Foot and Mouth

Tonight I'm a bit disappointed. I was really looking forward to taking Phoebe to her first affiliated Dressage competition at Merrist Wood, Guildford, on Saturday. However, we are now in the middle of restrictions on moving livestock due to the latest outbreak of foot and mouth. Merrist Wood is also in a restricted zone, the result is that I cannot take her off the farm for the time being. Luckily horses aren't affected by Foot and Mouth, but they can carry it. I feel dreadfully sorry for any farmers who this latest outbreak may affect, and the worry and stress that this will cause them. I'm only a little bit disappointed, but they must be devastated. Let's hope it gets cleared up quickly. Funnily enough, it's a government resaearch facility that's responsible for this latest outbreak. I do hope they take full responsibility, because if it was an independant farmer who had caused it - you can be sure they'd throw the book at him. We'll see.