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App developed to tackle obesity in horses
"It is incredibly how quickly a horse can change and so monitoring regularly is key" - Ms Katie Williams.

Equi-BCS can be used to monitor a horse's bodyweight and condition.

A PhD student at the University of Glasgow has developed a free app to help tackle obesity in horses.

Katie Williams, an equine nutritionist, designed the app to help horse owners monitor their horse's bodyweight and condition. Named Equi-BCS, the app allows horse owners to record and share their horse's weight data to share with professionals. 

Discussing why she developed the app, Ms Williams said: “One of the toughest challenges for any horse owner is keeping weight off their horse, and previous studies have shown that horse owners tend to underestimate their horse’s body condition score.

“To succeed, a collaborative approach is required including vets, nutritionists and farriers working together with horse owners.

“It is incredible how quickly a horse can change and so monitoring regularly, ideally every two weeks, is key. 

“Receiving a reminder will provide the prompt that many people need to ensure they take time to assess their horse and either make adjustments to the ration, or seek advice from their vet or nutritionist.”

After surveying veterinary professionals, nutritionists and horse owners, the app has been updated, and the new version of the Equi-BCS app is available to download for free from Apple's app store, or the Google Play store. 

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.