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Support service launched for horse owners
Field officers from the charity are able to making in-person visits to offer support and advice.
Charity hopes new service will prevent serious welfare cases developing.

World Horse Welfare has launched a new support service to make it easier for owners struggling to care for their horses to ask for help.

The service, Help for Horse Owners, will provide advice and support to owners who are finding it difficult to look after their horse due to issues such as financial challenges, ill health, or a change in personal circumstances.

A support call can be requested to talk through issues and possible solutions, or a field officer can make in-person visits to assess the situation and provide practical advice.

There is also a resources hub available to signpost people to other organisations that can offer help with the issues that owners may be facing.

The charity hopes that by providing early support, it can help keep animals and owners together and prevent serious welfare issues from arising.

As well as owners being able to contact the service when they feel they need help, friends, family, and people providing care for horses will also be able to contact the charity to ask for help for someone.

Sam Chubbock, head of UK support at World Horse Welfare, said: “Horse owners and their families often approach us for help when their circumstances have changed, meaning they are struggling to provide the necessary care. However, we also understand how difficult it can be to ask for help - which is why we have developed our Help for Horse Owners support service.

“Our focus is on trying to keep families and their animals together when this is the best option for them in the longer term. We do this in a variety of ways, including helping horse owners to change their management practices or signposting them to other areas of support they might not know about.”

Image © World Horse Welfare

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Zoetis apologises for EVA vaccine shortage

News Story 1
 Zoetis UK has apologised for a supply shortage of Equip Artervac, caused by a manufacturing issue.

It is expected to become available in June 2025.

Equip Artervac is used for the active immunisation for horses against equine viral arteritis (EVA) to reduce the clinical signs and shedding of the virus.

For more information, contact a Zoetis account manager or Zoetis Head Office on 0345 300 8034. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue restricted zone extended

Following the discovery of a new case of bluetongue virus serotype 3 on the Buckinghamshire/Northamptonshire border, the restricted zone has been extended to include all of Northamptonshire.

The zone now covers Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, part of Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, part of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Susceptible animals in the restricted zone should only be moved if it is essential. A specific licence is needed to move a susceptible animal from within the restricted zone to outside of the zone.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.