AHVLA oversees welfare at Olympics
The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency has played a vital part in the preparations for the equestrian events at the Olympic Games, ensuring the health and welfare of horses involved.
The agency has been involved in the movement of horses in and out of the country, the import of animal feed and ensuring that plans are in place should there be an outbreak of disease.
In Greenwich, an equine staging facility has been set up where the horses will receive a veterinary check before they are moved to the main venue. Staff from AHVLA's South East of England Field Services team will be on-call and ready to discuss any emerging issues with the accredited vets at the venue throughout the Games.
Gordon Hickman, Head of AHVLA's Contingency Planning team explains: "We've been working very closely with LOCOG (the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) to ensure that the equestrian element is well planned and that everyone understands the implications should a suspect case of equine notifiable disease occur just before or during the Olympics.”
The International Trade Testing facility at AHVLA's Weybridge laboratory is also prepared for a rise in the amount of testing to be done as the horses are prepared to leave the country when the Olympics come to a close.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
