Royal support for scheme to combat equine obesity

Princess Anne was enthusiastic about the positive impact of the Weigh to Win scheme, which is growing

- ELEANOR JONES

THE Princess Royal is supportive of a scheme to combat obesity in showing - as more horses and ponies than ever before are to be involved.

Princess Anne is patron of The Horse Trust, whose Weigh to Win scheme has been running for six years. Awards are given to the animal in the healthiest body condition in certain showing classes.

She attended a training day at the charity, at which she and others including vets, riders, judges and representatives of showing societies heard more about the adverse effects of obesity. Guests saw demonstrations of condition scoring, weighbridge and weigh tape use and ultrasound scanning of fat deposits.