Control Act is ‘a positive step’

CHARITIES have hailed the Control of Horses Act as a positive step forward, one year after it came into force in England.

The aim of the legislation, passed in May 2015, was to make it quicker and easier for landlords to take action against fly-grazing.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said the estimated number of fly-grazed horses has dropped slightly across England and Wales — to around 3,000-3,500 — since the Act came into force.

In 2014, there were approximately that number fly-grazing in England alone.

“While we have undoubtedly seen positive results since the Act came into force one year ago, we firmly believe there is still much more work to be done,” added Mr Owers.

“Awareness of the Act, and the willingness of more local authorities and other landowners to use it, are key to its success in tackling illegal fly-grazing.”

An RSPCA spokesman said the charity is aware of at least 20 authorities in England which have used the Act so far.

“We believe there has been a positive reduction of the numbers of horses being fly-grazed in traditional ‘hot-spot’ areas such as Northumbria, Bedfordshire and the Thames Estuary,” he added.

He said the organisation understands the Act is not a “quick fix” and that it needs robust enforcement together with a longer-term and strategic approach to the issue of fly-grazing horses if numbers are to be “substantially reduced” in future. LE