Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Cover star needed for NEF24 programme
The contest is open for amateur photographers to submit a picture of their own horse, pony, donkey or mule or one they have permission to photograph.

NEF searching for photogenic horses, ponies, donkeys or mules.

The National Equine Forum (NEF) has opened its 2024 competition to find a cover star for its programme.

The contest is open for amateur equine photographers to submit a picture of their own horse, pony, donkey or mule, or one they have permission to photograph.

The winning image will feature on the cover of the programme for the 32nd National Equine Forum, taking place on Thursday, 7 March 2024, as well as in other contexts. The photographer will also be awarded either one ticket to National Equine Forum 2024 or a luxury hamper.

The 2024 winner will succeed NEF23 winner Ziggy the miniature donkey and Claire Evans Watkin.

The submitted image should be of a horse, pony, donkey or mule (singular or multiple), or a headshot or other anatomical area. It can feature the horse’s environment in the background, but should not include an image of an identifiable person.

On request, submitted images and details can be passed to the British Equine Trade Association (BETA) 2024 calendar competition. From the winning entries, one image will be judged Best in Show and awarded a luxury hamper.

NEF honorary publicity officer Sarah Shephard said: “We introduced our cover star photography competition last year and it was a big hit, with some stunning images submitted,

“We are excited about running it again this year and are looking for appealing, creative, and innovative photographs of members of your equine family to give the cover of our next programme a real wow factor. NEF is all about being ‘by the equestrian world, for the equestrian world’ and this competition is a great way to actively involve more people, in the build-up to our 2024 event.”

The deadline for entries is Friday, 22 September 2023, and entrants must submit a form confirming they are over 18 years old and that the image meets the specifications.

Entries to the cover photo competition can be submitted here. For details about the calendar competition, follow this link.

Image (C) Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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.