Animal Rescue
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
CAN you imagine owning a field and, if so, waking up one morning to find a horse grazing in it that doesn’t belong to you? As a record number of horses are being abandoned, that’s the reality for some people.
Last year, the RSPCA rescued 1,797 horses that had been abandoned, neglected or cruelly treated. And such rescue isn’t cheap. It costs, on average, £5000 for the RSPCA to care for one horse from arrival into RSPCA care until adoption. At present, they have over 600 horses in their care. Because they are constantly being asked to rescue more horses, 76% of these are in private boarding as their equine centres are full.
I’ve just spent the morning at the RSPCA centre at Southridge, meeting four horses that have been abandoned. One of them, Lilly, is a chestnut mare who came to the RSPCA when she was one year old in an emaciated state after being abandoned in a field. She is now four years old and looking beautiful. She’s full of character and can be cheeky – importantly, she’s learnt how to open gates. The RSPCA want to home Lilly as either a companion pony or as an inhand show pony. Horses are sociable animals that shouldn’t be housed alone so several of their horses are recommended for rehoming as companion animals.
But the RSPCA also have horses for rehoming that are suitable for riding. Just take a look at their website (rspca.org.uk) to see the wide range of horses available for adoption. If you’re thinking of getting a horse, consider adopting one from the RSPCA. Because horses cannot easily be moved between centres, you may have to travel to meet the horse as they are never homed unseen. If your application to adopt a horse is successful, there is an adoption fee plus every horse will be microchipped, have a passport, be vaccinated against tetanus, have had their feet and teeth checked and be accompanied by a detailed history of what’s happened to them in RSPCA care. When the horse goes to their new home, the RSPCA keep in touch for six months to see how things are going. After that, if all parties are happy, ownership of the horse is officially signed over.
If you would like to meet Lilly, the RSPCA Southridge rehoming centre is at Packhorse Lane, Potters Bar.
Meanwhile, if you think you’ve found an abandoned horse, Blue Cross (bluecross.org.uk) have helpful guidance on what to do.