‘We appreciate this is a significant move, so we wanted to ensure that we considered the advice provided by veterinary experts before amending our rules’
‘We have left it up to the owners to make the decision whether they come to the show or not’
The society previously said it would not be insisting on mandatory vaccinations for its summer show
‘Alarmingly the number of outbreaks of equine influenza continues to rise and are likely to continue week-on-week for the foreseeable future’
H&H’s breeding columnist urges owners and breeders to consider bio-security to avoid threatening the industry
‘The primary reason for taking this decision is the welfare of the animals’
‘We understand this is going to be disappointing for some but the welfare of the animals attending the show must be our priority’
Experts believe the increase in outbreaks is due to the increased movement and mixing of horses that typically occurs at this time of year
Of the outbreaks in June, one horse had recently arrived from the Netherlands. The remainder do not relate to imported horses.
The number of cases is likely to rise as the competition season continues, experts have warned.
Eight of the affected horses had recently been imported from Ireland
The proposed changes could be made standard from 1 January 2020
‘We are certainly hopeful that events raising their game and requiring vaccination will have had a positive effect on reducing transmission’
Five cases of equine flu have been diagnosed so far this month, while a popular showground has confirmed its new rules on vaccinations
All horses arriving at affiliated events from 1 March must have had a flu booster vaccination within six months or they will be turned away
‘It is clear that this strain of the virus is not going away and is taking advantage of any opportunity given to it to spread among our horse population’
It is thought this group of cases is related to unvaccinated horses coming into contact with other equines at an event
