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Guidance on the movement of horses to the EU in a No-deal Brexit scenario

Please see attached a press release issued by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) outlining guidance on the movement of horses to the EU in a No-deal Brexit scenario. 

The press release reflects the Thoroughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group update issued on 1 February and also, importantly, reiterates that the UK Government will continue to use existing systems for the import of horses in a No Deal scenario – a measure which we fully support. 

This is part of a co-ordinated communication, which BHA has been working with Defra on alongside the wider equine sector, to ensure that participants are aware of the preparations they need to make in the event of a No Deal Brexit for equine movement to EU countries.  

The BHA webpage on Brexit – https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/brexit/ – has been updated to reflect the latest guidance, including FAQs, and they will be utilising Defra collateral (an example of which is below) to communicate to participants through social media channels.

 

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EHOA Events International Membership Owners Uncategorized

BRITISH EVENTING VACCINATION UPDATE

BRITISH EVENTING VACCINATION UPDATE

Following a further review of our policy regarding vaccinations, British Eventing is implementing an updated vaccination policy across all BE fixtures.

The changes to vaccination requirements will be effective from 1 March 2019 until further notice, it will be continually monitored and reviewed based on the current Equine Flu status and advice from industry experts, including veterinarians.

The new vaccination policy will be enforced at all BE fixtures and will be effective from 1 March to ensure that organisers, officials, riders, owners or person responsible, have a clear set of rules to follow without variation between venues and events.

We thank all members for their cooperation with the new rules and remind all competitors to please make sure that all horses’ passports are available for checking when collecting numbers.

We would also draw your attention to Rule 10.2.4. No relevant injection may have been given on the day of competition. This means that injections can be given in the week running up to an event and therefore a seven day window is not necessary under BE rules.

Changes to the BE Rules and Members’ Handbook can be seen below in bold:

10.1 Passports

A valid passport and vaccination record

  • Must accompany the Horse to all Events,
  • Must be available for inspection on collection of numbers,
  • Must be produced on request at any other time during the Event.
  • Failure to comply with these requirements is a breach of this Rule and the Horse will not be allowed to compete.

10.2 Vaccinations – National Competitions

10.2.1 No Horse may take part in a BE National Event (which includes entering competition stables) unless it has a current vaccination against equine influenza which complies with the following conditions:

  • Two injections for primary vaccination, not less than 21 days and not more than 92 days apart, are required before being eligible to compete;
  • A first booster injection must be given within seven months after the second injection of primary vaccination;
  • Subsequent booster injections must be given at intervals of not more than one year, commencing after the first booster injection;
  • The most recent booster injection must have been given within the six calendar months prior to the horse arriving at the competition.

10.2.3 The Record of Vaccination(s) in the Horse’s passport must be completed by the appropriate veterinary surgeon (who is neither the Owner nor the Competitor of the Horse) in which the record of injection(s) is completed, signed and stamped line by line.

10.2.4 No relevant injection may have been given on the day of competition.

10.5 Horses; Soundness; Infection; Tubing; De-Sensitising

10.5.1 All horses must be sound.

10.5.2 All horses must be free from clinical signs of contagions or infectious disease. Where appropriate, in the case of Equine Influenza, strangles or neurological EHV1 outbreaks, BE, acting throughout in reliance on veterinary advice, may prevent potentially exposed horses from competing at any BE Event. Members are strongly advised to follow the Horserace Levy Board (HBLB) Codes of Practice on Equine Diseases (www.hblb.org.uk/codes.htm) with particular regard to controlling the spread of disease.

Practicalities:

Forgotten passport. Any horse without a passport will be sent home (plus travel companions).

Unvaccinated companion horse. Passports and vaccination records in accordance with the new rules must be carried for all horses on board any vehicle. Any horses without passports and compliant vaccination records will be asked to leave the site, along with any others which they may have travelled with.

Booster given within seven days of the Event.This is fine. As long as the vaccination was given at least the day before the horse arrives at the Event, and is not more than one year after the previous booster. (see Rule 10.2.4)

Only primary course given. This is fine, as long as the horse has had the first two injections that make up the primary course, and the second injection was given within the last six months.

Primary course given, but first booster (due within seven months) has not yet been given.Fine if second injection was less than six months ago.

Historical discrepancies (ref: rule 10.2.3). In cases where there are historical discrepancies (e.g. booster was given five days late in 2014), but the primary course is correct and the horse has had the most recent booster within the last six months, it will be at the discretion of the Vet and BE Steward as to whether the horse may compete.

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2 weeks to go…………………………………………..

With the commencement of the event season less than 2 weeks away a few pointers for you.

The Annual News Review is in the final stages of preparation… hoping to have it with you by the middle of March. Do you have anything you would like put in it? If you do, please do get in touch ASAP with either Becky or myself, and we will do our best to include it for you.

BE Website is up and running despite some initial teething problems everything is progressing well. Have you seen and tried it? If you are experiencing issues do contact the team at BE and they will help you out, they are working tirelessly to resolve the problems.

