses (and other large animals) who may be in danger from fire, traffic accident in a trailer or lorry,  ditch, well ...and much more. This is the new BHS Protocol recently launched by Princes Anne.  Apparently these two speakers are absolutely wonderful to listen to, so please come and support us.

I am writing to you to inform you of a cycling event our club is promoting, on Sunday 10th June 2007, from Ashton Rugby Club, Near Stoke Bruerne, Northants.

The event is a cycling trailquest, which is an orienteering event on bikes, both road and off-road styles.
The area that will be used spans from:

Blisworth in the North-West corner to Horton in the North-East corner,
Pottersbury in the South-West corner and then across to Newport Pagnell in the South-East Corner.

The event HQ opens at 8.00am in the morning and riders will be leaving from 8.45am-10.30am.
The navigation event lasts for 4 hours, and they have 30 locations to visit in NO particular order.

We anticipate 40-80 riders taking part, and they can ride either as solos or pairs, with a maximum group of 6. They will be leaving at their own time between the 2 start window times.

The riders will be using, not only roads but also bridleways, bye-ways and other rights of ways, with private roads and footpaths, out-of-bounds.

We will be putting out road warning signs, in the locality of the hall.

If you can let you local members know, it would be most appreciated.

Yours in sport

Neil Holman
www.catsmbc.com

 

CHARITY

SPONSORED RIDE

In aid of:

 THE BERKSHIRE & BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BHS

&

THE BUCKS ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND 

SATURDAY 28^th APRIL  2007 

AT 

BERKSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, Hall Place, Burchetts Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire

Download Schedule Here

Thurs 17^th April          2007                                                  “TRAINING THE ALL-ROUND HORSE”

A talk given by Ginny Oakley

Most of us own what we like to think of as “an all-round horse or pony”, one on which we hack, does a bit of dressage, show jumping or cross country as well as some showing classes in the summer shows.  But rarely does anyone give us helpful information on how we should train this ‘master or mistress of all’.    Ginny Oakley has kindly offered to give a talk to cover all those unanswered questions and give everyone a guide as to how best to feed, train and look after our all-round equines.  Organised by the BHS Bucks County Committee, this talk is open to everyone.

Refreshments kindly prepared by Aspley Guise Riding Club

Venue: Bow Brickhill Pavillion, Rushmere Close, (off Station Road), Bow Brickhill, nr Milton Keynes

Time:    8.00pm

Cost:                £3.50 BHS/BRC members,  £5.50 all others

Contact:           Jan Eedle-Wells 01494-882041 / 07966-276690

Thurs 15^th March       2007“CARE OF THE OLDER HORSE”

A Talk given by Brigadier Paul Jepson

This talk, given by Brigadier Jepson who runs the Horse Trust (previously known as The Home of Rest for Horses),  covers what you  need to know about caring for your older horses and ponies as they enter or are in their Autumn years.  Organised by the BHS Bucks County Committee, this talk is open to everyone.  Light Refreshments served.  

Venue:             The Barn, The Horse Trust, Slad Lane, Speen, nr Princes Risborough, Bucks HP27 0PP

Time:                7.30pm

Cost:                £3.50  BHS/BRC members,  £5.50  all others

Contact:           Helen Evans  07967 202651 or

            Jan Eedle-Wells 01494 882041 / 07966 276690

Launch of “BREAKING THE STRANGLES HOLD” Research Campaign

The BHS and The Animal Health Trust, supported by other equine charities, recently launched an appeal for £250,000 to aid research into the dreaded horse disease, Strangles (Streptococcus Equi). New advances in science mean that research is vital in discovering more about the disease, and in trying to pinpoint those animals most at risk. However, there are still many unanswered questions. 

If every rider put just 3p into the fund, the money would be raised in a very short time. The aim is to use genomics to find out why some horses are more susceptible than others, and to develop a blood test to identify horses with the disease, and those who are carriers.

 Some Facts

·         The recommended period of quarantine for ALL new horses into a yard is now three weeks.

·         An outbreak may last several weeks from the onset to the last infected horse recovering, epending on the number of horses involved.

·         Horses may be off colour for some days before exhibiting any symptoms.

·         Incubation period is 3 – 14 days.

·         Horses that are carriers may never develop any symptoms at all.

·         It is a misconception that only young horses are at risk as older horses have probably already been exposed to the disease, rather like children and mumps.

·         Strangles kills up to 10% of all affected animals.

·         Early isolation of an infected animal may help stop the spread of Strangles, but effective control requires early and accurate diagnosis, good management and a reliable vaccination programme.

·         Transmission can be from direct horse-to-horse contact, shared transport, housing, water and feeding utensils, tack and other equipment, personnel contact, including the vet.

·         Symptoms include being off colour, loss of appetite, lethargy, runny nose and eyes, sometimes accompanied by a yellow/green thick mucous discharge, breathing difficulties, abscess/swelling anywhere around the jaw line. There is no knowing exactly which of these symptoms a horse may show once he becomes infected.

