Traditional Gypsy Cob Association awarded breed recognition
Defra has recognised gypsy cobs as a breed and the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association is now the official passport issuing office for them in the UK and the European Union
Defra has recognised gypsy cobs as a breed and the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association is now the official passport issuing office for them in the UK and the European Union
The horse industry now has two representatives on the board of the government's new animal health and welfare board for England
Equestrian bodies are concerned that a new 12-member board of non-government experts appointed to develop health and welfare policy in England may not include a horse expert
The British horse industry has welcomed government plans to involve the equine and farming industries in making health and welfare policy
Separate animal health budgets for England, Scotland and Wales to promote animal welfare and tackle disease outbreaks have been cautiously welcomed by equestrian bodies
Defra has put plans to restructure the UK horse passport issuing system on hold for up to 18 months, leaving the National Equine Database and breed societies in limbo
Defra plans to cut the UK's 80 passport issuing bodies down to one and stop funding the National Equine Database
An equine industry representative will sit on "partnership board" to advise Defra on animal health and welfare policy
A simulated foot and mouth exercise in North Yorkshire showed that equestrian activities need not be restricted by another outbreak
A survey has been launched to find out where the UK's horses live and where they travel to
Owners wanting information about swamp fever outbreaks can sign up for a free disease text alert service. But Animal Health, the part of Defra that operates the service, has omitted to let anyone know about it
Defra are collecting information on leisure horses in the UK in case of an outbreak of an infectious equine disease
Jim Paice attended the AGM of the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) last week — the first time a Defra minister has done so in living memory
Defra must cut spending by 5.5% but cannot say whether this will directly affect the horse world
The appointment of Conservative MP Caroline Spelman as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been universally welcomed
Details of the Government's plans to separate animal health from welfare are now on the Defra website
Defra has launched its animal welfare codes, including one offering advice for horse owners
Defra has spent £180,000 on redesigning its website because it was “too brown” and looked “too agricultural”
Horse owners must get something for their money if the government plans to charge them a “horse tax” to pay for unexpected disease outbreaks, argues equine industry
Horsewatch groups and National Equine Database officials are disappointed that Defra refuses to give police full access to the database