FOR SEVERAL reasons the emphasis seems to have been on the transportation of equines this month.

First of all BHS has joined forces with Horse and Hound to deliver comprehensive horse transportation training across the UK and, secondly, BHSS has been working closely with various agencies in the early stages of planning a large animal transport emergency response protocol for Scotland.

Under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) 2006 Act we all have a duty of care towards the animals we look after at all times and this certainly includes when we travel them by road and there is no doubt that moving animals is very much in the limelight these days.

Why? Because there have been recent changes in legislation that carry huge penalties because there are more animals travelling on busier roads and as a result an increase in incidents involving them and finally because of the need for good biosecurity and the correct paperwork – so don’t forget your horse’s passport when travelling!

Although complicated issues like drivers’ hours, tachograph rules and operator’s licences are the domain of those driving commercially and larger vehicles (for those people there is another BHS/Horse and Hound Road Haulage Association Transportation Seminar arranged for Perth, in Scotland, on July 6 – details from me!) everyone who loads a horse into any vehicle must make sure of several things.

The horse or pony must be fit to travel, the vehicle used must be road worthy which means that regular maintenance has ensured the, fabric, floor and lights are all in working order.

A whole host of weights need to be taken into consideration. First of all, the horses’ weight, which, in turn, needs to be added to the trailer’s weight when you are calculating towing capacities. The ideal maximum weight for a trailer is 85% of the towcar’s unladen weight, keeping everything below the car’s maximum towing weight.

This gives the towcar substantial weight advantage over the trailer and prevents the prospect of that terrifying of wiggle when the tail can wag the dog. Given that two average sized horses in an average sized trainer weigh in the region of 1880kg limits the choice of vehicle that can tow two horses to the larger and heavier 4x4s.

It’s not just with trailers that being overweight can be dangerous and illegal, people also need to be very careful with their 3.5 tonners and some versions of the small van type are certainly not safe to carry two horses.

All these sensible precautions fit nicely into our second transport topic, because, since the millennium, the emphasis of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has changed from being predominantly reactive to having a more proactive and, therefore, an even more highly skilled work force.

Of course, for years Scottish Fire and Rescue Services have responded to emergency calls to help animals, large or small, domestic or wild when they become stuck, trapped, impaled or have fallen.

Along with other agencies including vets, local authorities and police, BHS is currently working with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as they decide how to tackle large animal rescue in the future by formalising their procedures.

It looks like Scotland will embrace the policies and education available in the Animal Rescue 1 to 3 levels of training on offer from the Hampshire Fire and Rescue.

As in all important initiatives, partnerships are vital. The BEVA/BHS Safer Horse Rescues (formerly Emergency Services Protocol) developed in 2007 with the Hampshire Force with the support of Horse and Hound (again) sets out procedures for emergency services when dealing with horse incidents, making sure veterinary attendance is possible and minimising the risk of suffering and injury to those on the scene (human and animal).

One of the best things about Safer Horse Rescue is the creation of an equine rescue fund ensuring vets are always paid so that treatment or euthanasia is always a timely option if necessary.

Of course, as with everything the BHS is involved in, prevention is better than a cure there is so much we can do to protect our horses. Simple obvious things like training, taking them new places, allowing other people to handle them and sometimes making them stay in strange stables all help.

Each of us having a horse or pony affects so many people and brings so many responsibilities. This spring, as the horse world really comes to life, we are out and about travelling our equines lets always prepare our equipment properly and risk assess our action – oh and don’t forget your passport!