Horses and dogs sailed with Vikings to Britain, say scientists

By Georgina RannardClimate and science reporterBBC News Vikings sailing from Scandinavia to England brought horses, dogs and perhaps even pigs with them, according to analysis of bone remains. Invading Vikings were previously thought to have largely stolen animals from villages in Britain. The findings also provide evidence Viking leaders had a close relationship with animals…

Horse racing must do away with tongue-ties

Tongue-ties are banned in most non-racing sports by the international governing body of equestrian sports, Federation Equestre Internationale, so you will not see them in events like show-jumping, dressage and eventing. Tongue-ties are used in horse racing around the world in varying degrees, and require no veterinary oversight. A tongue-tie is a large elastic band…

Hobby horsing

We at the Fund for Horses have become slightly obsessed with hobby horsing. When we first heard about it, quite a few years ago now, we thought oh well that's a crazy youth thing they do in Finland and it probably won't take off anywhere else. Wrong! Let's learn more about it. You can do…

Britain’s Gay Kelleway claims trainers are running lame horses

The trainer has made a strongly worded call for more pre-race checks of horses and accused colleagues of sending racehorses to the track which are not fit to race. The Guardian newspaper reports: Gay Kelleway has made a strongly worded call for more pre-race checks of racehorses and accused some of her colleagues of sending…

What does Brexit mean for horse racing?

Racing is one of the first extravangances to be cut back by the well heeled when the future looks murky Excerpt from an article by Robin Oakley For the Spectator Perhaps the most surprising thing about Theresa May’s arrival at No. 10 is that it has given us back a prime minister who has owned…

UK: As horse deaths mount, campaigners ask: what price a day at the races

Cheltenham heads list of courses where most animals die, and jump racing carries most risk Cross-posted from The Observer A thousand horses have died on Britain's racecourses since 2007, according to records kept by an animal rights organisation. Animal Aid's "Death Watch" list reached the 1,000 mark late last month when a seven-year-old gelding, Hired…

British horsemeat ban to be lifted

Cross-posted from The Times of LondonMarch 7, 2004Fund for Horses Archives Tens of thousands of British horses could be sent for slaughter in continental abattoirs under government plans to lift a 70-year ban on the trade, writes Jonathan Leake. Horses are regarded as livestock in countries such as Italy and France, where horse steaks and…