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FEI commission launches welfare proposals survey
The survey is open until Thursday, 22 June 2023.
Equestrian stakeholders invited to share their views.

The International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI’s) Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission (EEWBC) is seeking the views of equestrian stakeholders as it launches a new survey on the welfare recommendations it made earlier this year.

The 24 recommendations were presented at the FEI Sports Forum 2023 in April, setting out ways to safeguard equine welfare and maintain public support at a time when concerns about the involvement of horses in sport have become more prominent.

Those wishing to fill in the survey, which can be completed online, have until Thursday, 22 June 2023. The results will be used to inform the work of the commission.

The EEWBC was launched in June 2022 to independently consider welfare concerns that could have an impact on the social acceptance of equine sport. Its recommendations include ensuring that the horse’s interests are always placed before those of the human or sport and a zero-tolerance approach to any practice that compromises equine welfare and safety both during and outside competition.

EEWBC chair Professor Natalie Waran said: “We were delighted with the extremely positive response to our recommendations made at April’s Sports Forum. The equestrian community understood that we can only demonstrate how seriously we take the responsibility of involving horses in sport with top-to-bottom engagement across the equestrian community, and a desire to act in the best interests of the horse.

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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.