Veterinary surveillance: Horses
This
page gives an introduction to how we keep and use horses, ponies and donkeys
in the UK and how we look out for their diseases. It has links to other
pages on the Defra website. You can find further information on other
websites by using the link at the bottom of this page.
Horses in the UK
Horses and ponies in the UK are nowadays used mainly for riding. There are very few working on farms or in forestry as ‘draughthorses’- that is, for pulling carts or ploughs. This means that, except under a few circumstances where farming is carried out under very traditional methods, horses cannot be classed as agricultural animals in the UK. However horses may be an important source of income on many farms if they are kept at livery with the farmer providing grazing or a stable. Some farmers have also looked to expand their businesses by moving into other areas such as pony trekking.
Many horses are kept solely for leisure and enjoyment. Horse ownership and riding may be a means of enjoying the countryside or taking part in showing or jumping competitions. Many people, adults and children, learn to ride at local riding stables.
There
are also many horses that are kept and ridden professionally such as racehorses
and show jumpers. Horses are also used by the army and the police. Other
groups of people with an interest in horses include the travelling community
and the New Forest commoners. There are still feral groups of ponies grazing
on areas such as the New Forest and Dartmoor.
Donkeys in this country are mainly kept as pets or as companions for horses.
There are many rescue and welfare organisations providing a home for horses and donkeys when their working days are over.
How many horses are there in the UK?
There are no accurate figures for the numbers of horses and ponies present in the UK. It has been estimated as lying somewhere between 600,000 and 1.2 million. The number of donkeys is thought to be about 10,000, but no one knows the exact figure. We do have information on the numbers of horses kept on farms which we collect from the census of farmers in June every year. However this does not tell us about horses kept by others.
A new system is now in place which will help us obtain this information. All horse owners are required to obtain a passport for every horse they own. This applies to ponies and donkeys too. The organisations issuing the passports will transfer the details of the animals including where they are kept to a National Equine Database. This means that in future we shall have much more accurate information on their numbers.
Details of numbers of horses kept on UK farms are available from the census data. Also, Defra and the British Horse Industry Confederation have carried out research looking in detail at the horse industry in GB, both how it works and its economic value to society.
Further information on horse issues in Government can be found on the Horse Gateway.
Looking for horse diseases
Many people are involved in looking for diseases, with the horse owner and the private veterinary surgeon key in first noticing any signs of illness. If a horse owner or vet suspects that a horse may have signs of a notifiable disease then Defra or DARDNI must be informed. Many horses are imported to this country for sale and breeding and horses may travel from the UK to other countries for shows and competitions. Since there is always the possibility that horses entering the country may bring disease, a system of health certification is in place to ensure that these horses are free from diseases which are already absent from the UK. For some diseases, for example Contagious Equine Metritis and Equine Viral Arteritis, there are codes of practice developed by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
Official samples for disease testing may be taken by the owner’s veterinary surgeon working as a local veterinary inspector or by Government veterinary officers. Other organisations may carry out testing of samples. For example the Animal Health Trust carries out screening and identification of Equine Influenza viruses.
We have regulations in place which ensure the welfare of horses that are being transported. Regular inspections are carried out to make certain horses and ponies do not suffer distress when travelling. The results of these inspections and of any testing carried out for notifiable diseases are published each year in the Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer.
Which are the most important diseases of horses in the UK?
Different diseases are important to different groups of people. However the Government has made certain infectious diseases of horses notifiable. The most important infectious diseases of horses, which have recently caused problems in the UK, are Contagious Equine Metritis and Equine Viral Arteritis.
From the point of view of the horse or pony owner, the most important conditions are probably lameness, colic, respiratory disease, skin conditions and worms. Donkey owners worry about the same diseases.
What other diseases do we look out for?
We also keep a look out for horse diseases which do not usually occur in this country. The most important of these exotic diseases are glanders, African horse sickness, equine infectious anaemia, dourine, equine viral encephalomyelitis and West Nile fever. News from other countries about these diseases helps us plan how to keep them out.
Further information
- Glossary
- Other websites - These sites may be useful if you are interested in further information about horses in the UK. Please note that Defra does not necessarily endorse the content, information or opinions of these sites.
- Further information on horse issues in Government can be found on the Horse Gateway.
- AHT
Equine Reports
Page last modified:
August 31, 2006