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Auzoux Horse model restored
Image - fotopedia.com
Teaching aid of historic importance for equine veterinary medicine

The Auzoux Horse, a 75%-scale papier-mache model of a horse created as a teaching aid in 1846, has been restored after an effort of four months by a multidisciplinary team under the coordination of Atelier Marchal-Poncelet at the workshops of the Musée Fragonard in Maisons-Alfort. The restoration was funded by a donation of €50,000 by Pfizer Animal Health.

The anatomically accurate teaching aid was originally commissioned by the French Ministry of War during the reign of King Louis-Philippe I to facilitate the education of military personnel engaged in the care of horses. The model, which has long been a popular attraction at the École nationale vétérinaire d’Alfort (Alfort National Veterinary School) in Paris, stands at 1.58 metres tall, is 1.67 metres long and weighs in at 65kg. Created by the anatomist Louis Auzoux, the model was a revolutionary development in veterinary equine education because it allowed veterinary students to study equine anatomy in considerable detail without the need for dissection.

Commenting, Director of Global Alliance PAH EuAfME Isabelle Dieuzy-Labaye said "This is an historically important veterinary artifact which deserves to be preserved for future generations. Although we spend a great deal of our time looking at future needs and developing innovative animal health solutions for veterinarians, Pfizer Animal Health also appreciates the need to preserve veterinary heritage, so the company was happy to support this particular project."

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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.