Welfare Guidelines and Unified Rules:

David Ingle joined the meeting to report on the welfare working group's progress with the Welfare Best Practice document discussed at the last Council meeting. Background: This is an amalgamation of the existing Welfare Document with some Welfare Rules, as there is much cross-over. The overall content has been expanded, and the language made more user friendly. In some areas Unified Rules covered within the Welfare document will also operate separately in their own entity and these will be marked with a ‘U’, representing Member Bodies (MB) universal support. (NB it will not be essential for all MBs to sign up to these Rules, just those who choose to do so and who will be identified in the document). Now in final draft form, a review is being undertaken with input from The Horse Trust (THT) by Jan Rogers and specialist colleagues. THT have a valuable working relationship with Liverpool University Equine Department and importantly evidence-based input. THT is also checking the legal elements are current and correct and for which no costs will be incurred. The document is now being reviewed by World Horse Welfare and BHS which will strengthen and support its validity. Once approved, the document will be circulated promptly to MBs.

 

TSC Judges and Officials Group Accident Insurance: 

To date there have been no claims made under the Group Accident Insurance Policy and if this remains the case it is anticipated there will be minimal, if any, increase in the premium at renewal time (01 May 2026). All present were reminded that any Member Body (MB) can join the scheme mid-season. This is aimed to assist any MB who has taken out their own policy, the renewal time of which may be out of synch with that of the TSC Group Policy. Policy wording and details are available on TSC website. Representatives were asked to convey this information to those who oversee insurance within their MB. The policy is an accident policy, which is very different to a liability policy. It also provides cover for Judges when officiating in classes affiliated to the MB taking out the cover. This is important and very relevant to the smaller societies who may only have just one Show of their own each year, but who stage affiliated classes at other times/Shows. As everything is now in place renewal in 2026 should be a straightforward process. For anyone wishing to discuss further please contact in the first instance: info@theshowingcouncil.co.uk 

 

Health & Safety: 

H&S is now a routine agenda item and Liz Inman suggested that Member Bodies (MB) should also regularly include updates on H&S at their own Meetings – even when little to report. Hat Safety and Body Protector Guidelines have been reviewed in conjunction with BETA and BHS. The latest revision will be circulated imminently to ensure the detail is available for 2026 rule books. There is minimal change. AUS/NZ standard will be omitted, simply to reduce the number of standards shown and therefore the feeling of too many numbers to look at. (Very few, if any, hats made to this standard are ever seen in the UK). The majority of MBs represented at the Meeting utilised the TSC guidelines shared last year although those not sure of their own inclusion were encouraged to check. Following previous interest shown in setting up a specific Health and Safety presentation, the most favoured topics suggested are:  Risk Assessments, H&S year-round, Role of H&S Officer, Event/Show H&S, Martyn’s Law. There is a need to establish with each MB the name(s) and contact details of those responsible for H&S within each organisation so that MB Reps and H&S lead can all  be invited to attend future presentations.