Welcome to the BHS Scotland website
BHS Scotland is Scotland's largest equine membership organisation with around 5000 members and rising. We have enthusiastic and informed volunteers who help deliver our work throughout Scotland in the areas of access, welfare, safety, training, competitions, education, exams, riding clubs and more. If there is anything you would like to see on our website please let us know on bhsscotland@bhs.org.uk.
*********** To keep up to date with all the latest news from BHS Scotland visit our Facebook Page ********** ______________________________________________________________________________________________ *** Exclusive Hopetoun International Horse Trials ticket offers for BHS members ***
BHS Scotland is proud to present these exclusive offers to BHS members:
The Gillespie Macandrew Hopetoun Town and Country Fair is a spectacular two-day event taking place on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July at Hopetoun House in South Queensferry. Incorporating the already established International Horse Trials, the event will offer visitors a taste of town and country life alongside sporting action from some of the world’s top riders competing in show jumping, cross country and dressage. SPECIAL OFFER 1 - Half price tickets for BHS members All British Horse Society Scotland members can get half price tickets to this amazing event with a saving of £7.50 per person. This offer is valid for online ticket purchases only and you must enter the code BHSHP in order to apply the discount. Buy your tickets online here Terms and Conditions This offer is valid until 28/07/13 and only applies to online ticket purchases and not to tickets purchased directly from Hopetoun House or Hopetoun Farm Shop. This offer is valid on entry tickets only and not against the BHS Coursewalk and Lunch package or the Afternoon Tea Package All tickets incur a £1.50 booking fee and are available as E-Tickets (print at home) or can be posted out for an additional £0.80. SPECIAL OFFER 2 - BHS Course Walk with Cpt Mark Phillips & Lunch at Hopetoun An exclusive opportunity for BHS members to meet Cpt Mark Phillips and enjoy a course walk during the Gillespie Macandrew Hopetoun Town and Country Fair followed by a two course lunch in Hopetoun House. Guests arrive via the main entrance to Hopetoun House (Sponsors entrance) for 10.30am and enjoy tea/coffee before leaving for a course walk around Hopetoun estate. Guests then return for lunch in Hopetoun House and will be joined for lunch by an international rider as guest speaker. Guests are then free to enjoy an afternoon of CIC2* and CIC3* cross country including access to a private viewing area at the Water Jump. Buy your course walk tickets online here Transporting Horses
If you transport horses they deserve the best and you had better prepare for the worst
Was the message of the BHS Scotland transporting safely day presented at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife on Saturday the 1st of June. Sheila Hardy from the British Horse Society, Nicki Whittaker from NFU Insurance and Graeme Baxter an Independent Transport Consultant and BHS advisor on VOSA issues presented the four hour seminar to an audience comprising instructors, colleges, safety reps and proprietors as well as ordinary horse owners simply interested in keeping their horses on the right side of the law. “Because VOSA will weight you if you transport equines” a detailed investigation and practical exercises to educate delegates was on offer. The high unladen weight of many horseboxes and the fact that most people do not know how much their horses, their kit plus passengers weigh, has led to a situation where equine transport is currently being targeted and frequently being escorted to a weigh bridge. Tips for avoiding overweight include, sharing equipment, no frills living and a frugal attitude to what you take to an event. The importance of having the correct tyre pressure for transporting horses was also a theme of the thought provoking event as was a warning against using reconditioned or part used tyres . The seminar also included practical advice on Trailer safety checks and how to correctly hitch a trailer including how to fit the breakaway cable and what to do if you break down and the important don’t forget your passport message was driven home. The event emphasised how our horses and ponies do not ask to be transported it is us who require this of them so we have a strong duty of care every time we load them into a trailer of lorry. Two amazingly useful websites http://www.tyresafe.org/tyre-safety/tyre-pressure-check simply type in your registration number and find out exactly what your correct tyre pressure is. http://chrishodgetrucks.co.uk/pageweighbridge/weighbridges14.htm direct link to all the public weigh bridges in Scotland so that you can know your unladen and laden weights ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
BHS Instructor of the Year
Qualifier Scotland - 16 September at Houston Farm Riding School, with William Micklem
This year sees the welcome return of the prestigious BHS Instructor of the Year competition which this year will be supported by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers and sponsored by Haddon Training. The aim of this competition is to encourage and inspire coaches to continue with the valuable work they do within the industry in maintaining and improving standards and also to pursue their own personal development and education. The British Horse Society is committed to helping coaches reach their full potential and one of the aims of this competition is to showcase the talent that we have working in the equestrian world in the UK. This will be through regional training days sponsored by Haddon Training leading to the final at Warwickshire College on 9 October. The final will see three esteemed judges from the professional equine world assessing flatwork and jumping coaching sessions, plus presentations on stable management. Each qualifying day is managed by a BHS Fellow for a maximum of eight applicants. During the day, each candidate will teach a ridden lunge lesson and semi-private jump lesson. Our Fellow will encourage and promote discussion throughout the day and the candidate invited to attend the final will be the person that shows the most potential as a coach and who actively takes part in group discussions and debate – a real chance to blow your own trumpet! The competition is open to anyone who has gained their BHS PTT but with a maximum qualification of the BHS ITT. There is no age limit, although you will need to be a member of the BHS (at any membership level). And if you are an employer or customer of someone who you think deserves the title of BHS Instructor of the Year – why not ask for an application pack on their behalf? Your support may be just the push they need to apply. Qualifier Scotland - 16 September at Houston Farm Riding School, with William Micklem Download the application pack here For more information, please contact Alison Le Fevre at a.lefevre@bhs.org.uk or on 02476 840510. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Scottish Riding Centre and Livery Yard Proprietors Conference 2013
BHS Scotland and the Trekking and Riding Society of Scotland held the Scottish Riding Centre and Livery Yard Proprietors Conference 2013 on Monday 22 April at Auchterarder.
