Could you give a home to a horse?

WHEN it comes to providing a loving home for a horse it takes a special kind of person with the time and dedication to provide the necessary care.

The Blue Cross equine centre, in Dovecliff Road, Rolleston, cares for horses who find themselves without a home through no fault of their own.

Becky Prince, the horse welfare supervisor of operations, has worked at the centre since 2007 and has seen it all over the years – from horses abandoned in a street to owners at the end of their tether after getting animals on a “buy one get one free” deal.

Some horses have been emaciated or left near death, others have behavioural problems and some are not what the owner wanted – so they end up homeless. This is where the Blue Cross comes in as the dedicated team nurses them back to health, trains and finds them a loving home.

The site currently has 48 horses wanting to find a home. Some are in need of training and others will be a companion to other horses.

Horses can be trained for riding from four years old but the problem the centre has found is that many owners want to start before this, which can cause a lot of health problems.

At present, the centre keeps the creatures out in the wild as much as possible in a herd unless there is a health or training reason. Here are some of the horses that are looking for a home:

RAVEN

This stunning horse is seven years old and is looking for a home as a companion pony.

She has not had the easiest life after arriving at Blue Cross from another charity which rescued her after she was found roaming the roads abandoned.

Raven was pregnant when she was rescued and has never been ridden so will be a companion horse.

She is described as being sweetnatured and gentle and loves living with males or geldings.

Raven is happy to be alone for short periods of time which will make her an ideal companion for a ridden horse.

APRIL

Four-year-old

April is a real character and is looking for a home as a project pony. She is lucky to be alive after coming to the rescue centre from a vets where she was a weak and emaciated foal but is now progressing well, walking and trotting. She has also been lightly sat on by a rider.

April has been to Equifest this year and won a rosette and is described as a sweet little mare who will make a great lead rein or all round riding pony.

XENA

Xena is three years old and is a project horse set to be trained up for riding when she turns four. She was born at the Blue Cross to a m a r e who had been abandoned and was very poorly and weak.

Staff said she will make a great riding or driving pony as she is very brave in new situations. She is also a lot of fun to have around and oozes potential.

ICE GEM

This handsome chap is four and a project horse. He arrived at the centre when he was just six months old after being abandoned with a group of horses and was very poorly.

As he was one of the smaller horses the owner did not want him to breed so he was simply dumped.

Staff at Blue Cross say he is a sweet pony with a fun personality. He is also good to catch and lead and very good with the vet and farrier.