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Motorbiking vets raise thousands for Ukraine
The group regularly travel miles on their motorbikes to provide CPD lectures while raising funds for charity.

Vets with Horsepower helped BEVA reach their £20,000 target.

Vets with Horsepower, a charity group of equine vets with a passion for motorbiking, have helped the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) reach their £20,000 target to help veterinary surgeons in Ukraine.

The group raised £9,922 by travelling 1,600 miles from Northern Germany, across Scandinavia and back to the UK. They provided educational events for equine veterinary surgeons along the way.

Vets with Horsepower was first organised by Professor Derek Knottenbelt after he won a Harley Davidson motorbike in a raffle. Professor Knottenbelt decided to learn to ride the bike and, after discovering a passion for it, brought together other equine veterinary surgeons with a love of motorbiking to form the charitable group.

The group now regularly travel miles on their motorbikes to provide CPD lectures to equine veterinary surgeons, while simultaneously raising funds for various charities. They were awarded the Point of Light award by former Prime Minister Theresa May when she was in office.

Their latest fundraiser contributed towards BEVA’s Power for Ukraine initiative, which will help buy power generators for veterinary surgeons working in war-ravaged conditions in Ukraine. The generators will be transported to Poland, and will reach Ukraine in time for the winter.

BEVA Council member Alison Talbot said: “BEVA’s Power for Ukraine initiative is part of British Equestrians for Ukraine.

“Thanks to the generosity of equine vets in the UK we had just hit the halfway mark of raising £10,000, before Vets with Horsepower set off on their epic Scandinavian mission. We are so grateful for their donation of £9,922 which means we can now buy another five generators, to help twice as many vets and horses in extremely difficult circumstances during enforced power cuts.

“Thank you so much to Vets with Horsepower and to everyone who has donated to Power to Ukraine since we launched the campaign in February. I am proud to be a member of such a caring, brave and determined profession where we are able to come together to help colleagues and horses in need.”

To donate to BEVA Trust Power To Ukraine appeal, visit their JustGiving page.

Image (C) BEVA

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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...
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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.