Horse welfare heroes recognised for tireless dedication and pioneering initiatives

Two individuals who have had a serious influence on bettering equine welfare have been named joint winners of the annual Sir Colin Spedding Award.

Nice Yorkshire Present (GYS) livestock and entries coordinator Amanda Stoddart-West and RSPCA case officer Kirsty Withnall had been honoured on the Nationwide Equine Discussion board on 7 March.

Mrs Stoddart-West was recognised for her “pioneering work to boost equine wellbeing” and Ms Withnall for her “tireless dedication” in bringing to justice these chargeable for inflicting animals’ struggling.

H&H has lined a lot of Mrs Stoddart-West’s work, together with setting applicable rider-to-horse weight ratios, elevating participation age for foals and introducing welfare stewards.

“Within the occasion of any of the welfare advances being challenged, Amanda has remained agency in her utility of the ideas, and due to her efforts, these at the moment are being broadly adopted throughout different exhibits,” her quotation reads.

Mrs Stoddart-West mentioned: “I used to be completely shocked to be advised that I had been nominated, and extremely honoured to be a joint winner of such a revered honour. There are nice efforts going into guaranteeing the best requirements of animal welfare nationally, and this award is a mirrored image of all of those that are doing such nice work on this space.

“I couldn’t have achieved any of what I’ve with out the help of my employers the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, and GYS vet Julian Rishworth who I’ve been very lucky to work alongside for the final 21 years.

“There have been instances when now we have been met with resistance to vary however with the help of like-minded individuals inside the trade, and because of my good buddies and long-suffering husband and household, hopefully now we have made a distinction to welfare requirements inside the exhibiting world.”

Kirsty Withnall with discussion board president Princess Anne

Ms Withnall has been lead officer in quite a few massive, advanced, high-profile equine and multi-animal welfare circumstances. She “continues to indicate nice tenacity and perseverance in bringing to justice these chargeable for inflicting pointless struggling to animals,” her quotation learn. “Most notably, she has been the linchpin in lots of large-scale operations, the place coordination and cooperation with quite a few companies have been important in securing protected and environment friendly rescue for equines and different animals. Her diligent assortment and collation of evidential materials has led to profitable prosecutions and the discount of future cruelty.”

She mentioned: “I’m honoured and completely delighted to obtain this extraordinarily prestigious award. By way of my 23 years working for the RSPCA, I do know first-hand how rewarding but in addition extraordinarily difficult the function may be, so it actually means an ideal deal to have my work recognised on this means.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to work alongside some excellent colleagues on the RSPCA, but in addition with help from different companies and organisations such because the police, veterinary groups, native authorities and naturally members of the Nationwide Equine Welfare Council and I imagine this award belongs to all of them too. Collectively now we have achieved unimaginable outcomes via our joint efforts to guard animal welfare and can for a few years to come back.”

Anne Dicker with discussion board president Princess Anne

Anne Dicker, managing accomplice of the Catherston Stud, was extremely recommended for her work in serving to to unite the equine sector. She has contributed to advancing equine groom apprenticeships, coaching hearth responders, creating digital equine ID coverage, and analysis to additional the ideas of the comfortable equine athlete.

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Enthusiastic about equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all points of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, by which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits via to worldwide championships.