The National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) is pleased to announce the publication of a groundbreaking two-part study that delivers a comprehensive review of factors influencing the well-being of domestic horses.

The research, published in the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) journal, Animal Welfare, identifies essential needs and the profound impact of human interactions on horse welfare, offering practical recommendations for improving horses' quality of life (QoL).

A comprehensive review of relevant scientific literature revealed that many current horse management practices do not fully address species-specific needs and that human-horse interactions may not always be positive for the animal.

Key findings from the first paper emphasise that fulfilling horses’ species-specific needs—such as providing adequate space, social companionship, and access to forage—is vital for their physical and emotional well-being. Horses exhibit positive emotional behaviours when these needs are met, including affiliative interactions and reduced stress-related behaviours.

The second paper explores the horse-human relationship, noting that human interactions can both positively and negatively affect a horse's well-being. It highlights that while positive experiences with humans, such as gentle handling and trust-building exercises, can improve a horse’s well-being, aversive interactions or unrecognised pain can have long-term negative effects. The research suggests adopting management practices that reduce negative stimuli, ensuring that interactions with humans promote pleasure and trust.

Based on these findings, the researchers have outlined key recommendations aimed at enhancing horse welfare through improved management practices:

• Prioritise providing horses with space, companionship, and free access to forage to meet their natural behavioural needs.
• Minimise negative human-horse interactions by improving handling techniques and training methods.
• Recognise and address behavioural signs of pain early to prevent negative impacts on a horse's emotional health and well-being.

The researchers hope their findings will contribute to better equine management practices, encouraging a shift toward more humane treatment that improves the overall quality of life for horses. The conclusions from this research will also directly inform the upcoming revision of the NEWC Code of Practice.

Co-author and Director of NEWC, Dr Carol Hall, said “Unfortunately, most domestic horses aren’t living as good a life as they could or should be. Our review highlights several areas where current management and training practices fall short. Ensuring basic provisions like space, companionship, and adequate forage is essential for their well-being, yet these needs are often unmet.”

“It was also clear from the literature that behavioural signs, which could indicate how horses feel during human interactions, are often ignored or misinterpreted. Restrictive practices limit their ability to withdraw from unpleasant situations, leading to long-term negative effects.”

NEWC Chair, Carolyn Madgwick said “On a positive note, this extensive review allows us to pinpoint numerous ways to improve the lives of domestic horses. The NEWC Code of Practice is currently being updated and will incorporate these findings to advance equine welfare nationwide.”

With support from The Horse Trust, who funded the preliminary stage of this research, and Nottingham Trent University who facilitated the Open Access publication, this research represents a significant step forward in driving evidence-based improvements in equine welfare practices.

Nominations are officially open for The Jockey Club RoR Horse of the Year Award and The Sir Peter O’Sullevan RoR Community Impact Award.

The RoR Awards will take place on Cheltenham Festival Trials Day, 25 January 2025.

Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is excited to announce that the 2025 RoR Awards will be held at Cheltenham Festival Trials Day on 25 January 2025. This new venue for the RoR Awards provides a unique opportunity to merge our celebration of the adaptability and versatility of Thoroughbreds in their post-racing careers with the excitement of racing. The event will highlight two prestigious awards: The Jockey Club RoR Horse of the Year Award and The Sir Peter O’Sullevan RoR Community Impact Award, alongside the presentation of the RoR Elite Series champions across seven equestrian disciplines.

Next year’s awards are especially significant as they coincide with RoR’s 25th anniversary. This milestone allows us to reflect on a quarter-century of commitment to the welfare of former racehorses. RoR is dedicated to ensuring these magnificent animals lead lives filled with dignity, love, and fulfilment long after their racing careers have concluded.

The Jockey Club RoR Horse of the Year Award and the Sir Peter O’Sullevan RoR Community Impact Award recognise exceptional former racehorses who have successfully transitioned into new careers, as well as inspiring individuals and organisations that have made a significant impact in people’s lives working with former racehorses.

RoR Managing Director, David Catlow, expressed his enthusiasm for the 2025 event, stating, “We are thrilled to bring the RoR Awards to Cheltenham Festival Trials Day. Partnering with such a prestigious venue allows us to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary achievements of former racehorses both on and off the racetrack.”