Delegates listened to informative talks on varied topics such as Legal Matters and VAT, Commercial Access to the Countryside, Business Improvement and Biosecurity. For more information, follow the download links below to presentations and handouts: Biosecurity - Ben Sturgeon, MRCVS Responsible Commercial Equestrian Access to the Countryside - Vyv Wood Gee Managing for Profit - Jacqueline Riley Funding Opportunities for Equine Establishments - Mary Munro, SAC Strangles Health Scheme - Jill Thomson, SAC Veterinary Services ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sandra Morrison voted most popular instructor in Scotland
The winner of the Farney Grange trophy presented to Scotland's most popular instructor (selected by public vote) for 2012 was Sandra Morrison BHSI.
She is seen here being presented with the bespoke ironwork trophy by BHS Scotland chairman Loraine Young at our recent teaching children's CPD which Sandra presented. Nominations for the 2013 award open in the autumn. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ An Open Evening at the Dick Vet School Edinburgh
We are very excited to invite you to a second open evening The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Edinburgh are kindly hosting for BHS Scotland. The event will take place on Tursday 29 August at 6.30pm.
You will have the chance to tour the Equine Hospital, explore the colic and other simulators and have highly experienced staff answer all you questions. This is an amazing opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look of a state of the art Equine Hospital and Vet School. You will also have the chance to listen to a talk on equine behaviour and be given tea and coffee on arrival. This is a FREE event, but you must register by emailing s.arnold@bhs.org.uk , as spaces are limited! Download the full programme of the evening here ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ New Vice Chairman for BHS Scotland
BHS Scotland are delighted to welcome Professor Derek Knottenbelt as our new Vice Chairman. We are priviliged to gain such an experienced and well known expert for our committee and are looking forward to working with him!
Derek Knottenbelt qualified from Edinburgh University in 1970 and after a period in research, spent 12 years in private practice. During this time he developed a keen interest in equine medicine and in 1985 he joined the academic world. He moved to Liverpool in 1989 and has since become Professor in Equine Internal Medicine. He has published widely in the scientific and lay press and is the author of 10 recognised text books. He has received international awards for his welfare work, his science and in 2005 he was honoured with an OBE by the Queen for his services to the horse. He is involved with national and international equine welfare and other charities. His main professional interests are in oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology and wound management. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Equine Herpes Virus (EHV 1)
You may have seen the recent news stories concerning an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV 1) in Grampian.
