RSPCA warns of abandoned horse crisis looming

The animal charity has already dealt with 68 incidents involving horses in Shropshire during the Covid-19 crisis and fears there could be more.

Microchipping of horses becomes compulsory in England this month, yet despsite this the RSPCA says it is braced for huge numbers of abandoned and neglected horses as the country plunges into an even deeper financial downturn.

As the charity launched its month-long rehoming drive, Adoptober, it revealed that nationally the number of horses in its care is already three times what it was at the start of the last recession in 2009.

During the lockdown period of March to September alone, the RSPCA dealt with 4,479 incidents involving horses – including 68 in Shropshire.

Last year the charity rehomed 242 horses, but almost 760 remain in the charity’s care to date, desperately needing new homes.

At the time of the last recession, the RSPCA had 250 horses in its care in 2009, but following that downturn, numbers peaked at nearly 1,200 in 2013. The RSPCA is expecting more horses to be abandoned or neglected as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the deepening recession and is urging people who are looking to take on a horse to think about adopting one from the charity.

Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA, said: “Equine charities fear that autumn will create the perfect storm as grazing decreases, the end of furlough and the deepening recession will see more owners struggling with costs of care leading to neglect and abandonment, yet people have been continuing to breed horses despite Covid-19.”

Companion

One RSPCA horse looking for a new home is Flora, a 12-year-old Bay Welsh Pony, being cared for at Gonsal Farm near Shewsbury.

Chris said she was a lovely 12hh mare who, after lots of TLC, was now easy to handle.

“She is good to groom, tie up and have her feet picked up. She can be a little tricky to catch at times but she has improved since settling in with us. She is looking for a companion home with another mare or mares, with someone who will give her the love she deserves. She is vaccinated against flu and tetanus; micro chipped and has a passport.

Flora was a cruelty case from the North West scared and unhandled. When she was rescued Flora had very sharp teeth which had not had any attention.

“This made it very painful for her to eat. She also had rain scald along her back, and had very long feet which had not been trimmed for months and also had mud fever.

“Her basic needs were not being met and the conditions she was kept in were not suitable. She has previously had a foal. The owner was banned from keeping horses.” To adopt Flora contact RSPCA Gonsal Farm on 07720 948636.

Although the RSPCA welcomes the change in the law to make microchipping of all equines mandatory irrespective of age, as it is for dogs, it warns the move is not enough alone to tackle irresponsible breeders and owners at the heart of the equine crisis.