Defra/Horses

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zigzag

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Just spoke to someone from DEFRA, You CAN transport horses, if you are in the 3 KM exclusion zone you can only move horses with a licence, if not in exclusion zone you can transport, If you are on a farm with other animals or pass other animals when out hacking they advise you not to leave the farm but it is your decision, she also told me all shows are cancelled
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From Defra website

Are there any restrictions on horses?
Yes.

Horses can only be moved in or out of the 3km protection zone under licence;

Horses cannot be moved from premises to premises within the 3km protection zone when there are susceptible animals on the same premises, except under licence; and

Vehicles designed for the transport of animals, including horse boxes, where susceptible animals are kept, cannot be moved from premises within the 3km protection zone except under licence.
 
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Thank you for that!

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she also told me all shows are cancelled
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All shows in the 3km area / 10km area, or EVERYWHERE?
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Lou. x

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She said everywhere
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but some shows are going on with the equine section, Gower agri show has been cancelled totaly and this is a few miles from me
 
Shows up here are going ahead without cattle,sheep,goats and pigs. Just with horses!

This is a very busy fortnight up here all our local Agricultural shows take place in this fortnight.
 
At least Defra are giving out info, even if it is conflicting! Dep of Ag for NI are not at work today, and website doesn't mention f&m. Movement of livestock into the province has been halted and checks are being made on animals recently imported. I would do anything to help prevent the mass destruction of unaffected animals like 2001, so I won't be taking my horses anywhere, and I'm 500 miles from Guildford!
 
Just checked the website of the show I am going to tomorrow they say:
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Entry to the Show Ground is controlled with Bio-Security measures to conform with formal advice. The Dressage, Horse Show and the Dog Show are taking place as planned.

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So its still going ahead we will just have to go through dips etc.
 
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At least Defra are giving out info, even if it is conflicting! Dep of Ag for NI are not at work today, and website doesn't mention f&m. Movement of livestock into the province has been halted and checks are being made on animals recently imported. I would do anything to help prevent the mass destruction of unaffected animals like 2001, so I won't be taking my horses anywhere, and I'm 500 miles from Guildford!

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Let's hope ALL riders and horse owners follow your example - at least in Surrey/Hampshire/Kent and Sussex - and that NOBODY takes horses into and out of those counties - but it won't happen, most people would be too selfish to take the only sensible voluntary action, it will need directives from DEFRA and that's not likely to happen although at least they have been a lot quicker off the mark this time.

The thing I've found sad is not one person so far that I've seen posts from has uttered a word about how devastated the farmer and his family must feel and issue any sympathy for them (apologies if I have missed one, only had a quick scan through!), especially as I understand it, it is a small herd of about only 40 cattle; they must have been as precious and individual to them as a single horse is to us.
 
I have been watching sky news and it it is 60 cows, all in a pen now witing for slaughter
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apparently it is a fattening site where farmers from around the area bring the cows to be fattened before going to market it is not an actual "farm" what is worrying is which farms these cows have come from.. I am desperately sorry for all the farmers
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There was also a bloke talking who is in the exclusion zone and he is saying how the Deer are still running around and why haven't they been stopped
 
Totally agree, it seems people are far more worried about missing a show than the heartbreak involved in losing your livestock in a mass cull. Short memories perhaps.
 
Err I posted earlier saying I think everyone should stay put and show some respect for the farmers, so not everyone is being selfish!! We cancelled going to a show today.