Although not a legally notifiable condition, EHV 1 is contagious and does have the potential to be quite a serious disease. Indeed the neurological form can lead to paralysis. In most cases, EHV 1 is spread via respiratory transmission so wherever horses are brought together from different yards there is the possibility for the disease to spread if one of the horses present is affected. For this reason the Heythrop have very responsibly suspended hunting for a week. It is important to be aware that the risk of your horse contracting EHV 1 is very small and there is certainly no need to panic. However, as with any disease spotting it early is the best thing for your horse so the BHS felt it would be useful to provide a short refresher on EHV 1 and its signs. For most people this will just be precautionary information but the recommendation is that anybody who has hunted with the Heythrop since January 24th should put their horse into quarantine for a minimum of 10 days. The same should apply for all horses on the same yard even if they have not been hunting. Although aimed at a different disease (strangles) our STEPS leaflet provides lots of useful information about quarantining and isolating horses. Many of the clinical signs of EHV 1 can be confused with other diseases. A high temperature is a key indicator and it is essential to monitor the temperature of at risk horses. Affected horses will tend to be disinterested and off their food as well as showing typical respiratory disease signs like coughing and a nasal discharge. If a horse is affected by the neurological form of the disease you may see some incoordination or just general wobbliness. If you have any concerns at all that your horse may be affected you should contact your vet immediately. The BHS is part of the group that produces the HBLB Codes of Practice. There is lots of very helpful information about EHV in the Codes which you can access here. If anybody has any further concerns about EHV or would like more information, please contact the BHS Welfare department on 02476 840517 or welfare@bhs.org.uk ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Protocol for promoting off-road riding and carriage driving routes in Scotland
BHS Scotland have created a new guidance note on promoting off-road riding and carridage driving routes in Scotland. BHS’ recommendation and in-house policy is that as a matter of courtesy, land owners and managers should usually be consulted before promoting off-road riding and carriage driving routes. The guidance note explains the rationale behind this protocol, exactly what falls within the definition of ‘promoting’ a route, suggests how to consult appropriate individuals, and identifies some exceptions where consultation is not considered necessary. Download the full guidance note here
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Equine Health Checklist
This checklist sets out the essential routines to help care
for horses responsibly in a simple, accessible format and will encourage –
among other good habits – basic disease prevention in routine horse care.
Our ultimate aim is to have the poster displayed in every yard, vet’s
reception, horse owner’s stable etc. – indeed everywhere that it can be seen by
horse owners and keepers.
You can also download this chart as a PDF document here .
___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Practice makes perfect with Eric Smiley FBHS
Two days of jumping training with Eric Smiley FBHS were enjoyed by 40 riders preparing for the 2013 event season and they all learned how to ride to the ability of their horse and that constant good practice are the recipe for success.
The jumping clinic, which took place in the excellent new indoor school at Easter Muirhead Farm near Saline, focused on preparation for the jumping phases of the new event season. Eric imparted that energy, line and balance were the riders job but jumping is the job of the horse. For straightness the hind legs follow the front legs which follow the head on any line the rider chooses to follow. BHS Scotland is hoping to welcome Eric Smiley back soon! ________________________________________________________________________________________________ horsescotland welcomes The British Horse Society
horsescotland the national organisation for all equestrian sports and activity in Scotland is delighted to announce that the British Horse Society (Scotland) has joined as a Full Member.
The horsescotland Board warmly endorsed the British Horse Society (BHS) application to join to horsescotland at its Board meeting held on 25 January 2013. Stephen MacGregor, horsescotland Chair, stated: “Reaching this point has been a long-term goal of horsescotland and I am delighted that after considerable work by previous Boards and officers we are now in a position to warmly welcome the BHS on board. The BHS membership of horsescotland signals an important step in the development of the Scottish equestrian sector and demonstrates the spirit of collaboration that will move equestrian activity in Scotland forward.” Billy Bell, horsescotland Chief Operating Officer, added: “Having the BHS as a full member is further recognition of the sterling work that is being carried out by the staff and volunteers of the BHS and horsescotland as we deliver on our joint commitment to increase the overall levels of participation and equestrian activity in Scotland. “It is important that we now build on the standards, which have already been set and strive to continue to improve in the coming years.” Loraine Young, Chairman BHS Scotland also added: “We are all best served by equestrian organisations working together to achieve greater cohesion, and we look forward to the British Horse Society taking an active role in assisting horsescotland to thrive, develop and expand equestrianism.” Helene Mauchlen BHS Scottish Development Officer said: “The aim of BHS is to improve the lives of Scotland’s equines; with our safety, welfare, access and training work at the heart of an effective horsescotland we are all stronger. “We look forward to a fruitful partnership with horsescotland and all the member bodies.” ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Knockhill Cross Country Finals 2013 - Auchlishie Eventing Sunday 29th September
We are very excited to announce that the Knockhill Cross Country Series finals will take place at
Auchlishie Eventing Sunday
29th September 2013.
We would like to encourage as many Clubs as possible to hold qualifiers for this series, or to incorporate this series in Hunter Trials which they are already holding…. If your local Club or Group holds a Hunter Trial, or has considered holding a Hunter Trial, then why not make 2013 the year to include BHS Scotland Knockhill qualifiers? You can download the qualifier entry form and regulations here. For any questions, please contact s.arnold@bhs.org.uk We will be running a cross country training day on BHS Scotland is holding a cross country training day with Sarah Houlden (BHSAI EFI Level 2) on Friday 29th March 2013 at Strathearn Eventing. Open to a range of abilities for mid season cross country schooling. Aiming to provide educational and confidence- building sessions. Download the booking form here. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ www.horseaccidents.org.uk
Many equestrian accidents go unreported because there is no compulsory reporting system in place. We need to gather meaningful statistics to support concerns and provide quantifiable evidence to those in authority. Our horseaccidents website provides a user friendly and accessible medium through which equestrian incidents can be reported. Please report any incidents on http://www.horseaccidents.org.uk/ .
