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World Horse Welfare webinars return with arthritis session
A series of expert-led horse welfare webinars will run every Wednesday from November- March.
The webinars will run every Wednesday this winter.

World Horse Welfare’s Welfare Wednesday Webinars are set to return from November, with expert-led sessions on different aspects of horse welfare.

The first session, on 1 November, will be presented by equine diagnostic imaging expert Dr Merry Smith, and will discuss how arthritic changes can be managed in ridden horses.

The webinar, hosted on Zoom, will explore how arthritic changes commonly affect ridden horses and the potential causes of this affliction. It also addresses the ways that horse owners can minimise the risks of arthritis in their horse, and effectively manage the condition if it develops.

As well as affecting older horses, World Horse Welfare says it is also being seen in younger horses.

The session will conclude with a live Q&A with Dr Smith, where the audience will be invited to ask any questions on the topic.

Dr Merry Smith has studied specialised surgical training in both the USA and UK, as well as completing her PhD on equine diagnostic imaging. In 2013, Dr Smith set up her own independent equine teleradiology service and now works as a freelance equine diagnostic imaging and surgery consultant.

Dr Smith’s session on arthritis launches a series of horse welfare webinars which will run every Wednesday from November- March. Other expert-led sessions will include nutrition, sleep, training methods and managing ulcers.

The Welfare Wednesday Webinar series was first offered in 2020 as a way to bridge the gap between current research, experts and horse owners. The sessions include accessible, practical advice and guidance which is suitable for everyone, from new horse-owners to industry professionals.

All of World Horse Welfare’s previous webinars, including topics such as horse fitness, mental wellbeing, biosecurity and euthanasia, are available on their website.

This year’s webinars are free to attend via Zoom, where viewers can partake in various polls, ask questions and enjoy an interactive experience. They will also be available on Facebook Live.

Dr Smith’s webinar, Managing arthritis changes in ridden horses will take place from 7pm on 1 November. To register for free, follow this link.

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VMG president joins House of Lords

News Story 1
 Miles Russell, president of the Veterinary Management Group (VMG), has been elected to the House of Lords as a crossbench hereditary peer.

He will join Lord Trees as a representative of the veterinary sector in the second chamber of the UK parliament.

Lord Russell said: "Those of us working in the animal health and veterinary sectors are only too aware of the importance of the work we do and the challenges we face.

"I will use my platform in the House of Lords to increase understanding of our sectors and to promote positive change." 

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News Shorts
Sixth case of bluetongue confirmed

A sixth case of bluetongue virus serotype 3 has been confirmed in the UK.

The case was detected in an animal on a premises linked to one of the farms within the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) currently in place near Canterbury, Kent.

In response, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has extended the TCZ. Investigations into the spread of the disease are ongoing.

The cases in Kent come at a time when a new strain of the virus has spread rapidly across farms in the Netherlands. Both the Government and the British Veterinary Association have urged livestock keepers to remain vigilant.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease and suspected cases must be reported immediately on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, possible cases should be reported to the local field services office.