Horse movement restrictions relaxed

The free movement of horses between Great Britain, France and Ireland has been resumed following the recent foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Additional requirements had been introduced but the European Commission amended its control measures last Friday, with the Tripartite Agreement between Britain, France and Ireland reinstated.

France Galop, the governing racing body in France, also lifted its restrictions earlier this week.

A statement from the British Horseracing Authority read: “The BHA is very pleased to announce that racehorses are once again able to travel in to and from Great Britain, France and Ireland without the need for extra certification.”

However, domestic measures remain in place for any trainer within the current surveillance zone.

The statement continued: “With the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), maintaining a surveillance zone around the affected premises in Surrey, any trainer lying within this zone and wishing to have runners must still carry out necessary biosecurity measures when transporting them.”