THE British Horse Society is stepping up its welfare campaign with a new-look magazine and a first-time owner's pack.

The first issue of BHS Equi-Care magazine will be published early in February and distributed to anyone interested in equine welfare, including those with BHS rescue ponies on loan and BHS Welfare Supporters Club members.

It will contain a host of welfare issues, including pasture management, ragwort control, behaviour problems and condition scoring with weight control.

It has also teamed up with the Laminitis Trust's Fit Not Fat campaign by introducing BHS Equi Weight Watchers.

Owners can join up to the campaign, receiving free advice, and will be encouraged to keep a condition score for their animals, recording weight on a regular basis and providing useful information to the BHS.

There is also a new-look page on the BHS web site - www.bhs.org.uk.

The society closed its rescue centre in 2003 and its emphasis now is on education to prevent welfare cases rather than treating the aftermath of ignorance and neglect.