·         Bastard Strangles is a complication of the disease where an abscess forms in lymph nodes and organs beyond the horse’s head, and is frequently fatal.

·         Antibiotics should only be used in life-threatening cases.

So what should you do if your horse gets Strangles?

·         Isolate him immediately.

·         Call the vet out to confirm the outbreak.

·         If on a yard, stop all horses coming in and going out, especially to shows.

·         Put in place stringent hygiene procedures, and limit the number of people coming into contact with the affected horse to the bare minimum, preferably only one person, who will change clothes and disinfect thoroughly before seeing to any other horse.

·         Allow the infected horse to feed off the floor, as this will help drainage of the guttural pouch, which is where pus usually forms.

·         Bathe and foment abscesses. Vaseline around the nostrils helps stop the mucous from sticking to the hair, and becoming encrusted on the skin.

·         Keep the horse as comfortable as possible, giving him lots of TLC.

·         If he has difficulty swallowing, feed dampened hay, and easy to digest feeds, but remember to cut down the quantity.

·         Allow him plenty of time to recuperate, and re-introduce exercise gently, especially when he has had problems breathing.

·         Some vets recommend flushing out the guttural pouch, with the “wash” being examined for S Equi, to see if the horse is clear.

·         Monitor the health of other horses closely, and stop work with any off colour animal, as a precaution. 

Prevention is Better Than Cure

By following rules of good practice to prevent spread of any virus throughout the horse community, i.e. isolation of new horses, meticulous routine of every horse having its own water and feed bucket, tack and rugs etc. By regular cleaning of field troughs. By continuous monitoring of all animals on the same premises, and by contacting other horse owners and vets to pinpoint an outbreak in your area.

This research campaign is so important. Intervet had a vaccine available on the market, but this was withdrawn due to the high standards Intervet themselves impose on all their products. It is hoped that the vaccine will be re-introduced soon, as it is an important weapon against Strangles.

A blood test would help diagnose the disease, and identify carriers, and this research will go a long way towards reaching the goal of eradicating Strangles once and for all.

If you have any spare funds, think about supporting this valuable research programme, which will improve the welfare of all our horses and ponies.

Donate on line; www.aht.org.uk , or send a cheque to Strangles Appeal, AHT, Freepost CB360, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7BR 

Helen Evans, Welfare.

UPDATE

18 Feb 2007

Following on from the two travellers’ horses that were killed in Winnersh, Reading recently, after being struck by an artic and a transit van that then both collided, another horse was destroyed at the scene of an accident involving a car at Binfield Heath near Henley on Thames , due to horrific injuries. Driver of car was slightly hurt.   Thames Valley Police received 74 calls re loose horses in January, and attended 43 incidents, some where riderless horses had been seen loose. In several cases, horses had already been caught and secured, but police were not informed.  Officers are perfectly entitled to prosecute owners of stray livestock under section 155 of the 1980 Highways Act. Thames Valley Horsewatch states that owners must take responsibility over the safekeeping of their animals and check fences regularly, and ensure that there is adequate fodder and fresh water.

Horsewatch also offers the following advice.  If you fall off when out riding, having a tag on your saddle with “in case of emergency” details will enable anyone finding your horse to return him home. The same goes for you if you are badly hurt or unconscious, helpers will know whom to contact. You should also let someone know where you are going, how long you will be out, and remember to carry your mobile with you, so you can get help if you are in difficulties.

HorseWatch - Thames Valley

MUD FEVER

Spotlight on rider safety at the British Horse Society Safety Conference

The safety of riders, particularly expectant mothers and those who ride alone or work in isolated circumstances, is the focus of the British Horse Society's Biennial Safety Conference.

Taking place on 15 September 2007 at the Coventry Motor Museum, the conference will also look at accident statistics, rural safety and animal rescue including the new Emergency Services Protocol.

The conference will be chaired by Stuart Lovatt, Road Safety Action Plan Coordinator for the Safety Standards and Research department of the Highways Agency.

Other speakers include:

· Dr Ted Adams, registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology,

· Sgt Lesley Taylor, Nottinghamshire Police, mounted section,

· Keith Brothwell, Nottinghamshire Police, personal safety trainer,

· Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services addressing the Emergency Services Protocol and other issues.

Sheila Hardy, BHS Safety Senior Executive, said: "Safety plays an important part in everyday life and it is even more important that riders take responsibility for their safety when others may be affected by their actions.

"The Safety Conference addresses several aspects of equestrian safety from self-defence for the lone rider to the reporting process for an equestrian-related road accident. It promises to be an interesting and varied day that we would urge all riders to support."

There will be a prize draw on the day with excellent prizes including tickets to the Horse of the Year Show and other equestrian events plus top of the range equipment.

Tickets for the day, including lunch and refreshments, cost £30. To book your place, or for further information, please contact the BHS Safety Department on 01926 707745. There are limited places so early booking is recommended. 

For more information, please contact: Sue Appley, BHS Safety Administrator, on 01926 707745 or  <mailto:safety1@bhs.org.uk> safety1@bhs.org.uk