I can't believe the attitude of some people at my yard. Complete disregard and saying everyone is overracting!!! Even though our YO has said she prefers people to stay put and not take lorries out! And we are in Sussex, so not that far from Guildford.
 
well said!! i am so angry at the people on the COMPETITION forum . they are banging on about why can't they go to a show if the cattle etc is not going to be there, and how they will lose there entry fees. i for one will not be going anywhere as i do not want to watch mass culling ever again. this is peoples livelyhood that they have passed down from generation to generation.
 
i really do feel for all the farmers out there i live right next to a dairy farm the farmer has been there for years hes got to be in his late 70's now so i do hope that it can be contained. i do have a question though. my mare is at stud at the mo and when its time to bring her home what should i do? i know its some way from the outbreak now and with luck its contained and doesnt spread however i have to think if it does what do i do about my mare? i would hate to contribute to the spread by moving her back home and will leave her if need be but for people in my situation (mare at stud some way away from home) what should we do?? in 2001 we just kept our horses on the land as we had a beef farm surrounding us and didnt leave until everything was sorted. however i have moved yards and there are no cows/sheep etc near my yard now.
 
I was only 13 when it happened last time so I don't no all of the facts and was very lucky to be in an area where it didn't spread to. I had to turn my horses away last time as I was not alllowed to ride in my fields and obviously I couldn't hack them out. I am hoping it will not be the case this year as I am not in the position to do that.
Obviously I am very sad for the farmer and all of those concerned but I am not going to sit on my backside and wait for it to come, I'm not going anywhere near the out break and I will take precautions to make sure I don't spread anything, but I don't see why I can't go to a horse show, where no other animals are.
 
From racing post

OFFICIALS at the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) do not envisage the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease having any immediate impact on racing.

It was confirmed on Friday that cattle on a farm near the village of Wanborough in Surrey had tested positive for the disease that wreaked havoc on the farming industry back in 2001.

Horse racing was badly affected during the last epidemic, with the Cheltenham Festival among the high-profile fixtures that had to be abandoned.

Presently, a nationwide ban on the movement of all sheep, cattle and pigs has been put in place.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said that a three-kilometre "protection zone" and a 10-kilometre "surveillance zone" had been imposed around the farm.

However, since the movement of horses is not included in the imposed restrictions and no racecourse is situated within the two zones, there are currently no plans to abandon any race meetings.

A statement issued by the BHA read: "The British Horseracing Authority is concerned to hear Foot and Mouth Disease has been confirmed in Wanborough, Surrey, and hopes that the impact on the farming community can be kept to a minimum.

"Horses are not affected by the farm animal movement restrictions, which have been imposed nationally by DEFRA, and we envisage no immediate impact on racing as no racecourse lies within the exclusion or surveillance zone - all race meetings go ahead as planned."

However, trainers within either zone imposed by DEFRA are being instructed not to move their horses until the matter has been assessed in greater detail.

The statement continued: "Licensed trainers within the 3km exclusion zone are prevented from moving their animals and therefore will not be able to have any runners under DEFRA's movement restrictions.

"As a precaution, the British Horseracing Authority instructs any licensed trainer within 10km of the infected premises (inside the surveillance zone) not to move horses to the racecourse until a decision has been taken on any necessary bio-security measures.

"We are in discussions with the Turf Club and France Galop and will update trainers, through Weatherbys, as soon as we know the position on horses based in Britain running in France and Ireland.

"We are closely monitoring developments and keeping racing's stakeholders updated."
 
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I was only 13 when it happened last time so I don't no all of the facts and was very lucky to be in an area where it didn't spread to. I had to turn my horses away last time as I was not alllowed to ride in my fields and obviously I couldn't hack them out. I am hoping it will not be the case this year as I am not in the position to do that.
Obviously I am very sad for the farmer and all of those concerned but I am not going to sit on my backside and wait for it to come, I'm not going anywhere near the out break and I will take precautions to make sure I don't spread anything, but I don't see why I can't go to a horse show, where no other animals are.

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because you may come into contact with someone or something carrying the virus, and then you go on your merry way home past fields full of cattle and sheep while helping the virus to spread around, personally i think all shows, clinics etc should be cancelled until this is totally under control - we don't know yet if there are more pockets of infection that will show up in the next few days, and i really think that horse owners should stop being so blasted selfish, a show is just a show. FMD for a farmer is loss of a living. can i ask, would you travel your horse to a show if strangles was comfirmed in a horse in the locality of the said show??
 
