Latest News
18th February 2010
Horse owners are being encouraged to keep their animals and equipment safe following a spate of thefts in the county.
Last month, thieves targeted a livery stables near Aylsham.
They took seven saddles and a bridle worth £4,000 to £5,000 from Brampton Stables between midnight on Saturday January 23 and 3am on Sunday January 24.
Saddles and horse tack equipment, some worth thousands of pounds, have been stolen from various locations in the Broadland area.
Police urged people to follow some simple rules to avoid becoming another victim of the thefts.
Horse owners should:
Take colour photographs of their horses in summer and winter, recording any special marks; keep their horse's passport in a secure place; have horses and tack equipment permanently marked; check animals at least twice a day; do not leave head collars or lead ropes dangling over gates; do not draw attention to tack room entrances; use padlocks on doors and gates; and keep trailers in well-lit areas with a wheel lock.
BHS warning to Horse owners after EIA detected
Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) has been detected in two horses in Wiltshire following importation from Romania via Belgium, Defra confirmed on Tuesday 19 January 2010.
The premises is currently under restriction and the two infected horses have been humanely destroyed in line with existing regulations. The other horses on the premises are subject to epidemiological investigation.
EIA has not been imported into Great Britain since 1976, so the news will be a shock to the horse industry. However, the BHS is advising horse owners that there is no need to be overly concerned by this news.
Furthermore, EIA is spread by biting insects rather than horse to horse contact, so the recent weather will have improved the chances of containment. Few biting insects will have survived the cold snap meaning that transmission.
Romania, where EIA is endemic, is one of the largest exporters of horses for slaughter in Europe. Our friends over at World Horse Welfare has raised concerns with the authorities in the UK, Brussels, Romania and other Member States many times over the last 6 to 7 years. If this disease spreads across the UK it could have catastrophic effects on our horse population. Disease does not discriminate, whether it's a child's pony or Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.
World Horse Welfare has worked in Romania since 2004 and has expertise about the key horse welfare issues within the country.
World Horse Welfare undertakes ongoing field, scientific and statistical research to collect evidence of poor health and welfare in horses being transported long distances under substandard conditions to slaughter. This includes the movement of horses from Romania, about which World Horse Welfare has raised a number of concerns.
World Horse Welfare is campaigning to end long distance transport of horses to slaughter in Europe (Romania is the second largest exporter of horses for slaughter in Europe)
Please visit World Horse Welfare's website to see how you can help.
World Horse Welfare Website10th January 2010
The team at Horsesport would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to Nikki and her family on the death of her father.
When the heart weeps for what it has lost,the soul laughs for what it has found.
We hope, that with the passing of time, your pain turns to fond memories and smiles
.
5th December 2009
WARNING- HORSE THEFTS IN SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
Police and Animal Welfare groups are warning Horse and Pony owners in the South West of the UK to be aware if they find one of their animals has a mysterious plait appear on their mane.
Travelling horse thieves are entering fields and leaving a small plait on the manes of horses and ponies that they are targeting to steal later. The plait makes it easier for them to 'feel' the right Horse or Pony at night and to ensure they get the right one.
There have already been a number of thefts in Hampshire and Oxfordshire with other reports in Dorset and Somerset.
A recent incident near Blandford in Dorset involved a yearling Shetland pony being earmarked for theft.
Owners returned from a horse show to find the pony cowering in the corner of a field.
On closer inspection they discovered that its mane had been plaited.
Police believe thieves are plaiting mains during daytime visits so the "tagged" animals are easier to identify by touch when they return after dark. The plait also provides a grab handle when thieves strike.
Police are appealing for anybody with information relating any recent theft or attempted theft to get in touch.
If you find a plait on one of your horses, call your local Police straight away and be extra vigilant.
We will update this news as and when we hear more.
25th November 2009
Horsesport announces their sponsorship of talented young show jumper
We are proud to announce we have finalised the sponsorship of rising star Hannah Vincent, - one of Norfolk’s most exciting young talents for British Show Jumping..
- Twice team gold winner for Norfolk and Suffolk BSJA Junior Academy
- Three times a winner on three different horses for Hannah at The Regional Central East Open Championship Show July 2009
- Winner of the PRB Horsebox Winter Championships at Blue Chip Finals
- National Sport Achiever Award in 2009
Hannah Vincent has been in the saddle since she was a toddler.
The youngster, who is 16, was just 20 months old when she appeared on the front page of the Eastern Daily Press in August 1995.
At an age when many youngsters were still finding their feet, little Hannah was pictured already at home in the saddle at the Willow End equestrian centre at Pulham St Mary, near Diss, which was then run by her mother Sue.
At that time the toddler could barely speak but she was doing things on a pony that other youngsters aged five or six were struggling to achieve.
Perfectly balanced, she was able to coax her favourite pony Tommy into a trot, and her sensational skills led to more articles and photos in the Daily Mail and the Daily Express in September 1995, and even in the international press in Cologne.
She said: “My life's goal is to compete as a show jumper at the Olympics, maybe in 2016. I'd be too young for the London Olympics.
