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Mary King becomes first Blue Cross equine ambassador
Mary King is "thrilled" to take on her ambassador role at Blue Cross.
Olympic rider to raise awareness of charity’s horse welfare work

Mary King has become the first equine ambassador for Blue Cross.

The charity has two equine welfare centres in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire where mistreated and unwanted horses are rehabilitated and rehomed.

Mary King recently supported the Blue Cross National Equine Welfare Survey and aims to raise the profile of the charity’s equine welfare work.

King, a champion Event rider, has represented Great Britain at six olympics; winning team silver in 2004 and 2012, and team bronze in 2008. In addition, King has won the Badminton horse trials twice, team gold at two world equestrian games, and four team golds at the European eventing championships.

King has also ridden a rehabilitated Blue Cross horse, ‘Sheridan’, around the renowned course at Badminton horse trials, albeit not over any cross country jumps.

Commenting on her new ambassador position, King said: “I am truly thrilled to take on the role of equine ambassador for Blue Cross. I have immense respect for their welfare and rehoming work and hope that I will be able to help raise their profile in many ways.”

Blue Cross are currently running their Christmas Dinner Project which aims to provide animals in their care with a hearty Christmas dinner. To donate £1 to help fill a food bowl, please visit this link.

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.