Thanks for that Illym; my reply would have been much blunter and to the point which Irishcobs might not have appreciated!
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The fact (so I believe from an earlier post) that the cattle were actually at a holding yard and had been drafted in could mean the exclusion zones need to be far wider than first designated which is a bit of a nightmare - how many people have already overstepped the original zone?
Equestrianism is so linked with agriculture, I think it really does behold us to help them in any way possible and if that means shows, clinics, events, lessons and so on go by the board for a short while, so what, it'll only be for a short time whereas if you're the farmer whose stock test positive through no fault of your own but some rider bringing it to your area, then that goes on for your lifetime, you'll never forget or forgive the loss of your herd. If that sounds dramatic just remember back to the last outbreak and how people were affected.
 
I do apologise DT; as I said I had only scanned some of the posts but I'm so thankful some of us are thinking of the farmers and the overall picture not just having selfish paddies cos they can't go to a show or something; that is pathetic and does equestrianism no favours at all.
 
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I have been watching sky news and it it is 60 cows, all in a pen now witing for slaughter
frown.gif
apparently it is a fattening site where farmers from around the area bring the cows to be fattened before going to market it is not an actual "farm" what is worrying is which farms these cows have come from.. I am desperately sorry for all the farmers
frown.gif

There was also a bloke talking who is in the exclusion zone and he is saying how the Deer are still running around and why haven't they been stopped

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Thanks for that, don't have Sky and haven't had time to watch news anyway! In light of that, then in a perfect world, the exclusion zone would be from the furthest farm that sent cattle in and a lot of people will have unknowingly crossed that border already. At least all cattle are - or should be - tagged so they will know precisely which farm it came from and the origin of it too. It makes you wonder how many cattle still at that farm there are testing positive too as they'll all either have to be tested or slaughtered anyway regardless if they're positive or not.

As you say about the deer; there should already be a cull in place but I don't think they'll ever get the whole bunch of them, they lead such individual lives while they have young on them; that's all supposing that they actually do have a cull of course as that would not be a popular move with Joe Public who might not realise the danger. There are also all the carrion about that were some of the biggest carriers last time, will they have a go at them too?!
 
But how far do you go. Should I not go to work as I have to pass farms on the way, and I'm going from one horse yard to another.
It is not just horse owners that need to be careful, I've passed 6 tractors and god knows how many farm machinery in the few hours I've been out.
 
Couldn't agree more! The more I am reading on various websites, the more my blood is boiling. No one is saying cancel everything for weeks and weeks, but it doesn't take much responsibility or moral fibre to just stay at home for the next few days does it just to get a bigger picture on what is happening. Beggers belief!

We have someone from our yard insistent on going to Cranleigh tomorrow - am sure the Estate with herds of deer/sheep/cows and the other farmers who surround our yard, will be most grateful to her!
 
I couldn't agree more about feeling sorry for the farmers, and posted to this effect earlier. I work in a shop with quite a high proportion of farmer customers and they were all so upset today. One lady said they had just started to build up exporting their dairy products and now the market would cease, and for quite some time even if the outbreak was contained . I remember the outbreak in the 60s as well as 2001 and remember how devastating it was. If you live in a farming area you have to show consideration for the farmers and just restrict your horse activities for a while.
 
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Thanks for that Illym; my reply would have been much blunter and to the point which Irishcobs might not have appreciated!
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The fact (so I believe from an earlier post) that the cattle were actually at a holding yard and had been drafted in could mean the exclusion zones need to be far wider than first designated which is a bit of a nightmare - how many people have already overstepped the original zone?
Equestrianism is so linked with agriculture, I think it really does behold us to help them in any way possible and if that means shows, clinics, events, lessons and so on go by the board for a short while, so what, it'll only be for a short time whereas if you're the farmer whose stock test positive through no fault of your own but some rider bringing it to your area, then that goes on for your lifetime, you'll never forget or forgive the loss of your herd. If that sounds dramatic just remember back to the last outbreak and how people were affected.

