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New scheme aims to improve rider safety
horse racing
Old hats will be collected and used in research to improve riding hat standards.
Voucher will be given to help with helmet costs

A new initiative is aiming to improve rider safety, by providing a voucher that will help with the cost of buying a new helmet when riders have suffered concussion.

The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) and British Eventing (BE) have teamed up to deliver the Helmet Bounty Scheme.

"Improving rider safety is an integral part of our work and we are tremendously pleased that the scheme - effectively a hat amnesty - will help to drive home the message that hats should always been replaced when they have been involved in an incident," said BETA executive director Claire Williams.

The scheme is aimed at riders that have been diagnosed with concussion while competing at a BE-affiliated event. To be eligible, riders must be diagnosed by an event medical officer during the cross-country phase of the competition. They must also pass on the details of their injury and return their hat to BETA and BE.

In return, riders will receive a £100 voucher towards the cost of a replacement hat.

Commenting on the drive, BE's sports operations manager Chris Farr said: "We are delighted to be working with BETA on this extremely important initiative, which will not only help riders to replace their hats, but those collected will be used by the trade association to conduct further research into improving riding hat standards."

The scheme will be introduced in time for the start of the 2016 eventing season.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.