Bid to find horses in care stable homes

An urgent appeal has been launched by the RSPCA to find foster homes for hundreds of young horses after it was revealed the number in the charity's care had doubled in the past year.

RSPCA bosses say that they are looking after 600 ponies and horses which have suffered neglect and cruelty and they revealed that almost half of them in their care are now younger animals.

The recession, rising hay costs and irresponsible breeding are thought to be to blame for the rising number of horses being neglected and abandoned.

The charity has now launched the Stable Future appeal to find fosterers to look after some of the 270 horses which are too young to be ridden.

Louise Cooke, 37, from near Whitchurch, is encouraging people to back the appeal after fostering more than 20 horses herself.

She took on Charmer, a bay Friesian cross who came into RSPCA care with his mother and several other horses in a neglect case.

She said: "The most important thing for fosterers to bear in mind is to be sure you have the time and patience to look after them. They are all different with different personalities. Some we fostered we have gone on to adopt and bring them on until they are ready to compete."

Amber Miller, head groom at Gonsal Farm Animal Centre, near Shrewsbury, said: "There's definitely been an increase in the number of animals at Gonsal Farm. There seems to be a lot of indiscriminate breeders out there.

"If we can get more fosterers for younger horses it will make room in our centres for horses needing specialist care."

Sally Learoyd, the RSPCA's equine rehoming officer, said: "Over the past year we've seen a huge increase in the number of horses being disowned or allowed to get into an appalling state."

The young horses available for fostering are aged between one and three, microchipped, and vaccinated. To apply log onto www.rspca.org.uk/stablefuture or call 0300 123 8000.