Competitors

Under the Animal Welfare Act (2006), the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, (hereafter referred to as The Welfare Acts) every horse owner or those responsible for a horse have a duty of care to ensure the animal’s well-being. Thus, causing suffering and ill treatment are no longer the only grounds for prosecution under animal welfare law. It is now an offence to fail to take adequate steps to ensure a horse’s welfare, even if the animal is not yet at the point of suffering. In particular, please note the following regulations:

WELFARE ACTS – Under the Welfare Acts the parents / guardians of children under 16 years old are responsible for the welfare of their children’s horses/ponies.

HEALTH & HYGIENE – The spread of equine disease is a perpetual risk when attending shows. Horse owners should act responsibly and not attend a show if there is a disease outbreak at their yard, even if the horse / pony taken to the show does not appear ill. This is because some diseases have an incubation period of 14 days. For more information and guidance, please refer to the information available on the BHS website and British Equestrian website.

VISIBLE BLOOD – On rare occasions a horse / pony may injure itself traveling, being worked in or competing, or blood may be noticed from the mouth or nostrils or other parts of the animal’s body. In these circumstances the competitor should not compete or cease competing and get their horse / pony checked as soon as possible. The animal should be treated and where necessary the person responsible for the horse / pony should seek veterinary advice and attention to ensure the animal can travel home or continue to compete in further classes on the day.

EQUINE OBESITY – must be avoided and all horses / ponies exhibited should be fit for purpose for the event or class they are competing in. Having a horse / pony which is obese is extremely detrimental to its welfare and animals carrying too much fat are at a significantly increased risk of developing serious health and welfare issues

SENSORY WHISKERS – are the hard hairs located on the horse’s muzzle and around the eyes, also known as ‘whiskers’ that are used for sensation. It is recommended that horses should not have whiskers trimmed or removed (other than for veterinary purposes or with a vet’s certificate). Brood Mares, foals and youngstock should present with no evidence of whiskers or sensory hairs having been removed.

UNATTENDED HORSES – No horse should be left unattended unless they are in a stable, horsebox/trailer and known to behave sensibly when ordinarily left in such a situation.

TYING UP OF HORSES – For safety reasons horses or ponies should not be left unattended tied to a horsebox/trailer at any time.

WORKING IN OF HORSES / PONIES – The amount of work the horse undertakes should be in accordance with its age, experience, and fitness.

SUITABLY MOUNTED – Any animal ridden anywhere on the showground, rings or lorry parks (day or night) must be only ridden by a rider whose size and weight does not compromise the animal’s welfare.  We are operating under the 20% rider weight guideline where the rider in full riding attire with tack must be less than 20% of the animal’s bodyweight.  This is based on a relatively fit, healthy animal as an overweight animal is also a welfare concern.  Welfare Officers, appointed by Equifest, will be monitoring the Equine areas and have the power to ask riders deemed too large to dismount.