TWO York-based vets have taken part in a national campaign to help improve horse health and welfare.

Katherine Hall and Anna Skzutnik were among a group of volunteers running a healthcare day, organised by a leading equine charity.

The British Horse Society has joined forces with the British Equine Veterinary Association Trust to run a series of education, healthcare and castration clinics to tackle the UK's indiscriminate breeding problem.

Katherine and Anna, who work at Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic in Poppleton, helped castrate 14 horses and carried out routine health checks on a further 10 horses and donkeys.

The clinic was held in Wales, but there are now plans to hold one in York in the autumn.

The programme aims to reduce accidental breeding, improve welfare and help with traceability of horses, reducing the number of horses reaching the point where they need to be rescued.

Katherine said: "These events not only reduce the opportunity for unintentional breeding, but have also proven to be a great way of getting new groups of horse owners engaged with veterinary care."

Anna said: "I was delighted to volunteer for such a worthwhile and well-organised initiative.

"Our team members have volunteered on several occasions and we hope to be involved again when a clinic is organised in York."

BHS has held 25 clinics nationwide, treating 1,196 horses.