A UK horse charity continues to see a dramatic rise in the number of horses suffering from abuse or neglect. World Horse Welfare is struggling to meet demand for places at its four UK rehabilitation centres and is calling on people to consider re-homing a horse or pony.
As it stands, the charity is currently caring for 298 horses and ponies at the four sites but this number is likely to increase to 334 over the next few weeks. This compares to January last year where a total of 268 equines were being looked after.
Whilst one farm (Penny Farm, Blackpool) is just under its maximum stocking level, another farm is already at full capacity (Hall Farm, Norfolk). Additionally, two other farms (Glenda Spooner Farm, Somerset and Belwade Farm, Aberdeenshire) are due to reach their maximum levels soon. One of the factors causing the rise is due to owners struggling in the current economic climate and rising prices of food.
World Horse Welfare is urgently seeking potential borrowers who believe they could offer a home to one of the charity’s rescue horses or ponies, especially those who would make good companions to other equines.
At all of the farms there are several horses and ponies which need re-homing including 14 year old Toby who would make an excellent companion. He is a 14.3hh bay gelding who arrived at Hall Farm in 2007. He was very overweight and had badly neglected feet but his rehabilitation has helped him lose a huge amount of weight and he is on a carefully controlled diet and exercise programme.
Tony Tyler, Deputy Chief Executive and Head of UK Welfare said “We are desperately appealing to people to think about offering a home to one of our horses or ponies such as Toby. Due to the increase in the number of welfare cases we are dealing with, and many at short notice, we are hoping members of the public will consider helping. Many of the horses we take in would be excellent as companions.
”Horses are very sociable animals and enjoy interaction with other equines. This is why having a companion horse or pony is a great way to keep your other horse company.
“We need to re-home some of our current residents as soon as possible as we are getting dangerously near to full capacity. This could mean we will have to become more selective about the cases we take into our farms. This would be a shame as there are so many horses who need our help but we are coming to a position where we would have to turn them away.”
All of the horses and ponies available for re-homing can be viewed on the World Horse Welfare website at www.worldhorsewelfare.org
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