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HORSE HEALTH I N E W S 3
Honour for new professor By Louise Cordell A NEW Equine Professorship has been announced in honour of the career of the thoroughbred Alborada. James Wood has been named the Alborada Professor of Equine and Farm Animal Science by the Alborada Trust – named after the well known race mare. Alborada, bred and raced by Kirsten Rausing, won the Newmarket Champion Stakes twice and was officially rated the Champion Three-YearOld Filly in the World in 1998. The Trust's aims include the funding of veterinary causes in the UK, including research into the causes behind infectious diseases and their treatment. In his new post Professor Wood will lead the management and develop-
ment of the equine and farm animal sections of Cambridge University’s department of veterinary medicine. He is currently developing the department's research strategy for equine and farm animal science and, in addition, he is director of the Cambridge Infectious Diseases Consortium, which researches the evolution, spread and control of infectious animal diseases, including those transmissible to humans. Professor Wood said: "It is a great honour to be appointed into this position, and I look forward to exploiting the exciting opportunities for research here in the University across a range of different equine and farm animal diseases. “We must address the growing threats to human and animal health that exist in this changing world – and this is best accomplished through
scientific evidence." Some of Professor Wood’s recent research examines the epidemiology of diseases such as Bluetongue and African Horse Sickness, as well as bovine Tuberculosis and influenza in horses and pigs. Professor Duncan Maskell, head of the department of veterinary medicine, said: “I am very excited about this new Professorship. “Equine and livestock diseases are important causes of welfare problems and major causes of losses to the economy. “Strengthening the already excellent research base in Cambridge, especially in infectious diseases, by the establishment of this new Chair, and the election of James Wood, provides us with a great opportunity to really make a difference in this important area of activity.”
Society launches new competition for instructors THE British Horse Society is launching a new competition f o r i n s t r u c t o r s o ff e r i n g p r i z e m o n e y a n d t h e c h a n c e t o c o mp e t e a t t h e R o y a l Wi n d s o r H o r s e S h o w. T h e ‘ I n s t ructors Challenge’ is a combined training competition, o p e n t o a l l B H S re g i s t e re d
i n s t ru c t o r s a n d t h e f i n a l i s t s w i l l c o m p e t e a t Wi n d s o r i n M a y i n o rd e r t o w i n t h e £ 1 , 0 0 0 f i r s t prize. A qualifier will be held in each re g i o n o f t h e c o u n t ry w i t h t h e w i n n e r o f e a c h g o i n g f o r w a rd to the final.
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Louise Cordell
Tel: 01226 734694
lcordell@whpl.net
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Beverley Parkin Tel: 01226 734333 Fax: 01226 734478 bp@whpl.net Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all content, the publishers do not accept liability for error, printed or otherwise, that may occur.
T h e c o m p e t i t i o n w i l l b e ru n a c c o rd i n g t o B r i t i s h D re s s a g e C o m b i n e d Tr a i n i n g ru l e s a t novice level and competitors c a n n o t h a v e r i d d e n i n t e r n a t i o nally within the last ten years. Qualifier details can be found a t w w w. b h s . o rg . u k
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Study offers course design warning CROSS country course designers could be putting horses at risk by including potentially dangerous fences in competitions, according to new research. The study, funded by The Horse Trust, is the first of its kind as previously any suggested changes to avoid damaging falls were based on anecdotal information. Lead researcher, Dr Ellen Singer at the University of Liverpool, found that the fences that posed the greatest threat were those with a base spread greater than 2m, which are faced straight on.
Analysis showed that these were the cause of the most rotational horse falls, which in turn posed the greatest risk of injury to both horse and rider – and reducing the width of these fences would make a greater contribution to safety than reducing the number of fences jumped at an angle. The study revealed that horses competing in one-day eventing competitions are at greater risk of falling at a drop landing, compared with those competing in three-day competitions. It also found that speed of approach is also significant, with falls occuring
both when the horse is allowed to approach an obstacle too quickly and when the rider is over cautious. Paul Jepson, Horse Trust chief executive, said: “The challenge of the cross country course is an essential element – but we would urge designers to take account of this research when preparing their courses and riders to think more carefully about speed of approach. It seems that, every year, there is the tragic death of a horse or rider. If taking account of this survey can prevent one of these tragedies it will have more than proved its worth.”
Some cr o s s c o u n t r y f e n c e s c a n pose a risk to horse and rider