Action taken against ongoing horse crisis
The situation is no better but charities are fighting back for equines’ benefit
A NEW online resource, a health project and the Central
Equine Database are among the tools hoped to help combat the ongoing equine crisis in the UK.
The issue has been brought back into the public eye by the RSPCA, which last week revealed it rescued nearly 1,000 horses in 2017 — the most in four years.
The long-term impact of the recession, overbreeding, vet bills and falling prices for horses were cited as contributing to the crisis.
“The situation is just as severe today as when it started,” said the RSPCA’s inspectorate national equine co-ordinator, Christine McNeil. “Up and down England and Wales, horses are being found sick, or dumped liked rubbish, dying or dead. It’s a huge issue”
The government and charities are working to tackle the crisis.
The Central Equine Database, managed by Defra, is now in operation, making it easier to identify horses and their owners. “It’s made it quicker and easier for charities and local authorities to identify horses
who come into their care,” said an RSPCA spokesman. “Before, the process of finding a horse’s identity and owner details from the passport or the microchip required us to phone more than 80 different data holders, for example, breed societies. Now, a Defra official can be contacted and they can check the entire database to find the details.”
H&H reported (news, 29 March) that Defra is extending microchipping requirements to all horses in England and there could be fines for non-compliance.
“We’re hopeful this will encourage people to be more considerate when taking on equines, as there will be more to hold them accountable,” the spokesman said.
UNDERSTANDING LAWS
SINCE the RSPCA’s statement, Redwings has created a section of its website to help with fears about potential welfare cases.
It includes topics such as what details organisations need when reporting an equine in need and the laws on animal welfare.
From November 2017 to March, Redwings attended 102 welfare cases — a 67% increase from the previous winter.
“It’s important for this issue to have been given such attention,” said Nic de Brauwere, Redwings’ head of welfare. “While we encourage the public to be vigilant — without reporting suspected neglect and abandonment we cannot be there to help horses in need — we ask them to also be mindful of the challenges faced by the welfare charities.
“It is important to understand the laws by which charities need to operate and to appreciate our efforts to educate struggling owners in caring for horses rather than simply removing them to sanctuaries already at capacity.”
The British Horse Society (BHS) runs health care clinics (news, 29 March) aimed to reduce neglect and abandonment.
BHS welfare director Gemma Stanford told H&H the BHS believes “prevention is better than cure” and promotes welfare by educating and supporting owners.
The BHS received a £50,000 grant from SEIB for the project.
“This will allow us to step up the delivery of our clinics,” Ms Stanford said. “It will go towards a vehicle that can be used as emergency horse transport as well as having a weighbridge and carrying the kit for clinics.
“We also intend to provide ‘horse MoT days’. We’re looking at long-term solutions to the horse crisis.”
The MoT days will involve the BHS visiting its approved centres, yards and members to provide help to reduce obesity in horses, offer advice and health support.