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Horse Trust joins Animal Behaviour and Training Council
The Horse Trust will help to promote the use of safe, effective and humane methods of training and behaviour modification.
Charity to advise on safe and effective methods of equine training

The world’s oldest equine charity has become the first equine-focussed Advisory Member of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC).

The Horse Trust provides respite and retirement to working horses across the UK that have experienced cruelty and neglect. It also provides training for professionals working on the frontline of horse welfare, such as the police and local authority inspectors.

As a member of the ABTC, the Horse Trust will help to promote the use of safe, effective and humane methods of training and behaviour modification for horses. Currently, anyone can call themselves a behaviourist, making it difficult for owners and riders to get the right knowledge and advice.

Commenting on the move, Liane Preshaw, director of knowledge and skills at The Horse Trust, said she would like to see more trainers and behaviourists meeting the ABTC’s standards and becoming accredited.

“This will ensure the trainer/behaviourist understands the importance of ruling out pain or discomfort as a cause of unwanted behaviours, the need to ensure the horse’s needs are met and the impact on the horse’s behaviour if they aren’t, and how to train horses optimally by understanding how they learn,” she said.

“We would like to encourage more equine professionals to develop their knowledge and skills so that they can help safeguard the psychological health of our horses.”

The ABTC is the regulatory body that represents animal trainers and animal behaviour therapists to the legislative and public bodies. It sets and maintains standards of practical skills and knowledge needed to be a behaviourist, training instructor or animal therapist. It also maintains the national register of appropriately-qualified individuals.

David Montgomery, president of the ABTC, said “Our understanding of welfare issues associated with all animal training and behaviour interventions has grown enormously over the years and with it the need to establish and promote standards that reflect best practice.

“The ABTC has made significant progress towards this goal with smaller companion animals and is therefore delighted to broaden its scope into the equine world with the support of the Horse Trust.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.