New roadside posters encouraging road users to slow down for horses and their riders are being displayed in parts of Devon.
Devon County Council is supporting The British Horse Society’s (BHS) “Dead Slow” road safety campaign, teaming up with the BHS , Horses & Road Safety Awareness (HRSA) and Vision Zero South West to promote the campaign in the county.
The aim is to educate motorists on how to approach and pass horses safely on the county’s roads, with the posters advising drivers to reduce their speed to a maximum of 10mph and leave at least two metres space....
This September, the beautiful horses of Spain (PREs) and Portugal (Lusitanos) are heading to Westpoint Arena in, Exeter.
A packed weekend is topped off with two star studded Extravaganza Shows being closed by the World famous Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado.
During the weekend of 2-4 September, daytime competitive events include showing, dressage and Working Equitation indoors, and outside on “La Plaza” visitors can enjoy authentic Spanish and Portuguese food and drink from an array of food vendors, Flamenco Flash mobs throughout the day and shopping with over 60...
The British Horse Society (BHS) is urging drivers to humanise horse riders after it released new statistics revealing that a total of 437 incidents and 18 horse fatalities in the South West of England were reported to the charity during 2021.
Overall, incidents in the South West of England have increased by 150% compared to the previous year and the region had the highest incident rate in the UK. Devon was the worst affected area with 126 incidents and 17 horse fatalities, followed by Somerset - 81 incidents, and Gloucestershire – 73 incidents.
The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust at Parke near Bovey Tracy has a brand new car park donation cairn, thanks to the huge generosity of local builders, suppliers and the continuing loyal support of the charity’s many friends.
Earlier this year, the cairn was destroyed and the car park donations, which are used to purchase hay for the charity’s ponies, stolen.
But kind hearted businesses stepped forward to supply materials and their time to rebuild the cairn. Kenmart, Olympus Building Supplies and Stone Face Construction all proved the heroes of the hour with the former...
Superhero Family Day at Exeter Racecourse on Sunday, March 22 promises to be one of the best free days out for children this Easter holiday with a programme packed full of free activities, not to mention super horse racing to enjoy.
Whether it's Wonderwoman, Superman, Captain America or a made up hero who might go by the name of Devonman, Bodonog or Piffle, children are encouraged to dress up and enjoy a fun day out on Haldon Hill.
With capes flying, masks masquerading and super-human powers to charge them through the day, there will be a chance for our younger generation...
The British Horse Society (BHS) has released figures highlighting a rise in incidents between horses and vehicles in Devon.
Between the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 years, incidents in Devon rose from 7 to 17, the highest figure in the South West. These incidents refer to collisions between vehicles and horses, as well as near-misses, that have resulted in death, injury or distress to riders or their horses.
There are 1.3 million regular riders in the UK, and in total 230 horses and 39 riders have been killed since 2010.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, DCC’s Cabinet Member for...
The glorious parklands of Bicton Arena come under the spotlight during the second weekend of July (8-9) when its second British Eventing-affiliated horse trials take place.
Classes ranging from BE80T to open novice will be staged, attracting both grass roots riders and those riding horses that are moving up through the levels.
Measures have been implemented to ease the ground including intensive sward maintenance using the arena’s Terra Spike Verti-Drain, which has resulted in vigorous growth and deep rooting thereby allow the dense grass to have a cushion effect.
Top names are heading to Bicton Arena International Horse Trials on August 19-21 including riders who are in action at the Rio Olympics.
British team riders Kitty King and William Fox-Pitt, New Zealand’s Jock Paget, Australia’s Sam Griffiths and Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy are among the riders who will be heading to the Devon venue where organisers have pulled out all the stops to attract competitors with free stabling and bedding in the international classes and a wealth of additional prizes.
Two international classes will be staged that are sponsored by Equine H and...
Everys, a well-known firm of solicitors with nine offices in Devon and Somerset, have announced their continued sponsorship at Bicton Arena in east Devon, one of the West Country’s leading competition venues. Everys - www.everys.co.uk first sponsored the all-weather surface in 2011 and the name has become synonymous with Bicton Arena.
The Everys Arena is seen as an integral part of Bicton’s success and is used throughout the year for competitions and training. From children enjoying Pony Club camp to competing international event riders hundreds of horses have been ridden in the...
Trading standards officers have seized 21 ponies and foals from land near Exeter deemed too dangerous for them, to uphold an order of Exeter Crown Court.
In April 2015, following his conviction at Exeter magistrates Court for Animal Welfare and Horse Passport offences, 74 year old Leslie Weatherill of The Hams, Ide, received a 12 weeks custodial sentence suspended for 18 months.
The court had heard how Mr Weatherill kept his ponies on an area of scrub and woodland at Timridge Brake, Doddiscombsleigh, which, according to a national expert on horses, was inadequate for their...