On behalf of the trustees of The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, Nigel Payne remarked, “As we embark on the second year of this award, we are confident that Sir Peter would have cherished the connection between his charitable trust and RoR. This partnership not only showcases the remarkable efforts made to promote new lives for horses after racing but also highlights the profound impact that former racehorses can have in transforming people’s lives for the better.”

Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, said: “We are proud to support RoR once again with The Jockey Club RoR Horse of the Year Award. Cheltenham is the perfect backdrop for celebrating the remarkable second careers of former racehorses, the huge range of activities they undertake and impact they have."

The 2025 RoR Awards promise to feature heartwarming stories that celebrate the versatility and adaptability of former racehorses as they transition into new careers. Nominations for both awards are now open and will close at 5 pm on 8 November 2024. For further information, please visit the RoR Awards pages.

Redwings launches new fireworks campaign and asks people to contact their MP ahead of awareness-raising event at Westminster.

Redwings is launching a new campaign to better protect horses, ponies, donkeys and mules from the fear, injury, illness and worse that fireworks can cause. The horse welfare charity, which is one of the biggest in the UK, is asking people to ‘Keep Horses in Mind’ when they’re deciding whether to use fireworks and choosing which type – with quiet or silent fireworks now more available than ever before.

Redwings has been campaigning to raise awareness on the issue for over ten years with increased commitment after three horses in the charity’s care died because of the effects of fireworks. Last year they released distressing footage of some of their horses reacting to fireworks being let off near one of their centres.

Earlier this year (Wednesday 27 March), the charity hosted a roundtable discussion to explore the viability of using the Animal Welfare Act as a means of holding individuals to account in cases where fireworks are believed to have inadvertently led to the injury or death of an animal, and produced a ground-breaking report on the Animal Welfare Act and fireworks here.

Now, as the first action of their new campaign, Redwings is co-hosting an awareness-raising drop-in event for MPs in Westminster on Wednesday 30th October, alongside other members of the Fireworks Working Group,and is urging people to contact their MP to ask them to attend.

Redwings Campaigns and Policy Manager Helen Whitelegg said: “We’re inviting MPs to join us to discuss much-needed improvement to regulations.

“The event will highlight the adverse impact of fireworks not only on horses, but also on other animals, people, wildlife and the environment, with the aim of raising awareness amongst those who have the power to bring about change.

“Please contact your local MP and ask them to come along. You can find your MP's contact details here.”

The MP drop-in event will take place in Room S, Portcullis House, between 2 pm - 3.30 pm on Wednesday 30^th October.

Helen added: “We are planning lots more actions as part of the campaign and will have some new resources to share too, so please do get involved and help us achieve overdue change.”

For more information go to Redwings fireworks webpage here and follow Redwings’ social media channels to lend your support.

We are delighted to welcome HorseBack UK as a member of the National Equine Welfare Council.

The organisation is a multi-award-winning Scottish charity located just outside Aboyne in the Scottish Highlands that focuses on improving health and well-being by inspiring recovery, fostering positive change, and helping individuals find renewed purpose, particularly those who are disadvantaged or marginalized. HorseBack UK also aims to enhance education and employment prospects for these communities.

Through horsemanship, equine-assisted learning, rural skills training, and outdoor activities, HorseBack UK delivers award-winning projects designed to help participants develop new coping strategies, build life skills, and strengthen resilience while earning nationally recognised awards and qualifications.

Founded in 2009 by Jock Hutchison, a former Royal Marine, and Emma Hutchison, a former police officer, HorseBack UK initially focused on supporting veterans dealing with life-changing injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 2016, the charity expanded its mission to serve the wider community, including emergency service personnel dealing with PTSD and disengaged young people, offering well-being support and qualifications.

The charity's objectives include facilitating and advancing health and social well-being to improve the quality of life for individuals who:

• Are serving or have served in the Armed Forces and have been injured, wounded, or are suffering from mental or physical illnesses, including PTSD.
• Due to their age, ill-health (including mental health), disability, social or financial circumstances, occupation, or other disadvantages, can benefit from the services and facilities provided by the charity.

Activities provided by HorseBack UK include:

• Personal development through horsemanship skills to improve health, social well-being, confidence, and general interaction, sometimes utilising equine therapy.
• Education and personal growth through training in rural skills, traditional crafts, and conservation/adventure activities to support rehabilitation, re-settlement, re-training, and employability.

