11th March 2010
James Paice MP and Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs outlined the Conservative Party's plans for the horse world at the 18th National Equine Forum (NEF), held last Thursday 4th March 2010. The event, which was attended by over 200 of the country's most influential members of the equestrian industry, including NEF President HRH The Princess Royal, was also chosen as the launch pad for a new Museum of the Horse. In addition presentations were included from some of the UK's most distinguished equine vets on an intriguing range of topics. A video message of support was received from HRH Princess Haya, President of the FEI, who hopes to be able to attend next year.
James Paice MP pointed out that horse riding and racing together support directly and indirectly around a quarter of a million jobs and inject many billions of pounds into the British economy, so the industry needs to be protected and promoted. On the subject of horse passports he said that while his Party's manifesto at the last election had said that the compulsory part of issuing passports would be dropped, with the passage of time he accepted that the situation had changed and this would was no longer the policy. He accepted that passports should be for all horses and highlighted the benefits in terms of disease control. However he also recognised that many people still questioned whether passports need to remain compulsory and welcomed public opinion on the matter. He also raised concerns about the massive evasion that currently exists.
On the highly charged political issue of animal transport Mr Paice suggested that more regulations should always be the last resort. Instead existing ones should be properly enforced across Europe. In relation to animal disease he emphasised that there should be a genuine sharing of policy development from which costs are derived and that the government should meet its responsibility for border bio-security and laboratories. He also maintained that any levy must be worth the cost and effort of collection and there must be a cost benefit He concluded that the Conservative Party would work with the horse industry to find solutions to the challenges which may occur and they would keep out of the industry's way as much as they could.
Caroline Anns-Baldock, a highly motivated and passionate equestrian historian, revealed her ideas for the first ever Museum of the Horse in the UK. She opened her presentation with the bold statement: "We are said to be a nation of horse lovers yet we are the only European country that does not have a museum of the horse." Caroline has set up a strong committee of equestrian and business experts and is in the process of setting up a trust to fund the first phase of development which includes building a website, putting together travelling exhibitions and securing suitable premises for the museum. She concluded: "The myth, magic and history of the horse should be told. Help us to tell this story. We are looking for support from people interested in preserving and developing our equestrian heritage. We invite sponsors both in kind and in finance and we welcome ideas."
Presentations were also received from Arik Dondi, Deputy Director of Exotic Diseases Policy at Defra, on the Defra view of the industry, Ben Mayes MRCVS, of Mayes and Scrine equine vet practice in West Sussex, on licensing for UK horse establishments and equine sanctuaries, Dr Carolina Liljenstolpe, Swedish researcher, on the role of the horse in Europe; Dr Mark Hillyer MRCVS, of the Newmarket Equine Hospital, on the development of systems to endoscope galloping horses; Dr Pat Harris MRCVS, head of the WALTHAM® Equine Studies Group, on nutrition and gastric ulceration - cause or cure; Professor Chris Proudman FRCVS, Professor of Equine Studies at the University of Liverpool, on worming and wormers; Dr Madeleine Campbell, President of BEVA, on identification: the legalities, logistics and welfare issues; John Stainton, International Director for Sporting Art at Christies, on horses in painting; David Hunter, Performance Manager for the Para Equestrian Dressage Team, on training for world class Paralympics; In the topical spot Chris House MRCVS, of House and Jackson Equine Clinic, spoke on training and regulation of paraprofessionals and Professor James Wood MRCVS, Alborada Professor of Equine and Farm Animal Science and BEVA Honorary Publications Officer, discussed the control of exotic disease and equine flu. The British Horse Society undergraduate presentation 2010 was delivered by Holly Claridge MRCVS who is the winner of the Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year 2009. She presented the 3D anatomy of the cervical articular process joint in the horse. Full proceedings can be downloaded from the NEF website here
HRH The Princess Royal, President of the NEF closed the day with a personal view on aspects of the equestrian industry. She made the interesting point that she believed competition cross-country riders would do well to train and get experience on a far wider range of conditions than merely the manicured technical obstacles that they meet in competition. On her new role as President she said: "Although I have attended the Forum many times in the past, this is the first occasion on which I have attended as its President. I was delighted to be asked to take on the appointment, and I hope that I will be able to be actively involved in selecting suitable topics for future Forums."
The National Equine Forum is chaired by Professor Sir Colin Spedding and is convened by Miles Williamson-Noble. It is usually attended by HRH The Princess Royal, its President, and is supported by the ABRS, Bedmax, BETA, BEF, BHS, BHA, The Blue Cross, Darbys Solicitors, Dodson & Horrell, The Donkey Sanctuary, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Jeffress Scholarship Trust, NFU Mutual, South Essex Insurance Brokers, The Horse Trust and World Horse Welfare.
The full proceedings of the 2010 Forum can be downloaded at here
