Decrease in animals used for research
NZ qualifies for Athens
BHS relaunches Riding and Roadcraft manual
Horse beats human - yet again
Longriders guild debunks Disney film
New passport service by Cleveland Bay org
New wooden saddle tree standard
FEI news for July
Decrease in animals used for research -- (Jul 23) There was a 17 percent decrease in the number of live animals used for research, testing or teaching last year.
These figures were released today in the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) annual report. "Although the number of animals used for research fluctuates from year to year, both NAEAC and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will continue to encourage the practice of humane science, to promote a culture of care and to support the implementation of the three Rs - reduction, refinement, and replacement." said David Bayvel a Committee member and MAF's Animal Welfare Director.
"Last year's figures show a drop of over 90 percent in the number of animals being used by the Government sector. In the previous year this sector had reported higher numbers due to large pesticide trials," said Dr Bayvel.
The two biggest decreases in terms of animal percentages were possums and fish. There was an increase in the numbers of marine mammals, reptiles and other miscellaneous species used for basic biological research.
Basic biological research was the main reason for animal use during 2002. This increased by 18 percent. Other categories of research include medical research, teaching, commercial work and veterinary research.
"The majority of animals used in research undergo little or no suffering," said Dr Bayvel.
"Mice are still the most commonly used animals for research and product testing, and the animals associated with the largest degree of suffering. In cases like these all steps are taken to reduce the negative effects on animals. Those steps include a high level of veterinary care where practical, pre- and post- operative pain relief where appropriate, and removal from the study or euthanasia immediately the research objective is achieved."
Only 0.6 percent of animals were used in genetic modification research which is in dramatic contrast to the number of animals used in Europe and North America.
All research, testing or teaching involving live animals in New Zealand must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and must be approved by an Animal Ethics Committee which includes three independent members.
NAEAC is an independent ministerial advisory committee established to advise the Minister of Agriculture on issues relating to the use of animals in research, testing or teaching.
NZ qualifies for Athens -- (Jul 11) Japan, Korea and New Zealand qualify a team for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens No less than 36.500 spectators attended the Olympic selection trial which took
place last Sunday in Aachen (GER).
Thirty-eight jumping riders from South Africa, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Australia,
Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Malaysia, the Kingdom Saudi Arabia, Iran and Lebanon
fought for the coveted starting places for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Three
teams and five individual riders could qualify.
The qualified teams for the 2004 Olympic Games are Japan, Korea, which is coached
by the three-fold European Champion Paul Schockemohle, and New Zealand. The
Japanese Team, composed of Taizo Sugitani,/Lamalushi, Toshiki Masui/Ernest,
Mariko Kato/Sportnant and Tadayoshi Hayashi/Swanky finished the team competition
with a total score of 5 penalty points, followed by Korea with 8 pts and New
Zealand with 12 pts.
BHS relaunches Riding and Roadcraft manual -- (Jul 18) The British Horse Society (BHS) has updated and republished Riding & Roadcraft, which is aimed at teaching riders safe practise when riding on the roads. The book covers topics such as The Highway Code, Falls and Injuries and Roadcraft,
and the new edition looks further into emergency vehicles.
BHS Head of Safety, Sheila Hardy, said, "I am delighted with the success of this essential book. This new edition will ensure that riders are kept up-to-date with issues relating to riding on the road. The new book aims to provide a greater awareness for riders. Current exam candidates in
possession of the tenth edition will not be at a disadvantage when taking their BHS Riding & Road Safety Exam however, the BHS does encourage riders to obtain a current version."
Horse beats human - yet again -- (Jul 11) The recent 22-mile man versus horse race in Wales once again demonstrated the superiority of four legs over two.
In the annual contest, in Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, mid Wales, 30 horses and riders lined up against nearly 400 people and 50 relay teams. The prize for a single runner who can beat a horse has never been claimed, and has now jackpotted to £25,000. The race has been ran for more than 20 years.
Horse Druimgiga Shemal, ridden by Robyn Petrie-Ritchie from Devon, won in two hours and two minutes, beating runner Mark Croasdale from Lancaster, the first human to cross the line in two hours and 17 minutes.
Croasdale also holds the record for getting closest to winning the William Hill Man versus Horse Marathon coming in just a minute behind a horse. William Hill offered odds of 25/1 that one of the runners can beat the four-legged contestants to the finishing line.
