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Donkeys provide wellbeing to equine welfare officers
The event supported officers with their self-awareness, managing their emotions and communication.
The session rewarded workers from several equine charities.

Donkeys have been part of a wellbeing session, organised to support equine welfare officers from major equine charities.

The session invited officers from RSPCA, the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, the Hugs Foundation and the Donkey Sanctuary for a day to connect and build relationships with colleagues in similar roles.

The officers visited the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, where they were also able to interact with and spend quality time with the resident donkeys. The officers were put into three groups, which were rotated through different opportunities to connect with each other and with the sanctuary’s donkeys.

One mindfulness session offered them the chance to spend time with and groom the donkeys. Another saw the welfare officers create enrichment treats for the donkey herd.

The third activity was a donkey-facilitated learning session. Participants brought in an object which represented how they felt about their work life, and discussed it in the presence of the donkeys.

The group then observed how the donkeys mirrored their emotions when they were telling their stories.

The event was organised to help the officers with their self-awareness, managing their emotions and communication. This could help them with staying calm and grounded during stressful situations.

As well as improving the officers’ wellbeing, the Donkey Sanctuary says this will also make them more comfortable for equines to be around. Particularly for more anxious donkeys, having officers who are calm will make it easier for them to build trust and bond with people.

Jenna Goldby, the senior donkey welfare adviser who organised the event, said: “These days not only offer some emotional support, but also allow colleagues to network and form bonds and solid working relationships which they can take back to the field.

“It also gave an opportunity for those field officers that don’t deal with donkeys daily to ask questions and have some hands-on experience with these very special animals.”

Image © Shutterstock

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BEVA gives RVNs right to vote

News Story 1
 The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is to allow its registered veterinary nurse (RVN) members the right to vote.

RVN members will now be able to take part in key decision-making processes and stand for BEVA council.

Marie Rippingale, chair of BEVA's Nurse Committee, said: "I am very proud to be a part of BEVA.

"This change will help to empower nurses to speak up and contribute, but more importantly, it will give them an opportunity to collaborate with other members of the equine veterinary profession to bring about change that is positive for all." 

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News Shorts
Farmer survey to reveal on-farm impact of bluetongue

A nationwide survey has been launched to better understand how the bluetongue virus is affecting UK farms.

Results will inform the support that farmers receive for bluetongue, as well as preparing the livestock industry for the future.

The short online survey is open to all livestock farmers, regardless of whether they've had a confirmed case of bluetongue on their farm. It asks how many animals have been affected, the severity of their clinical signs and how it has impacted farm business.

The survey takes five minutes to complete and is fully anonymous.

It is led by Fiona Lovatt, of Flock Health Limited, and the Ruminant Health & Welfare bluetongue working group, in collaboration with AHDB and the University of Nottingham.

Dr Lovatt says: "We need to find out what level of clinical signs farmers are seeing in their animals, whether they are experiencing mortality with BTV-3 cases, and what their appetite is to vaccinate in future for bluetongue serotype 3."

The survey can be found here.