Horserace Betting Levy Board

Horserace Betting Levy Board Publishes Codes of Practice for 2016

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has published the 38^th edition of the Codes of Practice (Codes) on equine disease, in preparation for the 2016 equine breeding season. This will be the final edition commissioned for printing by the HBLB, with the launch of the interactive App scheduled for 2016. The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) will aim to provide the Codes in print for its members for the 2017 season and thereafter review the production of a printed version on an annual basis.

The 2016 Codes are available online at http://codes.hblb.org.uk/ and can also be downloaded in pdf format for printing or viewing offline.

Applying to all breeds of horse and pony, and to both natural mating and Artificial Insemination (AI), the Codes are an essential guide for the prevention and control of equine diseases which represent a potential major threat to equine breeding:

• Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
• Equine viral arteritis (EVA)
• Equine herpesvirus (EHV)
• Equine coital exanthema (EIA)
• Equine infectious anaemia (EIA)
• Dourine
• Guidelines on strangles
• Guidelines on artificial insemination (AI)

For each disease there are sections which describe transmission and clinical signs, as well as advice on prevention, diagnosis and control of infection. The Codes explain the notification requirements that apply for the four diseases that are notifiable by law: CEM, EVA, EIA and Dourine.

The Codes are reviewed annually by an expert Sub-Committee of HBLB’s Veterinary Advisory Committee. The Sub-Committee includes representatives of:

• Thoroughbred breeders in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy
• The non-thoroughbred sector
• Defra
• Specialist equine veterinary practitioners
• Scientists expert in infectious disease.

Chris Rea, Chairman of the Codes of Practice Sub-Committee, said:

“With the launch of the interactive App set for 2016, this year’s edition of the Codes of Practice booklet is to be the last printed version. The App will be free to download from iTunes, initially only available on Apple devices, and will be accessible both online for an interactive service and offline for ‘in the field’ access to the basic information currently available in the booklet. Alternatively, the full Codes of Practice will continue to be available at http://codes.hblb.org.uk/, downloadable in PDF, print ready format, should users wish to produce a printed version.

All equine breeders benefit from following the Codes, whether breeding privately or commercially. By working together and complying with the recommendations in the Codes, breeders can protect the health of both their own animals and the equine community as a whole.”

Further details on recent and current research on equine infectious diseases are available at racehorsehealth.hblb.org.uk.

For further information please contact Annie Dodd, HBLB Grants Manager, by email at annie.dodd@hblb.org.uk or by direct telephone on 020 7504 4014.