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SRUC invests in new Aberdeen equine centre
The new equine centre will create new opportunities for students to learn practical skills.

New centre to be completed by end of summer

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is working on a new centre for equine skills at its Craibstone campus in Aberdeen, which will provide new opportunities for students to learn practical skills.

The College is investing £310,000 into creating new stables for up to six horses, a ménage, equipment storage and supporting facilities for students at the centre. It will seek planning permission for the work in the next few months.

SRUC expects that most of the centre will be completed by the end of the summer, ahead of the arrival of the first cohort of students on the HNC and HND Equine Studies courses at Craibstone. The ménage is expected to be completed in the autumn.

The new HNC course offers practical experience and teaches students about horse care and riding, while the HND course provides more experience and knowledge of management within the equine industry.

The new equine centre will also supply extra opportunities for students on SRUC's Animal Care course.

Education at the new centre will complement the practical training provided by Aberdeen Riding Club through its partnership with SRUC.

Caroline Argo, dean of SRUC’s North Faculty, said: “Horse husbandry, training and business management skills are in high demand. We’re delighted to be able to offer more opportunities for students to help them enter and flourish within the equine industry.

“We’re looking forward to our role as an integral part of the equine community across the North of Scotland.”

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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.