BHS Scotland Archived News February 2008

26 February 2008:  Successful BHSS Conference focuses on personal safety and animal accidents

Riders, instructors and proprietors were joined by road safety and welfare representatives, firemen and police from all over Scotland to learn about some of the BHS’s latest safety partnership initiatives. Loraine Young, Chairman of BHS Scotland, said: “It was a very interesting conference. You could tell everyone was riveted by the atmosphere in the room. The feedback was 100 percent positive. We are delighted to have held such a useful day. "If people take on board their safety responsibilities as horse owners and use training and risk assessment techniques, we will definitely have enhanced equine safety in Scotland.” Click here for more information.

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26 February 2008: Last chance to gain your Transport Competency Certificate in time!
Here's the chance to sit your certificate of competency in animal welfare during transport prior to the May 1 deadline.  The event takes place at Gleneagles on 25 April and it will take you approximately 1 hour to sit the paper based test.  The assessment will involve 25 generic questions and a further 5 questions for each species you want to cover.  The qualification covers fitness to travel, means of transport, use of facilities, loading,  unloading, handling, watering, feeding intervals, journey times, rest periods, space allowance and documentation.  Click here for more information (including how to revise!)  

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14 February 2008 - Do you want safe off-road riding and driving?
Across Scotland every local council access department, as well as the national parks are planning core paths for all non-motorised users including horse riders and carriage drivers.  They are at an advanced stage in these plans, and have been holding consultations over the last two years on the proposals, but there is still plenty of time to get involved and lobby the council for the routes that you want to ride on a regular basis.  Click here for more information.
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14 February 2008 Calling all Proprietors – business assistance, biosecurity & ideas at BHS Conference 2008The 2008 riding school and livery yard proprietors conference will take place on Monday March 31st at the Kingsbarn Equestrian Centre, Falkirk and will address vital areas to assist equine businesses who want to improve their performance and keep on the right side of the law.

Topics to be addressed include: How to avoid litigation, the role of Trading Standards, Equestrian yard biosecurity and opportunities within the new SRDP. There will also be a couple of practical sessions including a tour of this brand new yard and advice for anyone setting up a new venture and a session on practical instruction comprising new ideas and making lessons fun.

Anyone who runs an equine business or is thinking of starting one will find something valuable in this day, as will ordinary horse owners. All Welcome to attend.  Click here for programme and to book.

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12 February 2008 - Equine Welfare and Safety Conference on 23 February 2008
This conference is a huge coup for Scotland and an amazing and unique learning opportunity for the Scottish equine sector.  The conference will address:
* Personal Safety - how to keep yourself safe when riding alone or with others - Superb advice that will benefit anyone who walks, runs or rides alone in the Scottish countryside
* Fear management and Self defence - a must for all those who lead rides and deal with the public
* Thinking about stable and farm fires - prevention and preparedness - if you run an equestrian establishment you should hear this important presentation and make sure you are taking all the right precautions
* What the new highway code means to horses - did you know that there are over 35 statutory rules in the code that affect equines? Anyone who rides on the road must hear this presentation
* The launch of the Emergency Services Protocol for Scotland. A joint project among BEVA, the Association of Chief Police Officers and Chief Fire officers Association, setting out operating procedures for responding to emergency incidents involving horses, with the preservation of life an animal welfare at its heart.

All held on Saturday February 23 at 9.30am (for 10!) in the easily accessed Edinburgh Airport Hilton Hotel with coffee and warm shortbread on arrival - a great lunch and tea and cakes.  We are lucky to welcome representation from police and fire officers to take time to make us and our horses safer - can you afford to miss this opportunity?

£35 for public, £25 BHS members £20 for BHS safety and welfare reps and the proprietors of approved riding schools and livery yards and Horses welcome establishments.

Click here for the programme and to book.

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12 February 2008 - BHS Scotland is benefitting charity at Blair Castle Horse Trials in 2008
Come and join the fun at Blair and help support the BHS.  Click here for more information.

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12 February 2008 - Fantastic dressage, fun and the foundation - an evening with Emile Faurie

Over 400 people enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and informative “An evening with Emile Faurie” at Gleneagles in early February. The masterclass was combined with two days of teaching clinics where the feedback was 100% positive with lucky riders cherishing the opportunity to gain from Emile’s astute and helpful observations. At the evening gala event, Emile worked with three guinea pigs, Joanna Barry working at Novice to Elementary Level riding Vivaldi V, jointly owned by Lady Hope and Joanna.  Diana Zajda, Director of Coaching at the Centre, was drafted in last minute as a result of lameness riding her own former three day eventer, Chablis II giving a good account of themselves at Medium to Advanced Medium level and Susan Dunlop from Lanarkshire who brought the enigmatic Leon owned by Gerald Smith working at Prix St Georges level.  All three were perfect demonstrations of their respective levels and Emile delivered his training with humour and his trademark attention to detail and how changing a little can help a lot. The event was a joint effort among Equenox Equestrian Supplies, The British Horse Society Scotland and Gleneagles Equestrian Centre. Emile was also promoting his foundation “Reaching with Horses the Youth of Today” which aims to liase between riding schools and youngsters who would not normally access the wholesome world of the horse and provide riding lessons and horsemanship training to those usually denied the opportunity. Emile was able to present an achievement certificate to Sean Johnstone who represented ten riders from the TROJAN project at Glenrothes High School. Sean and his contemporaries have been able to receive riding lessons on this initiative, which is driven by the joint community integration team from Fife Constabulary and Glenrothes High School. Equenox also presented Sean with a fleece. The audience were so supportive of the Foundation that stocks of the fundraising DVD “An Evening in July” were sold out. Chairman of BHS Scotland, Loraine Young said; “It was fabulous that such an established expert as Emile was able to spend time in Scotland, thank you to Equenox and Gleneagles Equestrian Centre for making this possible.”

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12 February 2008 - International Strangles Conference comes to Scotland
We are delighted to host this year's conference "Getting to Grips with Strangles" at Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies on Wednesday 28 May 2008.   Click here for the programme and to book.