Horse Sense

The British Horse Society criticises removal of equine vocational studies

The British Horse Society (BHS) and the sector’s awarding body, Equestrian Qualifications Ltd (EQL), today criticised the Government’s intention to remove equine vocational qualifications from GCSE school league tables.

Chief Executive Graham Cory said:  “Whereas it makes for a headline-grabbing performance on the stump to denigrate vocational studies, the combination of entry-level animal science with the practical elements of horse husbandry in the equine vocational courses provide a challenge, the rigour of which can stand comparison with the majority of GSCEs.

“None will deny that it is vital for young people to leave school with sound basic skills, but nor will many assert that everyone is suited to wholly cerebral studies.  Moreover, fostering the interests of this group while they also tackle subjects which have no practical element will often help keep them engaged at school.

“No-one takes equine vocational courses because they will help a school rise up the league table; they take them because they have a passion for the subject and a desire to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to help them in their chosen career path.”

The BHS point out that these Diploma qualifications are valued by employers where practical skills backed by a sound knowledge of relevant theory are vital.  Young people can, through the Diplomas, work towards BHS qualifications which are recognised by Ofqual and which carry UCAS points, demonstrating that they possess the necessary rigour and quality assurance.

The BHS has written to the Department for Education asking ministers to reconsider a decision which has significant implications for the £4bn horse industry, particularly training centres and their staff.

Horse Collage

Take a look at the detail going into this horse collage by Carol A. Watson who said,

"Loving working on the details of the mane on this current collage piece. The horse is one of the lucky ones at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in Hot Springs South Dakota, an awesome refuge for horses and a place where breath-taking land is being preserved."

Found via facebook

 

27 year old horse with neglected hooves 50cms long has to be destroyed

“The case is unprecedented. No veterinarian has ever seen anything like it before. There's nothing like it described in any of the literature. It's a case of the most severe animal cruelty.”

Five horses from a Swedish farm near Solleftea had to be destroyed after police investigated a report of possible neglect. Charlie was 27 years old, skin and bone and unable to move due to the overgrown hooves which had not been tended to in years.

The farmer now faces charges of animal  cruelty and violation of the animal welfare act according to the county administrative board.

Another demon then...

Source: The Local

Angels and Demons in the horse rescue "business"

We'll start with the "Demons" bit, then we can end on a good note:

"I killed every one of those f---ing horses, over 120 of them, if only they knew. I only have five left and the ones you have. Every one of them is dead.

"I don't even know their names and there wasn't a goddamn thing they could do about it because they gave me those horses." Kelsey Elva Lefever

Kelsey Elva Lefever offered rehoming and rehabilitation for horses who she then sold for slaughter. She now stands accused of five counts - one of deceptive business practices and four counts of theft by deception over the sale of four horses that saw them transported to a Canadian abattoir.

Three of the counts are felonies.

Kelsey Elva Lefever was caught when Sonja Wilhelmina Meadows of Animal’s Angels copied the lip tattoos of horses destined for slaughter. One of those horses was Beau Jacques a retired 5 year old Thoroughbred racehorse.

Beau Jacques owner Kevin Patterson had already spent $1000 on vet bills for Beau Jacques before he gave him to Kelsey Elva Lefever for rehoming along with an $200 and 10 bags of horse feed.

"Patterson told Lefever that if she ever needed more money to help care for Beau Jacques while she sought a new home for him, he would be willing to give her whatever she needed and that he thought what she was doing for the horses was terrific," Trooper Colleen Shelly, of the Pennsylvania State Police Department.

When Patterson was told that Beau Jacques had gone to slaughter he contacted the police. Kelsey Elva Lefever 's preliminary hearing is set for February 6.

Angels:

Fleet of Angels operates a database of ordinary  people all over North America who are willing to do their parts to get as many at-risk American and Canadian equines into safe homes as possible by offering transport. By joining forces, concerned citizens are able to organize lifesaving local transports - and in some cases even coordinate cross-country relays, through Fleet of Angels directory of 'angels' to move at-risk horses from danger to safety without much expense to any one person.

One willing participant may literally be the angel that saves a horse’'s life.

That's what the horse world needs - more angels.

 

There are not enough sanctuary's to take in all the horses in need

"The need for horse rescue organizations continues. In today's economy horses are in trouble everywhere. There are not enough sanctuary's to take in all the horses in need. Only the horse loving community can make a difference."

The Animali Farm

Fire Safety for Stables / Barns - Newsletter

This month's newsletter offers a a few suggestions for fire prevention, to receive our monthly Horse Care Newsletter straight to you inbox simply send us a quick email using Newsletter as the subject. We will only ever send you our newsletters, we won't spam you and we won't share your email with anyone else and you can unsubscribe at any time.

