Please urge your Members not to take horses or ponies into or near an Infected Area whether ridden or by transport. The hunting fraternity has already acted quickly to minimise the problem by controlling their activities. We must play our part in supporting MAFF and not make life more difficult for our very good farmers and landowners. Will you now please review all your activities particularly where any movement on land is involved including hacking. Spread the message to our Members that while horses and ponies are not susceptible to infection by Foot and Mouth they may be involved in spreading infection by carrying the disease or by causing other animals e.g. deer to be driven from their home areas carrying infection with them.
Extracts are available on our website.
Thank you for your collaboration. We will be advising Members by newsletter or mail shot memos with as much relevant details as is necessary in case the crisis deepens. The last thing we must do is make the hard pressed Farmers life even more difficult by careless or thoughtless activities. Everyone can help by following MAFF's published guidelines or checking with your local MAFF office. Movements of animals in this area are kept to a minimum and certain other restrictions are enforced.