The U.K.’s National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) will include data from horses in London’s police force.
In late May, the equine team based in Hyde Park at the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch had their vitals, teeth, hooves and eyes checked and recorded for the survey.
This will be the seventh annual survey performed by Blue Cross and the British Equine Veterinary Association. Since its initiation, its results have become one of the U.K.’s most valuable tools to monitor endemic disease.
Blue Cross hoped that police horse participation would encourage others to respond.
“The more data we can collect from the National Equine Health Survey, the more robust our results will be, helping us to steer equine awareness, education and research to keep our nation’s horses healthier,” says Blue Cross Education Officer Gemma Taylor.
The survey’s results are also considered benchmarks for general knowledge of the nation’s equine health and direct priorities for future research and education.
Last year’s survey returned results for nearly 17,000 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. The six most prevalent diseases among equine in the U.K. were identified.
Lameness was the most commonly reported condition with 32.9% of subjects reportedly suffering from lameness including laminitis.