Volunteers we need you please! The annual shout out for helpers in the hospitality marquees during the season. Tor Rickcord would love to hear from you (totsy1@hotmail.co.uk) Gatcombe 1 is the first outing for the hospitality team, all dates for the 2019 are on the website. Do take a look to see if you can help somewhere.

Training Vouchers have been delayed slightly, they are on their way I’ve been told! For those members whose membership has been renewed during January and February, I will prioritise your codes. If you do not receive yours, do please email me.

Bloggers are putting their thoughts together and we will be introducing them to everyone soon. Follow their respective stories via our social media pages or on the website.

Mitsubishi Motors Cup Members, whether you are the Owner or the rider competing on the hallowed turf at Badminton in the 90/100 Championship please do let us know. We need to order the rosettes soon. Goodie bags await all EHOA members competing! Tell your friends if they are not members…

From everyone on the Board, we wish you a fun filled season with your horses and look forward to seeing you at an event soon.

With kind regards,

Alex – Membership Secretary

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EHOA Membership Owners

BEF responds to resumption of racing

BEF responds to resumption of racing

Statement from the British Equestrian Federation on Equine Flu:

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) welcomes the decision by the British Horseracing Authority to resume racing from Wednesday 13 February.

We’re cautiously optimistic that after analysis of thousands of samples by the Animal Health Trust, there have been no further positive tests since the weekend.

The BEF continues to closely monitor the situation and assess the risk to health of UK horses whilst in regular consultation with specialist vets and experts in equine influenza and epidemiology with experience of managing previous outbreaks. Their assessment remains that it is not necessary to cancel other equine events subject to local disease status and local veterinary advice.

The BEF continues to urge horse owners to be vigilant for symptoms of equine flu – coughing, nasal discharge, loss of appetite, lethargy – and call their vet if they think their horses are showing signs.

We strongly recommend that owners ensure that their vaccinations are up to date – if it has been longer than six months since the last vaccination, we recommend you discuss a booster with your veterinary surgeon. As has been demonstrated in this outbreak, vaccinations are vital in tackling the spread of the disease. Therefore we recommend strongly that unvaccinated horses do not mix with other horses.

Our advice remains that you must not take your horse to an event or competition if horses at your yard are unwell.

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EHOA Events International Membership Owners

Event Rider Masters Announces Six Date 2019 Calendar

Event Rider Masters Announces Six Date 2019 Calendar

The Event Rider Masters (ERM) has today confirmed its 2019 Calendar. Consisting of six legs, including two brand new European locations, this year is set to continue the impressive international expansion of the world’s top Eventing series with new legs in France and Ireland.

Launched in 2016, ERM condenses the traditional equestrian three-day event into two days. Including all three disciplines – Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country, each phase of every world-class competitor is live streamed and included in a post produced television highlights show which airs in 101 countries worldwide.

ERM is the most valuable Series in the sport of Eventing. It provides the world’s most successful Event Riders with an international stage on which to compete for an unprecedented total prize-money fund of £350,000. The prize pot for the UK leg is £50,000 while each European leg offers €57,000. The riders compete for the much-coveted ERM Series Championship Title and an additional £50,000 series prize fund shared by the top three riders at the end of the season.

Reigning ERM Champion, Australia’s Chris Burton will be seeking to defend the title he won in 2018, edging out Great Britain’s Laura Collett and New Zealand’s Tim Price.

The 2019 Event Rider Masters Calendar is confirmed as:
Leg 1 – The Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials GBR 11th – 12th May
Leg 2 – Internationales Wiesbadener Pfingstturnier GER 7th – 8th June
Leg 3 – Concours Complet D’Arville BEL 22nd – 23rd June
Leg 4 – Les Haras de Jardy Eventing Show FRA 13th – 14th July
Leg 5 – Millstreet International Horse Trials IRL 24th – 25th August
Leg 6 The Finale – Concours Complet International Lignières en Berry FRA 5th – 6th October

Providing spectacular settings for each leg, the six ERM venues located in Belgium, England, France, Germany & Ireland are renowned for hosting some of the most prestigious events in the sport.Jim O’Toole, CEO of Event Rider Masters commented;

“This new six month calendar provides a significant moment in the  development of our series as we add two legs and in the case of Ireland, a brand new market.  With events in five broadcast markets across Europe, we see our international expansion as fundamental to the continued growth of our series, both as an elite global sporting competition and as a media broadcast platform.  2018 saw dramatic growth in the value we created for our partners and venues with 2.4 million audited television viewers and a digital community in excess of 1.3 million fans engaging with the series across multiple digital platforms. We anticipate further growth in 2019 as our world class riders compete for the unprecedented prize fund and ERM Podium glory.”

ERM’s global television output including livestreaming, digital content and 8 television highlights shows will continue to be produced by Red Handed TV and distributed worldwide through over 30 broadcast partners by LCTV.

ENDS