“Later this year, as a 16-year-old, I will have to give up riding ponies and instead ride horses. However, I have already started riding horses and have a stallion Ranchwood Banana Split and a youngster called Jabberwocky."
“I love what I'm doing and I would never give it up. I really enjoy it. Some of my friends have given it up but I would not know what to do if I did.”
Now a City College Norwich student, she won the Junior 80cm of the BSJA/Absolute Horse Intro League in November last year and earlier in the year won the Dengie Winter League Area Championship.
She is a keen member of the Norfolk Show Jumping Club and is into her third full year of affiliated show jumping.
We wish Hannah all the best as she competes at in the National Amateur & Veterans Championships in Aintree.
We look forward to working with and watching Hannah grow into a true professional rider of which she is very capable.
15th November
Fox hunting with dogs has now been banned for almost 5 years and many are saying that nothing has changed
With this ban, the question is, has the suffering been stopped or reduced.? If the answer is “No”, there can be no conceivable justification for retaining a ban, according to the MFHA.
A ban on hunting has not reduced the number of foxes killed and, in some areas, has resulted in an increase in the number killed by alternative less acceptable means. As Lord Burns said in the debate in the House of Lords on the 12th March 2001 “If hunting was subject to a ban, I have little doubt that at least an equivalent number of foxes, deer and hares would be killed by other methods. The number of deaths is not likely to be reduced by banning” (col: 532). Death itself is not a welfare issue but the manner of death may be. As Lord Burns recognised (para 6.59) “None of the legal methods is without difficulty from an animal welfare perspective”.
The effectiveness of control, and particularly management, should be judged on maintaining sustainable population levels of foxes that are acceptable to human interests (primarily livestock farmers) and the overall balance of other wildlife. Effectiveness should not be judged merely on the numbers killed.
So given the need for control and management of populations of foxes and recognition that death will inevitably occur, the issue is not whether they should be controlled but how. To gauge the welfare effect and management consequences of banning hunting it is necessary to look at the alternative methods of control. However, the MFHA recognises that no single method is adequate or suitable for all circumstances. Indeed, a combination of methods is often a requirement.
So,the problem seems to still be that people are hunting foxes but now are using traps and guns rather than Horses and Dogs. If the ban has not reduced this problem, should the Government look to removing the ban and setting inplace a more widely placed 'controlled culling' animal management.
According to the IFAW, some Hunts are still flouting the ban.IFAW has a number of specific concerns that are currently being pursued with the enforcement authorities. Too many hunts are claiming 'accidental' kills of foxes while trail hunting, a form of hunting in which the scent of a dead fox or fox urine is used to lay a route for the dogs.Acording to the IFAW website, 'out-of-control dogs have also chased and attacked pets and livestock and even invaded homes and gardens. This would not happen if hunts were to adopt drag hunting, in which an artificial (ie. non-fox) scent is followed.'
'Regrettably', the IFAW state, 'it seems that some hunters have replaced the thrill of the chase with the thrill of trying to get round the law. As convictions for illegal hunting mount it will be interesting to see how long the thrill will last'.
So 5 years on, it seems that Hunts have survived and the rural pursuit loved by many an equestrian and country dweller has continued albeit it a different form
14th November
Exciting news from Horsesport
We will have some great news about a sponsorship deal we have been working on recently
Keen to promote grassroots equestrian events and riders, we have found a true potential Olympic quality young rider
We look forward to being able to share more details with you once we have finalised details, hopefully by the end of this week
We will update this page along with our Facebook, Twitter, Digg and Delicious web-blogs with more details as and when we have them. Keep visiting to find out more.
12th October
Government plan to tax Horses.
The Government department DEFRA, is looking to set up an independent body of animal health and industry experts to take decisions on animal health issues — for example on future outbreaks of diseases from foot-and-mouth to African horse sickness (AHS).
If the scheme goes ahead, it would start in 2012 and, if horses are included, estimates are that each animal would cost their owner about £10.50 per year. This cost would be on top of current passport costs and would contribute towards dealing with exotic diseases.
Although in its early stages, it is imperative that Horse owners join together and sign the petition to show a united front against rising costs associated with our hobby and sport. Lend your support by signing the official petition online at the following Number 10 website.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Horse-Rethink/
Thank you...Nikki.
12th August 2009
New Competition - Win a pair of tickets The London International Horse Show 15th - 21st December 2009.
One lucky registered member of Horsesport will win two tickets to one day at this prestigious event.
In 1907, the First Royal International Horse Show took place in The Grand Hall Olympia. In 2007 they celebrated the centenary of that great event at Olympia.
With thrilling competitions, breathtaking displays and wonderful entertainment, The London International Horse Show is a great day out for the whole family.
Whether you're horse-mad or just fancy seeing something a little different in London this Christmas, there's something for everyone at Olympia.
From elegant dressage set to modern music, to the exciting Shetland Pony Grand National, and Dog Agility Stakes, the packed programme will have you glued to your seat!
If you have a story or campaign that you feel we would be interested in, please let us know.
Thank you.
Nikki