The website also provides a whole range of help and advice for keeping you and your horse safe to enjoy your rides. From advice on what to wear to avoiding low flying aircrafts, we've got it covered - including the mine field that is driver licensing laws and towing regulations. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ BHS response to the horse meat scandal
The recent revelations concerning horse meat being identified in various meat products has highlighted concerns about meat traceability and equine welfare according to The British Horse Society.
The UK’s largest equine charity believes that a number of serious food hygiene issues need addressing as a matter of urgency. The 2012 Defra decision to withdraw funding from the National Equine Database, and the subsequent loss of that database, has given rise to concerns that it is possible for contaminated horsemeat to enter the human food chain. All horses must have a passport which contains details of the drugs that a horse is given during its lifetime. If a horse receives certain drugs, it may not be slaughtered for human consumption due to fears over the effects of these drugs on people. However, with no central database to facilitate checks it is now possible for a horse to be issued with two passports; one in which medication is recorded and an apparently clean one to be presented at the time of slaughter – allowing the medicated horse to be passed as fit for consumption. The moral issues of using horses as meat producing animals have also been brought into sharp focus. Unlike many countries on the continent Britain has never had a culture of eating horsemeat and even the idea of it causes revulsion amongst many animal lovers. However, there are also people who believe that if we eat cows and sheep then it is hypocrisy to consider horse meat as being off the menu. The British Horse Society neither condones nor encourages the consumption of horse meat and believes it is a choice for the individual. However, we as a nation must recognise the origin of much of the horse meat produced in our country. Rather than coming from animals ethically raised specifically for the purpose it tends to come from horses that are surplus to requirements; a direct result of Britain’s equine overpopulation problem. Years of unchecked indiscriminate breeding have resulted in literally thousands of horses with little or no value and a shortage of responsible and knowledgeable owners willing to care for them. Frequently these are the animals that end up at the abattoir and the BHS believes that tackling overpopulation should be our focus rather than debating the issue of consuming horsemeat. The BHS has been campaigning for a number of years to encourage horse owners to “Think Before You Breed” and there is still a long way to go. It is imperative that a horse’s final moments are handled carefully and with the welfare of the animal as the utmost priority. However, once an animal has died there is nothing more that can be done for them. Furthermore, there is the issue of what to do with a horse’s carcass given their size and the fact that it is, in most circumstances, both illegal and impractical to bury them. Equine cremation services do exist but for many people are prohibitively expensive, leaving sending their horse for meat as the only practical option. The BHS believes that we must focus our energy on the horses that are alive and suffering today. The resources of all equine welfare charities are being stretched as never before due to both the economic climate and equine population. We firmly believe that as a nation of animal lovers we should concentrate on the thousands of horses that need our help and allow individuals to make their own moral decision about which meats are acceptable for consumption. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ New Chief Executive for The British Horse Society
The British Horse Society has appointed Lynn Petersen as Chief Executive.
Lynn, who has been Chairman of the Society since April of this year, has been the board trustee responsible for the Society’s modernisation programme. With her business experience as European Marketing Director for TIME magazine and Global Director for Kraft General Foods sponsorship of Professional Women’s Tennis, she brings a new dimension to the Society’s plans for the future. Lynn also served as Director of Sales, Marketing and Fundraising for The Outward Bound Trust, where she worked closely with HRH Prince Andrew in transforming the charity with modern management strategies. Lynn said: “We are determined to deliver ever more relevant services to our members, our volunteers, our instructors, our schools and horses throughout the UK. We are determined to serve owners and riders with the very best of British equestrian education and pursue welfare, access and safety for all horses and riders.” The Board of Trustees looks forward to working with Lynn to take the Society into the future. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Winner of Anne Balfour-Kinnear Training Legacy
Rebecca Stephen from Whiterashes, Aberdeenshire is the 2012 recipient of the Anne Balfour-Kinnear Training Legacy – she is pictured here receiving her certificate and a cheque for £500 from Yogi Breisner FBHS and world class performance manager for the British Event team.
This legacy is presented by BHS to the young registered riding instructor who shows dedication to gaining qualifications and helping others. Rebecca is currently working towards her Intermediate teaching test and she helps with pony club, riding club and RDA as well as teaching private clients.
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