equinesection.com rescue

Silverspring

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Sorry but I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. They have been discussed before on this forum and the are paying money for meat horses to 'rescue' them from slaughter. These horses have either been bred for meat or sold for meat for a reason, they are probably completly unsuitable as ridden horses.
Additionally by paying money for these horses you are rewarding the meat men as they will get well above meat price by selling to foreigners.
 

nuffield

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This is rather a hot topic on this forum . Apparently some of the horses are bred for meat in the first place and others have been sent for meat but have been riding horses in the past,but who knows what is wrong with them [if anything]? and why they have been sent. By all means obtain a horse from Equinesection if you want to but do your research and do so with your eyes open. Alternatively there is the WHW [ formally ILPH] or RSPCA who both have rescued horses needing good homes.
 

Silverspring

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Sorry Nuffield but have you looked at the ILPH loan site recently, I don't think they had a single horse that was suitable for being ridden in the entire country. ILPH are great for companions but they rarely have ridden horses and if you want something to compete you may as well play the lottery as so few come up and they are snapped up at break neck speed.
Have you considered an ex racer? They can be rehomed (after rehab) and make amazing ridden horses. there is a racehorse rehab charity but I don't know the name off the top of my head.
 

jhoward

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http://www.heroscharity.org theres also a form, x racers i think its called.

with ref to equine section, personally i can see why somebody wanted to do something, and know of several people that have had horses/ponies/donkies off the site, i find it hard to justify "rescuing" a french horse when there are so many horses in the uk after a new home.
 
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Donkeymad

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I know several people who have rescued either a pony or donkey from here. The pony was bought for a young girl to ride and, twelve months later with a good handler, is still dangerous for adults let alone children. The donkeys have been in such a state that it would have been far kinder to send them for slaughter than import them to the UK and subject them to months and months of agonising treatment.
I have no doubts that many that come over here are perfectly good animals, but feel that if 'we' buy them, we are simply creating a market for the 'farmers'. Sorry.

There are many many horse rescue charities in the UK, not just the ILPH. You could do a search and contact some of the smaller ones.
 

lisirwin

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hiyer, my names lis. I have bought three equines (2 horses and a donkey) from equine section, and they have all been good quality, attractive animals. They are healthy, and the horses are of showing quality. You people who have commented on equinesections reliability with such a negative attitude - you have little or no knowledge of the animals coming from that site - i do. I recommend www.equinesection.com, as it is giving horses and donkey the opportunity of a second chance in life. You who are giving your opinion when it comes to something you don't even know the facts about, you are narrow-minded. Yes, none of the animals their have had an easy life, and yes many of them are a challenge to deal with...but I can tell you, that there is no greater feeling than that of helping something and giving it a better lease of life.
 

bigears

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I have met several of the Equine Section UK rescues, horses and donkeys, and they have been perfectly fine happy horses and donkeys, with no long term problems. Most have come with lice, some with long feet, but apart from that they have been completely amenable and straight forward. I have also been involved in rescuing a number of the donkeys, and these are all nice, friendly donkeys, in good health, the main problem with them is what they were not gelded when young and have had to be gelded aged 10+ which is harder for them. But this was done, and they are perfectly nice to handle and work with, and are now fat and well, and in good homes.

Many of the ex trotters are now being ridden perfectly successfully. Some of the horses are field ornaments, and were bought for that purpose as they were old, or had specific issues that would suggest they would never be rideable - one of the young foals went to his first show recently in an in hand class and was perfectly behaved and came away with a rosette. They are not useless throw away animals that is what is sad about it.

If someone buys a child's pony or donkey off a rescue site or at an auction then they are totally nuts anyway. You would only buy something like that from a known source. You wouldn't go to a scrap yard looking for a Rolls Royce in perfect nick, would you. If you are looking for a first pony then common sense alone would tell you to buy by word of mouth - but there are plenty of idiots in the horse world and it isn't the fault of rescue sites if they buy horses that are inappropriate for their needs - this happens all the time with private sales so no different.

If you took the time to read the success stories on the equine section forum, and see what the rescued horses and donkeys are actually doing, then you might be in a better position to comment.

IF someone in the UK wants to put up a website advertising the UK horses on UK fattening lots (where it is done with great secrecy to avoid being picketed and getting animal rights people outside all the time) then I am sure they would also be able to generate interest in them and find buyers for them. But as they are not publicised, then no one knows about them, unless they go to auctions and buy them there.

Rather than criticise people who try to help these horses, regardless of country of origin, have a go at the people who breed these animals, and the people who dump old horses at auctions etc. Or contact your MP and ask for the minimum export value to be re-introduced to stop our New Forest and Welsh ponies going to French fattening farms via Ireland - we all know it happens and in fact some of these ponies are now being picked up via the French websites and coming back to the UK. Daft, but criticise the people who breed from backyard mares, and overbreed native ponies and don't prepare them to be useful or valuable. They feed the trade.

It is also very true that most UK charities do NOT have much in the way of riding horses for rehoming - i used to work with a uk horse charity and of the 100 horses we had at any time, about 70 were completely useless as anything other than companions. And even then we couldn't find homes for them. Most charities have the old, sad, mad and bad with the odd youngster coming through that can be broken and ridden, but most of the horses they get in are not capable of being ridden or have other issues, such as sweetitch, which makes an owner unwilling to take them on loan.

On the ES site, there are plenty of very useful fjords, percherons, many comptois type foals who grow up to make perfectly decent riding horses. No one forces you to buy these horses, but many have turned out absolutely fine, and given how they are neglected on the fattening farms i.e no farrier, wounds left untreated etc, they are being 'rescued' from pretty unpleasant places where they do not have a nice time, particularly the mares in foal with foals at foot.

