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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 18th September 2013
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Hoof and Macmillan team up for Blenheim Horse Trials
Offering cancer patients free lessons to boost confidence

Hoof, the British Equestrian Federation’s Olympic and Paralympic legacy project, and cancer charity Macmillan have teamed up for the Fidelity Blenheim International Horse trials.

Macmillan, the chosen charity for the horse trials, and Hoof showcased Henry, the mechanical horse, who provided the perfect opportunity for prospective and lapsed riders to regain confidence in the saddle, offering free rides and rosettes for everyone.

Courtesy of the association between the two organisations, Lesley Newport, a 55-year-old horse rider and lung cancer patient celebrated a milestone in her treatment with a trip to the horse trials.

Two years ago, Lesley received her lung cancer diagnosis and a prognosis of six months to live. She was determined to maximise and prolong her life and was encouraged to exercise and maintain her fitness.

She discovered the Take Back the Reins programme and began horse riding at her local centre, Newton Hall Equitation Centre in Ipswich.

Take Back The Reins, a Sport England funded initiative, was developed by Hoof and equestrian centres across England to provide a structured set of fun riding lessons for new or lapsed riders to give them confidence in the saddle.

Commenting on the programme, Lesley said: "When someone says to you that you are going to die you wake up every day thinking is it today, and I think the mere fact of going to the stables, seeing the horses and creating a new group of friends that I have a shared interest with, coupled with the support from Macmillan is such an inspiration to get better."

Sara Rawnsley, Macmillan fundraising manager for Oxfordshire, said: "Lesley has so much energy and refuses to let cancer be the end of doing things she loves. Hearing how much riding has helped her through her cancer journey should inspire us all to find the time to do the things we love."

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.