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World Horse Welfare urges vets to support campaign
Transportation campaign needs signatures

World Horse Welfare (WHW) is urging vets to add their names to an open letter that is being sent to the EU commissioner, to call for an end to long-distance live horse transportation.

Veterinary nurses and students are also encouraged to sign the document.

WHW and its veterinary advisors are acting as part of their campaign against the transportation of 65,000 horses for slaughter in Europe every year. The charity is asking the commissioner to propose an amendment to EU transport rules, in light of evidence it has collected, along with recommendations by the European Food Safety Authority and scientific advisors.

If the campaign is successful, it could see the introduction of a maximum journey time of 12 hours for live horses.



Roly Owers, WHW chief executive, said: "Despite recognising severe welfare problems persist and being presented with clear evidence showing how these horses are suffering, changes to legislation have not been proposed by the commission. I therefore urge my veterinary colleagues to sign the letter requesting that the commission make good on its commitment to policies informed by scientific evidence and introduce a short, maximum journey limit."



Click here to add your name to the letter.

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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.