In addition to its Youth Development Programme, HorseBack UK's key initiatives include:

• The Military Recovery Programme, which supports veterans suffering from life-changing physical and mental injuries.
• The Live Life Project, managed by the NHS, which assists families of veterans.
• The Schools Development Programme, designed for disengaged 13-to-16-year-olds referred through schools, who might otherwise face exclusion from education.

HorseBack UK’s commitment to these causes highlights its dedication to making a significant difference in the lives of those facing adversity. Find out more about their work, here.

CANTER Guidelines launch at the International Equine Infectious Disease Conference

The CANTER Guidelines for the sustainable use of anthelmintics in horses were formally introduced on Thursday 3^rd October 2024 at the International Equine Infectious Disease Conference in Deauville, France. CANTER Chair, Dr Alison Pyatt presented the Guidelines alongside those from six other organisations from around the world.

It was indicated as a seminal moment in equine parasitology to have such wide-reaching representation within the same round table session. The meeting was lauded as an opportunity to highlight the urgency of the global anthelmintic resistance problem and to collaborate on best practice approaches.  A key theme was the need for consistency in messaging to give clarity to horse owners.

Commenting on the launch of the UK CANTER Guidelines, Dr Alison Pyatt commented:

“It is such a privilege to Chair the CANTER group and now to share the prescriber facing guidelines. This pan-industry group, representative of the UK equine sector, is the first of its kind to promote a consistency in approach across prescriber groups. Thanks are extended to all CANTER contributors who have worked so hard on the development of this crucial document.”

The audience welcomed the responses from all countries in their endeavours to encourage sustainable use of anthelmintics and address the concerns around horse welfare.

The session was chaired by Professor Martin Nielsen and representatives from Australia, USA, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark and ESCCAP (the European Scientific Counsel for Companion Animal Parasites, which itself is represented in 19 different countries) presented their guidelines.

Read the CANTER guidelines here.

Download assets to support the launch here.

The RSPCA has reported a rehoming crisis on day one of its month-long Adoptober rehoming campaign (1 October). Its animal intake is now 42% higher than the number of animals being successfully adopted into new homes and the situation is described as being “critical”.

In the first six months of this year, the RSPCA took in 32% more equines than the number rescued during the first half of 2023. The number of dogs and cats rescued also increased significantly, at 21% and 16% respectively.

“Our rescue centres are jam-packed, and we’ve been seeing more animals coming to us than we are rehoming,” said Karen Colman, who leads the charity’s team finding places for rescued animals.

“We urge anyone considering adding a pet to their family to step in and help by giving a rescue pet a second chance instead of buying from breeders.

“Our rehoming centres have reached crisis point and are full to bursting, creating a bottleneck where we’re having to care for rescued animals.”

Cost of living influences

The RSPCA hopes Adoptober will increase adoption rates across England and Wales by celebrating the benefits of rescue pets and highlighting the animals that are waiting to find their forever homes.

“Our 14 national centres prioritise animals rescued from cruelty and neglect,” added Karen. “They are the animals which need the most help with veterinary and behavioural care to rehabilitate them.

“These most vulnerable animals take time to recover from the cruelty and neglect they have experienced so it’s even more rewarding to see them ready to find loving new homes where they will be lavished with the love they deserve, and we hope even more will get to experience that during Adoptober.”

She also said that concerns about the cost of living remain an influencing factor in people giving up their animals.

“Our amazing teams are doing all they can. Our 135 independently run branches continue to rehome at a phenomenal pace and we are extremely proud of the work that they do,” continued Karen.

“They play a vital role in local communities across England and Wales and whilst they feel the pressure of taking in more animals they have done an incredible job finding so many loving new homes.”

If you are interested in rehoming a horse or pony, search for those seeking a new home at newc.co.uk/horses or get in touch with your local NEWC member.

We are delighted to welcome Rosanna Hart to her new role as Director of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC). Rosanna brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and dedication to equine welfare, honed over several years working in various roles at Bransby Horses Rescue & Welfare.

As the Rehoming Manager at Bransby Horses, Rosanna has overseen the Perfect Partners rehoming scheme, a UK-wide initiative designed to place rescued equines in long-term, loving homes. Her leadership in this area has been key to ensuring successful rehoming efforts and helping countless horses find their forever homes.

Rosanna’s journey with Bransby Horses began in 2017 as an Equine Welfare Assistant, and since then, she has taken on multiple critical roles, including Veterinary Coordinator, Facilities Manager, Admissions and Biosecurity Manager, and Head of External Welfare. Her diverse experience in these leadership positions has given her a holistic perspective on equine welfare and the challenges faced by the sector.

