Warning to all owners over risk of fatal infection in horse imports

The premises are currently under restriction and Defra said that the two horses will be humanely destroyed in line with current regulations.

The other horses on the premises will be tested in the next few weeks.

A further two horses have been under investigation and test results have proved negative.

The animals were among a group of 10 horses, nine of which came from Romania in eastern Europe, and one from Belgium.

The nine Romanian horses were tested for EIA as part of routine, post import testing, seven of which all tested negative.

The horse from Belgium is also being tested.

Equine infectious anaemia is a virus disease causing intermittent fever, anaemia, emaciation and has the potential to be fatal.

It can be transmitted by the exchange of blood by biting insects and usually occurs in low lying, swampy areas.

The Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbons, said: "This is the first case of equine infectious anaemia infected animals being imported into Great Britain since 1976 and shows the success of our post import testing regime.

"These were apparently healthy horses carrying a notifiable disease that we are keen to keep out of Great Britain."

The charity World Horse Welfare has been doing work in Romania since 2004 and is concerned that these horses were able to leave Romania and travel across Europe so easily.

Chief executive Roly Owers said: "There is a legal requirement for health certification before export from Romania, which includes blood testing for EIA.

"Romania, where it is endemic, is one of the largest exporters of horses for slaughter in Europe.

"We have raised concerns with the authorities in the United Kingdom, Brussels, Romania and other member states many times over the last six to seven years.

"If this disease spreads across to the United Kingdom it could have catastrophic affects on our horse population."

World Horse Welfare wants the European Commission to review the export procedures for horses leaving Romania to ensure they cannot carry the disease and put in place an EIA eradication programme to get rid of the disease once and for all.

The charity advises owners in the UK to undertake rigorous checks when buying a horse from abroad and would discourage anybody from importing Romanian horses.

Unique training centre enables horses to make a splash

HELEN BELL'S children Toby and Chloe and their friends have been having great fun trying out the gallops at their new home at Breckenbrough, the racing yard where Linda Ramsden and her husband Jack used to train.

The Bells have built a new cross-country training course and are opening up all the facilities at the yard which include an equine swimming pool and jacuzzi, a solarium and horse walkers.

"It's the only publically licensed British Racing Authority equine pool in the North and Viv Coltman, former head girl to Linda Ramsden, is running it for us," said Helen. "People can send horses here for fitness work and therapy for injuries."

Helen, a former international event rider, now specialises in producing event horses and ponies and teaching.

She completed Badminton nine times, and finished third there with Troubleshooter in 1991.

Helen also competed at Burghley on nine occasions.

Helen and her husband Tom have sold their home at Newsham, Thirsk and will be moving the family to Breckenbrough in the spring. In the meantime life is hectic as they are running both yards.

They wanted somewhere with larger facilities and Breckenbrough has plenty, including the gallops.

One of their first events will be a cross country clinic on February 20 with British Eventing accredited trainer, Heidi Woodhead. A one-day event is planned for April.

For more information go to www.helenbellequestrian.co.uk