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King awards OBE to World Horse Welfare chief
Roly Owers is a qualified veterinary surgeon and has been chief executive for World Horse Welfare since 2008.

Roly Owers recognised for services to equine welfare in King's birthday honours list.

Chief executive of World Horse Welfare, Roly Owers has been awarded an OBE for services to equine welfare in King Charles III birthday honours list.

Dr Owers is a qualified veterinary surgeon and has been chief executive of the UK-based charity since 2008.

Graduating from Cambridge University in 1992, Dr Owers went on to achieve a masters degree in nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1997. He gained veterinary experience in roles at the Blue Cross and Royal Army Veterinary Corps.

As chief executive for World Horse Welfare, Dr Owers leads the charity’s endeavours to improve horse welfare in the UK and worldwide, working with governments and institutions in the UK, the European Union, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the United Nations. 

World Horse Welfare chairman Michael Baines said: “I am delighted that Roly has been recognised for his unceasing hard work, leadership and drive which has been instrumental to the success of World Horse Welfare. He has embodied the compassionate, pragmatic approach to improving the lives of horses that has inspired the charity since it was founded by Ada Cole and continues to make us so relevant today.” 

Dr Owers said: “It is a privilege to be entrusted with leading the work of World Horse Welfare, and I am hugely thankful to my team and my family as this is as much for them as for me. What I find inspiring is that recognition at this level demonstrates the continued relevance of horses to society and the part we all play in protecting their welfare for future generations.”

As well as his work for World Horse Welfare, Dr Owers gives horse welfare advice to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Image (C) World Horse Welfare

 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.