Terry Hutchings, animal rescue specialist at Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (DSFRS), Rachel Norris of Equusense, Jacqui Knell, Cornish Mutual Inspector and Philip Wilson, Field Force Manager at Cornish Mutual launch Cornish Mutual’s HorseSafe campaign at Station 60, DSFRS training HQ near Exeter

Insurer launches horse transport safety campaign

South West insurer Cornish Mutual has launched a campaign to improve the safety of horses during transport. Called HorseSafe, the campaign is being run in partnership with the specialist animal rescue team at Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service.

"We hope that HorseSafe will help to raise awareness of safety issues when transporting horses and help owners make the right choices for themselves and their individual horses or ponies," said Philip Wilson, Field Force Manager at Cornish Mutual.

Neil Giddings, animal rescue specialist at Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (DSFRS), said: "Each year the UK Fire and rescue services attend around 300 animal rescues and most of the large animals involved are horses.

"Accidents with horses during transport are often very distressing for horse and owner alike and can cause serious injury, even death to animals and people. Many of the incidents I have attended here in the South West were preventable. I hope HorseSafe will help to reduce the number of incidents that occur."

The campaign includes five online videos featuring guidance from the DSFRS animal rescue team and horse expert Rachel Norris of Equusense in Dorset. Rachel specialises in the training and rehabilitation of young or problem horses. A substantial part of her work involves horses with problems loading or travelling.

"Every horse is different and owners can help themselves by being more aware of the risks and preparing accordingly. I hope this campaign informs people about some of the basic issues and helps them make intelligent choices about what is best for them and their particular horses," she said.

HorseSafe officially launches with two free demonstration evenings on 14 March at Kingston Maurward in Dorchester and 21 March at Stretcholt Farm near Bridgwater. Both evenings start at 7pm and include demonstrations from Rachel Norris of Equusense and the animal rescue team at DSFRS.

You can watch the videos online on the Cornish Mutual website at www.cornishmutual.co.uk/horsesafe and join the discussion on the HorseSafe Facebook page.

Article courtesy of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service