Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort - PDF format

Enforcing the Weeds Act 1959 - PDF format

Identify Injurious Weeds - PDF format

Guidance on the disposal options for common ragwort - PDF format

Weeds Act 1959 Complaint Form - PDF format

Dressage Shame

here have been letters sent to the FEI and Princess Haya by quite senior people and bodies. Yet even though the FEI are aware and are even responding on the Facebook group, we must keep up the pressure.

We had suggested putting pressure on the sponsors and Hellene kindly came forward with the information below, so we hope you will make good use of it.

Click Dressage Shame to see the truth about modern dressage

Click here to sign the "Request FEI to Ban Hyperflexion in Competition" petition today.

Stolen horse abandoned at port

On Monday (2 Nov) night my friend’s horse was stolen from a field in the Guildford area. The people who took her sawed through a wooden post and rail fence to get out and this happened between 3pm and 6pm in the afternoon.

The police were informed and so were the microchip company who circulated her details to all the ferry ports etc. As you can imagine the owner was completely distraught.

Late afternoon on 3rd November she received a phone call from the police to say her horse had been found in Hollyhead, Wales. She was tied to a railing at the ferry port and the ferry to Ireland had gone without her.

Several things have come to light in this story:

1. A week ago her horse had a small plait in its mane when she went to get her in from the field. She describes it as very small, almost like a tangle. She disregarded it as kids messing about (her horses are out in a field with others). However, this is how people mark horses to be stolen later. Ie. One person marks them, another then comes later and knows which one to take.

2. The ferry port at Hollyhead do not check horses passports or microchips. This horse was travelling without a passport.

3. The police believe the reason this horse was left behind was because she was microchipped. Although the UK is lax about passport and microchip checking, it is apparently more common for horses to be scanned on entering Ireland. The people who take them will scan them and dump them if they find a microchip. This horse also had a large obvious scar so this may have been a contributing factor.

The police told her that horses being dumped at a ferry terminal is not uncommon and they usually turn out to be stolen. They have had horses left in a lorry on the actually ferry!

This story has a happy ending for H and E, but it makes you wonder how many other stolen horses were on that ferry to Ireland.

1. If you find your horse with a small plait in its mane or tail please do not ignore it. I thought it was common knowledge that people knew about this, but several people I've spoken to since were not aware of it.

2. If your horse isn’t microchipped please consider doing it. The owner of this horse describes her as ‘nothing flashy, just a normal 14.2 bay mare’ so please don’t think it couldn’t happen to you.

Stolen from the Bristol area

2 Black cob geldings. Possible driving ponies. Taken on 6th April from a yard on Siston Common. A further break in attempt at Woodland reported but no ponies taken. One of the ponies is on dsily medication and his health will be badly affected if this is not administered. Both ponies had a busy life as driving ponies see more photos on anyoccassioncarriages website. Any information please to John 07860 658119

Low Flying Aircraft Petition
Lady Daly is petitioning the government to get low flying aircraft to stay above 200ft as opposed to 100ft as at present. Many accidents and near misses have been caused with horses. See Horse and Hound this week page 9. I nearly had a very nasty accident with very low Chinooks in March and luckily I was on Sally and not Dazzler. It was really scary. Please sign up and pass it on.

Petition to provide funding and use legislation for creation of new public bridleways
Here is a petition regarding the creation of new bridleways, if you are interested, you can add your signature and pass this on to anyone else who might like to know about it as well.

10 Downing Street Petition lobbying for government funding to be available to local councils and the highways agency develop new bridle routes, reinstate crossings over/under busy roads and ensure that routes appear on definitive maps. MBBA members are encouraged to sign this petition.

BHS "Been Seen - Be Safe" Safety Poster available to view or download in PDF format (612KB).

International League for the Protection of Horses - Please will everyone visiting the MBBA website log onto the above address and support the ILPH's efforts to enforce the ban on transporting horses in Europe for slaughter. The conditions these horses endure is still appalling - if you love your horse, give him a hug tonight and do this for him and his not-so-fortunate friends. You can make a difference. Please spread the word.

Please also see the full news articles below.

Detailed news articles:

10 Downing Street Petition
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 introduced a deadline for the recording of historic rights of way on definitive maps (the legal record of public rights of way). After 1 January 2026 most pre-1949 paths which have not been recorded on these maps will be lost forever.