A passionate advocate for professional excellence and continuous improvement, Rosanna's commitment to innovation has made her a driving force for success in all her endeavours. She looks forward to bringing this same energy and vision to her work with NEWC, where she aims to strengthen the council's initiatives and further its mission of promoting and safeguarding equine welfare across the UK.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Rosanna’s personal connection to the equine world runs deep. Raised in a "horsey" family, she has owned and ridden horses from a young age, developing a particular passion for native breeds and Arab horses. While she competed successfully as a child, she now enjoys a more relaxed life riding through the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds and caring for her beloved Bransby Horses non-ridden cob, Boots.

We are excited to see the positive impact Rosanna will undoubtedly have on the National Equine Welfare Council, and we look forward to the future of equine welfare under her leadership. Please join us in warmly welcoming her to the team!

Charities warn that the cost-of-living crisis is still having a big impact.

Two NEWC members have come together to urge financially struggling horse owners to rehome their horses before winter. World Horse Welfare and Blue Cross have made the appeal over concerns that many horse owners are still struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis.

A recent survey, conducted by World Horse Welfare on behalf of the National Equine Welfare Council, found that 1.9 per cent of respondents thought they might need to approach a charity to rehome their horse within the next year. This translates to over 7,000 households in the UK who could have to give up their horses.

The cost of horse ownership is also continuing to have an impact on owners who are not yet at the stage of having to rehome their horses. More than two-thirds of respondents told the survey that they had made sacrifices in their lives to provide for the horses’ basic care needs.

The charities have emphasised that summer is the best time to rehome horses. The longer days and summer weather can make it easier for new owners to bond with their horses. In contrast, horse care in winter can be more demanding, due to the need for more stable time and feed.

Tony Tyler, deputy chief executive of World Horse Welfare, said: “Rehoming your horse during the summer gives both the horse and the new owner the best chance of a smooth transition.

“Waiting until winter can be far more difficult for everyone involved, and this is the main time of year people decide to rehome their horses, so there will be far more competition for homes just at the time it becomes much harder to care for your horses.

“We know many people understandably hang on to their horses for as long as possible, but it may be in everyone’s best interest to plan ahead and start the process now.”

NEWC Vice-Chair and Blue Cross Horse Welfare Manager, Ruth Court, added: “Both ourselves and World Horse Welfare offer advice lines where you can talk in confidence to a kind and understanding member of our teams, and they will discuss options with you.

“It’s so important to do this before it is too late and the horse has started to suffer and stands the risk of becoming a welfare case.”

Both Blue Cross and World Horse Welfare have more information for struggling owners on their websites.

The results from NEWC's latest cost-of-living survey, which uncovers the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on equine-keeping, can be found here.

NEWC is delighted to welcome the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) as a new member.

Established in 1907, NIVA is a membership organisation representing all veterinary surgeons in Northern Ireland whose objective is the promotion and advancement of veterinary and allied sciences, and to further the status and prestige of the veterinary profession.

Find out more about their work, here: vetni.co.uk/niva

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The NEWC Board received some wonderful nominations for our first year of Member Awards - thank you to all those who took the time to nominate colleagues, volunteers and other members for recognition. The awards allowed us to shine a light on the incredible work and achievements made by individuals and teams within our member organisations.

Team of the Year: Jo Franklin and Julie Harding, Redwings. Many of us have had the pleasure of working with Jo and Julie and appreciate their commitment, quiet unflappable determination, and skill in catching and processing equines at rescues.

Individual Employee of the Year: Sarah Hollister, Horseworld Trust. Sarah is in her 24th year at HorseWorld Trust having started as a welfare groom and is now Head of Equine Welfare. Being described by her nominee as dependable, efficient and caring towards everyone are words that all of us who manage people aspire to hear.

Volunteer of the Year and Member Award winners: Jennifer and Harriet Handy have been a Blue Cross Foster Yard for 5 years and have fostered an incredible 154 horses in that time. Jennifer and Harriet’s lives evolve around the horses’ needs, allowing them to flourish and find new homes essentially being an extension of the Blue Cross rehoming centres!

Entries will open for Member Awards 2025 in the New Year with the awards being announced at the AGM. Please get involved and share the great work your teams are doing.