Devastation as leading veterinary charity to close
The Animal Health Trust has announced it is to close, despite months of work trying to secure enough funding
THE equestrian world is in urgent need of an infectious disease monitoring programme following the news of the Animal Health Trust’s (AHT) impending closure.
The AHT announced its closure on Friday (3 July) after uncertainty surrounding its finances, compounded by the economic impact of Covid-19 (news, 28 May).
“The decision to cease operations has been reached after several months of trying to secure funding,” said a statement from the charity. “Although substantial progress was made, the charity has been unable to secure the significant funds it needs to have a long-term viable future.”
The AHT is the leading veterinary and scientific research charity dedicated to animal health and welfare. Its veterinary service provides care, while its scientific team researches cures and treatments for disease and injury, from providing specialist advice to developing vaccines.
Examples of its work include the testing and guidance that was instrumental in controlling the 2019 equine influenza outbreak.
It is also behind research into horse and rider weight, breakthroughs in stem cell research and a new online tool for owners and vets, mapping strangles diagnoses in the UK.
David Mountford, chief executive of the British Equine Veterinary Association and chairman of the British Horse Council (BHC) told H&H both organisations are “terribly sad”.
SAD NEWS
“OVER many years the trust has played a key role in the world’s equine research community, not least in the area of infectious diseases,” Mr Mountford said.
“Only last year we all benefited directly from the AHT’s expert guidance on equine influenza, and Covid-19 highlights the need for us to be aware of, and prepared for, infectious disease outbreaks.
“Not only the thoroughbred industry, which has been the trust’s biggest supporters, but also the rest of the equine community, pledged to put their hands in their pockets to try to rescue the organisation and secure its future. Sadly, the hole was too deep.”
He added his thoughts are with those losing their jobs.
“Looking forward, if the British horse sector is to thrive, we need an independent national equine infectious disease surveillance programme,” he added.
“The breadth of the industry has already agreed it must work together to build and fund a successful programme.”
The AHT receives no Government funding, with money coming from individuals and organisations. Its 2018/19 annual review shows it had an income of £15.6m and an expenditure of £17.5m that financial year. Of that, £11.4m was spent on delivering and developing its veterinary services, £3.6m on research and £1.3m on education.
FUNDING SOURCES
RACING provides annual funding of around £700,000 to the AHT, of which the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) puts in around £400,000. The current HBLB research investment is around £2.8m and projects covering virology, bacteriology and more are at various stages.
When the AHT’s financial problems were revealed, it allocated a further £700,000 as a conditional grant. This has not yet been paid and is available if a solution for disease control and research services can be agreed.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) met with racing industry bodies on
3 July to discuss a plan and it was agreed the authority would lead the racing industry’s efforts on surveillance and testing.
The BHA has also had “constructive discussions” with the wider equestrian world served by the AHT and plans to work with the BHC, British Horse Society and British Equestrian.
“We recognise [the AHT’s] world-leading expertise in epidemiology and veterinary research and do not want to see this lost to the British equine sector,” said a BHA spokesman.
“We believe if the horse sector maintains the strong collaborative approach it has adopted in combating disease and engaging Government over issues such as Brexit, it should be possible to maintain an effective surveillance programme and the specialist veterinary research capability.”