struck up a particular affinity REGIONAL NEWS
BHS SOUTH WEST TRAINING FOR AUTHORITIES AND AGENCIES AT HORSEWORLD
The BHS South West region has recently funded some horse handling and awareness training at Horseworld, Bristol for authorities and agencies that may be called on to deal with horses, specifically groups of horses.
The BHS are aware that it is often these bodies that are called on if a horse, or group of horses, are reported as being loose or on the road and yet many of them have no previous experience of dealing with equines.
Police and Animal Health Trading Standards officers from all around the South West got some ‘hands-on’ experience of
with John Bordis, Rural Crime Officer from the Wiltshire Police Force.
Everyone then went on to practice scanning for microchips, learning how to put on and adjust a rug as well as how to identify horses via colours, markings and size.
The afternoon session dealt with horse behaviour and how horses will react when they are loose. Everyone took a turn to work with a horse in the round pen to learn about how horses react to body language and the day finished with all the participants getting the opportunity to round up a group of horses.
Organiser, Sylvia Sullivan- Tailyour (BHS Regional Welfare Representative) said “It was identified to the BHS that this type of training was needed, not only for the safety of the horse
BHS NEWS SOUTH WEST
JULIE GARBUTT Training for Services at Horseworld
experience with horses and so this course has now given me the confidence to deal with them when needed. The venue and staff were excellent – thank
you” HORSE ACCIDENTS
How long did it take you to see the horse on the right?
The South West is a major tourist destination and our roads become increasingly busy in the summer months with visitors to the region. Due to our fragmented bridleway network, most of us are forced to ride on the roads to access our nearest bridleways and we have a duty of care to our horses and other road users to ensure that we are safe.
Training for Services at Horseworld
handling horses and learning more about their behaviour.
The day started with everyone learning how to catch and put on a head-collar and how to make a rope halter before progressing onto leading horses safely. A variety of horses and ponies from Horseworld were used and Imperial (Imp), a retired horse from Avon & Somerset mounted police, proved to be quite a daunting prospect. At 16.2hh he is a big horse, for someone who has never been near one before, to handle but he behaved impeccably and
but for the safety of the people who may be called on to deal with them in situations where they may be loose, particularly on the roads. We are very pleased to have been able to give these people some specific skills to use when dealing with horses in the future and we would like to thank Horseworld and the staff here for hosting such a brilliant training day”..
The head of Dorset’s Animal Health Team, Neil Martin said “I can honestly say this was one of the best animal courses I have attended. I have had very little
Wearing high visibility clothing is just as important at this time of year. Dark horses with riders in dark clothing on shady, leafy lanes are all but invisible to drivers. Hedgerows and trees are in full leaf and drivers coming round corners will be totally unaware that a horse and rider may be around the next bend. Wearing high viz clothing means a driver will see you three seconds earlier and give them so much more time to react and adjust their speed accordingly.
We have all encountered the driver who does not slow down or takes an unacceptable risk whilst passing a horse. Most drivers do not know horses and do not necessarily see us as vulnerable. Likewise, they do not realise that something at the side of the road may cause our horses to spook into their path. We all need to educate the drivers we know – not by shouting at them whilst we are on the roads – but by talking
to them; at the petrol station, down at the local shop or at work. Let them know what it’s like up there on your horse and encourage them to pass us slowly and with plenty of room.
If anyone does have an accident or incident you can report this on our designated website
www.horseaccidents.org.uk. These statistics can be used by The British Horse Society to campaign for more off road riding and safer roads.
To join and support The British Horse Society Tel. 02476 840506
www.bhs.org.uk
Diary Dates JULY/AUGUST2012
Details of all the events can be found at www.
bhssouthwest.org.uk or
www.bhs.org.uk
AVON
8 JULY: Re-scheduled BHS Avon Novice Horse & Pony Show. Littlefield Farm, Stratton Road, Holcombe, Nr Radstock. Showing, Show Jumping, Clear Round, Handy Pony, Novelty Classes. For information Tel. 01761 233073 Email: peter.
cooper1@mypostoffice.co.uk
CORNWALL
BHS Cornwall FREE TRAINING – Riding on the Highway:
1 JULY: Penewin Riding Stables, Saltash. Tel: 01726 843 282 Email: lesleybennett1@
aol.com
4 JULY: St Leonards Equestrian
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www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk
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