In this lovely dry high pressure of mid April with farmers drilling and spreading fertiliser all around it is exciting to find the going underfoot perfect for riding.

As the stubbles are cultivated we riders are more than compensated for by the parks, fields and tracks that have been too wet to access responsibly all winter drying out and becoming inviting.

It is the job of the BHS to make sure that all those hacking out in this wonderful spring know both the Highway Code and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code prior to taking their horse out of the field.

As I have written many times in this column with the right of horse ownership comes many responsibilities and it is difficult to believe but people still leave gates open and ride among young stock. The BHS bears continual witness to the adage that “one bad apple makes the barrel bad” it is up to the whole horse riding fraternity to behave responsibly or we see many of us denied access to certain desirable areas because of the actions of the few!

A particular point from the Scottish Outdoor Access Code that merits a special mention this month is asking people to be aware of areas where ground nesting birds are breeding. Wildlife has had such a difficult winter we need to be extra diligent in our responsibilities towards our precious lapwings, skylarks and of course game birds. Those of you that do ride out with dogs need to be very certain in the first place that the dog is under tight control every single second and in the second place whether it is appropriate to have the dog with you at all times of year and in every locality.

The long cold wet spring has left a further legacy that was almost inevitable, we are seeing sporadic outbreaks of strangles in a concerning number of areas of Scotland. In particular we are aware of outbreaks in the Lothian and Grampian regions. If BHS had a pound for every time it needs to remind people of their responsibilities when strangles are in the area we’d be a very well off society by now.

And as the competition season kicks off it is gratifying that riders from infected yards, on the whole take biosecurity extremely seriously and are prepared to see competitive opportunities pass by rather than travel equines that could be contacts.

Every horse owner in Scotland should be familiar with STEPS, The Strategy to Eradicate and Prevent Strangles. BHS Scotland is working with the Animal Health Trust on a reprint of this leaflet.Strangles is the most commonly diagnosed equine disease in the whole world, so it was very satisfying lately when BHSS honorary veterinary surgeon, Jamie Gartside, who practices in Perth, took STEPS to delegates at the African Horse and Pony Conference in the Gambia where he was presenting.

Everyone can download the global STEPS code from www.bhsscotland.org.uk/Pages/documents/BHSSteps.pdf

We are aware of huge strides in the diagnosis of strangles currently being made with the blood test proving a huge benefit. Everyday the AHT and associated scientists across the world move closer to a successful strangles vaccine, meanwhile the problem remains as ‘shedders’ – horses that carry strep equi but show no outward symptoms.

So we have the Scottish outdoor Access Code, the Strangles Code and the third code we all need to be aware of is the Highway Code.

It is slightly shocking to continuously see people hacking on the public highway without their fluorescent reflective gear. This is a huge risk to take because any riders involved in an incident, not taking the proper precautions, lay themselves open to blame.

As election fever hots up, it’s worth knowing what the BHS is lobbying on this time.

In past elections, the society has put forward a plethora of issues. In putting forward so many issues it could be said that we were asking for the moon or, at the very least, diminishing the overall impact by asking for too many things of varying degrees of priority. This time, the society has decided to focus on four main UK issues, namely:

1. That equestrians should have parity of treatment when it comes to the provision of access (access for equestrians should be on the same basis as it is for walkers and cyclists). Public money should be for all users.
2. That adequate provision be made for all non-motorised vulnerable road users on all roads, not just for pedestrians and cyclists.
3. That the licensing of livery yards should be mandatory.
4. That the proposal for a levy for equines under Defra’s responsibility and cost sharing plan (also known as the horse tax) should be abandoned.

If you get a chance to speak to any candidates you could ask them about these issues, as so often the economic value of equines to the rural economy is overlooked.

Finally, there is the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Equidae and I refer to point 50 which begins: “The weight and condition of every animal should be monitored regularly to avoid welfare problems and feeding adjusted as necessary for animals that are too fat..”