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Mary King becomes first Blue Cross equine ambassador
Mary King is "thrilled" to take on her ambassador role at Blue Cross.
Olympic rider to raise awareness of charity’s horse welfare work

Mary King has become the first equine ambassador for Blue Cross.

The charity has two equine welfare centres in Staffordshire and Oxfordshire where mistreated and unwanted horses are rehabilitated and rehomed.

Mary King recently supported the Blue Cross National Equine Welfare Survey and aims to raise the profile of the charity’s equine welfare work.

King, a champion Event rider, has represented Great Britain at six olympics; winning team silver in 2004 and 2012, and team bronze in 2008. In addition, King has won the Badminton horse trials twice, team gold at two world equestrian games, and four team golds at the European eventing championships.

King has also ridden a rehabilitated Blue Cross horse, ‘Sheridan’, around the renowned course at Badminton horse trials, albeit not over any cross country jumps.

Commenting on her new ambassador position, King said: “I am truly thrilled to take on the role of equine ambassador for Blue Cross. I have immense respect for their welfare and rehoming work and hope that I will be able to help raise their profile in many ways.”

Blue Cross are currently running their Christmas Dinner Project which aims to provide animals in their care with a hearty Christmas dinner. To donate £1 to help fill a food bowl, please visit this link.

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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.