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Healthcare project helps hundreds of horses
The team provided and administered wormers and ran a castration service to help reduce unwanted breeding.
Volunteer vets improve welfare across the UK 

More than 500 horses across the UK have received help thanks to an equine healthcare and castration project organised by the British Horse Society (BHS).

Bringing together equine vets, charities and animal health organisations, the project sought to help horses recognised by welfare officers as needing support.

For the past two years, the team has been attending special clinics across the UK in areas identified as having high numbers of horses that might benefit from additional care.

The team provided and administered wormers and ran a castration service to help reduce unwanted breeding. They also gave horses microchips and passports to help with identification and traceability.

Zoetis UK, who provided worming advice, said that the sessions have been instrumental in improving relationships with horse owning communities, giving them an approachable source of practical veterinary care and advice.

“We are very proud to support these very worthwhile and well-organised clinics,” commented equine product manager Penny McCann.

“Several different members of our equine team have attended over the past couple of years and have really enjoyed volunteering their time and knowledge to help make a real difference.”

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

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News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.