The Welsh Pony and Cob Society
Cymdeithas y Merlod a'r Cobiau Cymreig

Education & Welfare Seminar 2008

Forty members and non-members of the WPCS turned up at CCTA College, Gelli Aur Campus on Sunday 23^rd November for the seminar organised by Mr Jeff Parry, Chairman of the Education and Welfare Committee.

(from left) Mr Cemaes Evans, Mr Bill Simons, Mr Robert Manchip, Mrs Janice Parry,
Mr Ron Williams MRCVS, Mr Jeff Parry (organiser) with the first copy of the book
'Sixty Years of Royal Welsh Champions'

Mr Ron Williams MRCVS described the problems encountered with overweight and underweight horses and ponies and the method of assessing weight-condition scoring. Some problems of underweight arise from deformities of conformation such as overshot or undershot teeth. Farrier Mr Cemaes Evans described the problems associated with feet, the care of hooves, shoeing and laminitis. Cases of dishing are often caused by shoeing youngsters with shoes which are too heavy.

Mrs Jenny MacGregor of the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies described cases which had ended up at their Horse Hospital, Coxstone, St Maughans, Monmouth. It is often difficult to ascertain ownership of these animals.

Mr Bill Simons, chairman of the Transport Association of Wales and WPCS Council member Mr Robert Manchip described the legislation affecting loading and unloading of equines and the welfare of horses and ponies in transit. These include Animal Transporter Authorisation issued by the State Veterinary Service and the Certficate of Competence for Drivers and Attendants Pursuant to Article 17(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 issued by an Awarding Body for WATO's approved by DEFRA.

Mrs Janice Parry Horse Passport Identifier discussed Passport applications, requirements for the issue of passports, completion of silhouettes and identification of all visible marks. Microchipping will become law in 2009 and Council member Mr Colin Thomas announced that the WPCS had arranged a meeting at the Welsh Assembly on Tuesday, 25^th November with the Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones, Mr Brynle Williams AM. Colin Thomas would be attending with Jan Pearce (Chair of Member Services), WPCS Chief Officer, Gian Fazey Koven and Bethan Jones, Core Services Manager, to discuss microchipping concerning all sections of the breed. 

The consensus of opinion was that this had been a very valuable exercise and further seminars are planned for other regions.

Dr Wynne Davies

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