Equine charity, The British Horse Society (BHS) has this month celebrated a milestone achievement by reaching their 50th Healthcare and Education clinic.
These proactive clinics play an essential role in providing a wealth of information and advice to those who may not have regular access to healthcare for their horses.
So far, the BHS Horse Care & Welfare team have been able to support over 2,200 horses across all 50 of the clinics. At the 50th clinic, which was held in Basildon, Essex, a total of 34 horses were in attendance. All the veterinary support was provided by The BEVA Trust vets who volunteered their time.
The equine charity strive to help prevent horses from reaching the point of needing to be rescued and to stop the continual cycle of horse overpopulation. These Healthcare and Education clinics offer services such as castration, foot care, dental checks, passporting and micro-chipping.
One horse to benefit from such services at Basildon was 7-year-old Chip. With the support of one of the BHS Horse Care & Welfare Field Officers, the Shetland pony was recently transferred to the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Sanctuary after his previous owner struggled with their own health issues.
Chip was rehomed as a stallion and was invited to be castrated at the BHS clinic. He is now recovering successfully at the Sanctuary.
Gemma Stanford, Director of Horse Care & Welfare at the BHS adds: “We’re so pleased to have reached such an incredible milestone with our Healthcare and Education clinics. To see the positive impact these clinics are having on horses such as a Chip is wonderful.
In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, we are now seeing more owners needing our support with routine healthcare, so these initiatives are critical. Prevention is better than cure, and these clinics go a long way in helping us to make sure all horses live a happy and healthy life.”
To learn more about the BHS’s Healthcare and Education clinics, please visit: bhs.org.uk/healthcareclinics
The BHS’s Horse Care & Welfare Team continue to work closely with horse owners/carers across the UK. From 8 to 14 November, they will be running their fourth Colic Awareness Week which aims to raise awareness of the importance of recognising the early signs of colic, as well as having an emergency plan in place.
To download an emergency care plan, visit: bhs.org.uk/careplan
Follow the BHS social media channels to learn more about Colic Awareness Week.