January Newsletter

Hello,

Following the horrendous news of yet more horses perishing in barn fires FIRE SAFETY seems a particularly pertinent subject for January’s Horse Care Newletter. So here are a few suggestions for fire prevention and emergency management:

The NO SMOKING rule around stables should be strictly adhered to by everyone, no exceptions. Post NO SMOKING signs where they are easily visible and make sure everyone complies.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS should be checked annually and recharged by a professional, everyone should be trained on how to use a fire extinguisher. It’s recommended that fire extinguishers should be placed by the electrical box and at 30 / 40 foot intervals around the yard / barn. Fire extinguishers should be next to each barn exit.

WATER in the event of a fire an external water supply is essential for fire fighters make sure you have one.

ELECTRICS – all electrics, wiring, lighting etc should be installed and checked by a professional electrician. Any electrical equipment eg. Clippers etc should be unplugged after use and stored safely.

HAY & STRAW – should be stored away from the stables / barn. Particular attention is required for the storage of newly cut hay which can reach temperatures of 150 degrees or higher.

TIDYNESS – Regular cleaning will prevent a build up of combustibles such as hay, cobwebs etc thus helping to prevent the spread of fire. Baling twine should be removed from the vicinity of stables / barns and stored elsewhere or safely disposed of.

DOORS – should always be accessible and kept unblocked even those that are not in use, check that they open freely and easily.

TRACTORS – tractors, machinery, fuel etc should be stored well away from the stable / barn area.

FIRE DRILL – have a plan and make sure that everyone on the yard knows what to do in the event of fire.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS – should be attached to the wall by the stable telephone.

ADDRESS – Along with emergency telephone numbers make sure that the stables / barns full physical address is kept by the telephone along with any special directions for drivers if applicable.

HEAD COLLARS – Every horse should have a head collar and lead rope hanging on the stable door so they can be led to safety if the stables / barn need to be evacuated.

EVACUATION – Designate a securely fenced paddock away from the stables / barn where the horses can be safely kept in the event of fire.

Remove horses closest to the exits first.

Lead one horse at a time.

Lead horses to the “safe area” making sure they are safely secured before releasing.

Maintain human safety at all times.

The above are just a few suggestions that will help to make your stable yard / barn a safer place but they are not fully comprehensive and professional advice from a fire safety expert is highly recommended in planning your fire safety plan.

Fly Grazing ponies legally seized and sent to equine rescue centres

More than 60 horses that were "fly grazing" near Cardiff Airport have been taken away and rehomed.

Vale of Glamorgan council said it had seized the animals which had been dumped there by their owner.

It said an animal charity had helped it rehome the animals at sanctuaries in Lincolnshire, Bristol and Devon.

Earlier this month, 40 Welsh Gypsy Cobs which had been dumped at a wood near Wick were moved after it emerged they faced being seized and destroyed.

The local authority said on Thursday that it had launched a large-scale operation to deal with horse left on land it owned near the airport at Rhoose.

Rehoming horses

It said that, as the landowner, the council had been left to foot the bill for their care and welfare.

Under the Animals Act 1971, a landowner can issue a 14-day notice for the owner of animals left on its land to claim them, after which the landowner becomes the legal owner.

After gaining possession of the horses, the council said it had the help of Norfolk-based charity Redwings to round up the horses last Friday and find them new homes.

Redwings has taken 23 horses, 30 were taken in by Bransby Home of Rest for Horses in Lincolnshire and 10 were rehomed at HorseWorld in Bristol.

BBC New South East Wales

The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon provided help with transportation, the council said.

A spokesperson said: "The activity of horse dumping or fly grazing will not be tolerated within the Vale of Glamorgan.

"We will continue to protect animals, to ensure they receive the care they require and deserve."

Free vote on Hunting Act repeal when there is time in the Parliamentary Calendar

On 15th January in a BBC Country File interview UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, confirmed that there should be a free vote  in the House of Commons on repealing the Hunting Act:

“I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons. My problem has always been that it was just taking the criminal law into an area of activity where it didn’t really belong.”

He also stated that the Hunting Act was a “pretty bizarre piece of legislation”.

Le Prix d'Amérique Marionnaud 2011, un condensé d'émotion

 

Beautiful video of trotters being prepared for and racing in Le Prix d'Amerique Marionnaud.

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows - Can't you ride?

 

"Dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle"

Very funny trailer for the new Robert Downey Jnr Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows, watch it all the way through to the end