Longriders guild debunks Disney film -- (Jul 11) The Walt Disney Studio is widely publicising its forthcoming movie, 'Hidalgo,' as "based on the true story of Frank Hopkins, the greatest long-distance rider of all time."
The Long Riders' Guild says the film is actually based on a tissue of lies.
If he can be believed, Frank Hopkins had more adventures and met more famous people than anyone else in American history. He claimed to have won more than 400 endurance races, been a US army dispatch rider, a buffalo hunter, the star of the Wild West Show, to have taught frontier lore to Billy the Kid, and to have won a 3,000 mile horse race across Arabia on his mustang stallion, "Hidalgo." In addition, Hopkins claimed to have been friends with Teddy Roosevelt, Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, Crazy Horse and Queen Victoria, to name but a few.
Sixty academics, researchers, librarians, genealogists, authors, and experts assisted The Long Riders' Guild in an unparallelled international equestrian research project which has proved that nothing Frank Hopkins said can be verified. Frank Hopkins has thus been shown to be wearing the double crown of the biggest equestrian hoaxer, as well the biggest Old West liar, of all time.
However Nina Heyn, Disney's Executive Director of International Publicity, is defending the $80 million movie, which stars Viggo Mortensen. Speaking to a British journalist, Heyn said, "No one here really cares about the historical aspects. Once a picture has been shot, people move on to others. We're like a factory. It's like making dolls. Once the latest doll is out we go onto the next one. if it transpires that the historical aspects are in question I don't think people would care that much."
New passport service by Cleveland Bay org -- (Jul 11) The Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS) is launching a new British Horse Passport issuing service.
This new service is available to all horse owners whatever the breed of their animal.
For a number of years the society has issued passports for part bred and purebred Cleveland Bays but the service is now being extended.
The Society is offering the passport facility, which fully complies with the new regulations that come into force at the end of December 2003, to both non CBHS members and to horses that have no Cleveland Bay blood. The price of the Passport has been set at £19.
New wooden saddle tree standard -- (Jul 11) Symmetry is the main feature of the new British Standard for wooden saddle trees launched this week at the Walsall Leather Museum.
The idea for BS6635:2003 arose from a meeting called by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, involving remedial saddler Kaye Humphries, the Society of Master Saddlers, the Walsall Equestrian Society and BETA, together with representatives of the veterinary profession and the saddlery manufacturing and retail trades.
All agreed that the symmetry of saddle trees should be emphasised at every level from training to manufacture as an important factor in producing a well-fitting saddle.
Walsall tree makers took on the challenge of identifying the symmetry criteria - what should be measured and how. And a prototype measuring jig to test trees for symmetry was developed to very demanding tolerances.
The Saddlers' Company approached the British Standards Institute (BSI) with a view of incorporating this information into a new standard which has now been authorised and published.
FEI news for June/July -- (Jul 11) The Swiss rider Markus Fuchs put a
stop to Ludger Beerbaum's reign over the FEI Gandini World Jumping Riders Rankings,
which began in January 2001.
Ulla Salzgeber (GER) is still leading the FEI BCM World Dressage Rankings, with a slightly reduced score of 80.293 points (80.396 last month). She won the Grand Prix of Aachen with 75.875%.
Switzerland is in the lead of the Samsung Nations Cup standings with 28 points
after CSIO Drammen (NOR) which was held from 24 to 29 June. Runner-up is Spain,
with 14 points, followed by Norway (13.5) points. The next event to count for
the Samsung Nations Cup Series is CSIO 5 stars Falsterbo (SWE) to be held from
10 to 13 July.
FEI eventing world cup: it had been a longstanding ambition of the FEI's to establish a linked series in Eventing, the goal of which would be to develop the sport throughout the world.
Thanks to the consistent efforts of the FEI Technical Committee, the FEI Eventing
World Cup was launched with success in August 2002 at Gatcombe Park (GBR).
Fred Merriam (USA) is leading the FEI North American Driving Challenge for Singles,
supported by Freedman's Harness and Driving Essentials, with 38 points, ahead of
Kent Brownridge (USA) and Sue Mott (CAN). Fred Merriam finished first at CAI-A
Blainville (CAN) which took place from 20 to 22 June.
After last competition in Moorsele (BEL) on 29 June, Wim Vos (NED) is leading
the Young Riders category of the Golden Years Trophy with 101 points, ahead of
Johnny Stevens (BEL) and Ben Maher (GBR).
Facebook
Twitter
HOME SITES 