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Completely agree with you. It just isn't worth the risk for the sake of a show. So you lose your entry fees, so what? does it really matter compared to the loss of a farmer's livelihood? No, it doesn't.

My horse is supposed to be being moved from here to Dorset two weeks today but am currently sitting tight to find out what further exclusions are put in place. Much as I need to get him gone now, keeping hold of him for a few more weeks has to be preferable to the potential risk.

I heard earlier that this case in Surrey may have been traced back to Dorset? Anyone heard anything about this?
 
Taken from BE website;

04th August 2007
FMD Statement
All British Eventing fixtures will continue to run this weekend following the confirmation of foot and mouth (FMD) disease on a farm in Surrey. None of this weekend’s events are affected by the declaration of a Protection Zone, Surveillance Zone, and Restricted Zone in the area. The Restricted Zone implements a ban on the movement of susceptible animals (among other measures) and covers the whole of England (similar measures are in force in Scotland and Wales). Horses are not on the list of susceptible animals as FMD is an infectious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, in particular cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer. All events, via their British Eventing Regional Directors, have been in close consultation with DEFRA to ensure any necessary precautions are taken.

Note:

DEFRA FMD Restrictions on horses

The are no restrictions on the movement of horses, except:

- Horses can only be moved in or out of the 3km protection zone under licence;

- Horses cannot be moved from premises to premises within the 3km protection zone when there are susceptible animals on the same premises, except under licence; and

- Vehicles designed for the transport of animals, including horse boxes, where susceptible animals are kept, cannot be moved from premises within the 3km protection zone except under licence.

Personally I'm going to take each day as it comes - until something happens (if something happens) in our area I think the best policy is to carry on as normal. If my car doesn't carry it then someone else's will that would have followed a very similar route. There's absolutely no point in going into panic mode yet - like someone has said elsewhere, where do you stop? People going to work? Walking the dog down the road? Going to the shop? Sorry if this sounds sellfish but I do know how devastating losing a herd can be. I've also said elsewhere that if farmers in the area start taking precautions themselves then I will do so myself and will follow anyone's wishes that I come into contact with in person, i.e. yard owner and local farmers.
 
Well I am in Gower Swansea and farmers already have straw and disenfectant in place and we are a good few miles from Surrey.. we won't hack out
 
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Taken from BE website;

04th August 2007
FMD Statement
All British Eventing fixtures will continue to run this weekend following the confirmation of foot and mouth (FMD) disease on a farm in Surrey. None of this weekend’s events are affected by the declaration of a Protection Zone, Surveillance Zone, and Restricted Zone in the area. The Restricted Zone implements a ban on the movement of susceptible animals (among other measures) and covers the whole of England (similar measures are in force in Scotland and Wales). Horses are not on the list of susceptible animals as FMD is an infectious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, in particular cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer. All events, via their British Eventing Regional Directors, have been in close consultation with DEFRA to ensure any necessary precautions are taken.

Note:

DEFRA FMD Restrictions on horses

The are no restrictions on the movement of horses, except:

- Horses can only be moved in or out of the 3km protection zone under licence;

- Horses cannot be moved from premises to premises within the 3km protection zone when there are susceptible animals on the same premises, except under licence; and

- Vehicles designed for the transport of animals, including horse boxes, where susceptible animals are kept, cannot be moved from premises within the 3km protection zone except under licence.

Personally I'm going to take each day as it comes - until something happens (if something happens) in our area I think the best policy is to carry on as normal. If my car doesn't carry it then someone else's will that would have followed a very similar route. There's absolutely no point in going into panic mode yet - like someone has said elsewhere, where do you stop? People going to work? Walking the dog down the road? Going to the shop? Sorry if this sounds sellfish but I do know how devastating losing a herd can be. I've also said elsewhere that if farmers in the area start taking precautions themselves then I will do so myself and will follow anyone's wishes that I come into contact with in person, i.e. yard owner and local farmers.

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Thank you. That was the point I was trying to make but due to various reasons I can not explain myself very well.
 
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