If someone wants to go and help UK meat horses, then there are lots of us who would support them, but until you provide a shopfront for them, then the overseas websites do help these horses by finding homes in France and other countries. They only go to Italy for live export as they get more money for them there, as the salami trade refuses to deal in chilled meat and wants fresh meat, and they also like the flavour of foal meat. So horses from Spain, where there is limited grazing, are fattened in France, and then go to Italy where the money is better. No doubt a lot of French horses supply the French market for horsemeat but the market in Italy and Spain is growing and the horses from Eastern Europe end up there as well.
 

TGM

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You might want to read this press release from Equine Rescue France, which warns of the pitfalls of 'rescuing' from France:

"French equine welfare group, Equine Rescue France, is warning UK horse-lovers of the pitfalls of 'rescuing' French horses through so-called 'French rescue' websites. Purchasers are sought through emotional pleas made on these sites, claiming that the horses are in imminent danger of being transported on a horrendous journey to the Italian slaughterhouses and can only be saved by substantial donations by members of the public.

In fact, only a small proportion of these horses are destined for Italy - France has a huge number of abattoirs so most horses will slaughtered locally and this is the common method of dispatch in France for unwanted, unsound or elderly horses. In addition, many French low-end dealers have cottoned onto the 'rescue' trend and are using the situation to achieve inflated prices for horses that were never destined for slaughter in the first place.

Many 'rescuers' have discovered that when their horse arrives in the UK it has unforeseen health problems, from relatively minor conditions such as lice and heavy worm burdens, to badly deformed legs, serious melanomas and blown tendons. Some animals also have behavioural problems, making them difficult to handle or ride and aggressive to people and other horses.

Following the recent diagnosis of a case of Equine Infectious Anaemia in France, ERF are also concerned that dangerous equine diseases could be introduced to the UK via imported horses as adequate veterinary checks are rarely undertaken before importation.

ERF have witnessed very poor standards of care once the French horses have been purchased and are awaiting transport to the UK - with some animals left with inadequate water, hay and feed, and without bedding. There are also concerns about the welfare of these animals on the long journeys to the UK as ERF feel that transporting elderly, sick and deformed horses for long periods, without unloading them and allowing them to rest overnight is compromising their welfare.

ERF believes that the welfare of rescued horses is best served by rehoming them in their country of origin, so will continue rehoming the French horses they rescue in stringently checked French homes.

In the current financial climate many UK charities are keen to find good homes for their rescued horses, with World Horse Welfare, for example, reporting a rise in the number of rescued animals but a decrease in rehoming applications. ERF suggests that UK horselovers are best to rescue via a reputable UK charity as this is a more satisfactory option for the rescuer (as the animal will be properly assessed and treated before rehoming) and also ensures the best welfare for the animals concerned. "

You also should be aware that there are no legal requirements for horses to have a health certificate when being imported from France to the UK, and there has been a case of the highly dangerous Equine Infectious Anaemia been reported in France in the last month.
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Fairynuff

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Im sorry Bigears but you should be banned immediately. This is what happened to any of us who dared try to post on your 'rescue sites' even if they had posted or not. Please dont be a hypocrite, go and 'save something' somewhere else. GB has enough of its own to save, we dont need to look far. I am an ex pat and have been here in Italy for 20 odd years now. I have saved the odd equine and ALL of them are ITALIAN or at least were on Italian soil when I 'saved' them. With the economic situation as it is, I would not be trying to import other waifs and strays-charity begins at home
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. Are you the donkey rescue place on the Scottish borders? If so, arent there enough donks needing help in GB?
 

the watcher

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It is also very true that most UK charities do NOT have much in the way of riding horses for rehoming - i used to work with a uk horse charity and of the 100 horses we had at any time, about 70 were completely useless as anything other than companions. And even then we couldn't find homes for them. Most charities have the old, sad, mad and bad with the odd youngster coming through that can be broken and ridden, but most of the horses they get in are not capable of being ridden or have other issues, such as sweetitch, which makes an owner unwilling to take them on loan.

This is true, however it should be remebered that there is no charge for these UK rescue horses, apart from possibly a one -off admin contribution, whereas those who are importing from France are paying a market rate, or even above market rate for a meat horse. Some of those horses may well be in good health and suitable to become a riding horse, but there are no guarantees and this strikes me as a completely mad way to purchase an expensive animal.
 

The Original Kao

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would you really buy a horse in the UK from nothing but a photograph?
Would you really pay around £1500 for a horse in the UK that was being sent for slaughter from a dealer's yard?
Are you prepared to spend a lot of money on something that could be totally unsuitable/lame/unhandled?
Least if you do pick something up cheap at auction that turns out to be unsuitable you've not just paid nearly £1500 just to get it to your yard
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Most of these horses are in dealers yards, most are not going to Italy, most are there for a very good reason.
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Fairynuff

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[ QUOTE ]
hiyer, my names lis. I have bought three equines (2 horses and a donkey) from equine section, and they have all been good quality, attractive animals. They are healthy, and the horses are of showing quality. You people who have commented on equinesections reliability with such a negative attitude - you have little or no knowledge of the animals coming from that site - i do. I recommend www.equinesection.com, as it is giving horses and donkey the opportunity of a second chance in life. You who are giving your opinion when it comes to something you don't even know the facts about, you are narrow-minded. Yes, none of the animals their have had an easy life, and yes many of them are a challenge to deal with...but I can tell you, that there is no greater feeling than that of helping something and giving it a better lease of life.

[/ QUOTE ]
You lot are so full of bull that youre making me want to go and buy some horsemeat just so I can give you the 'finger'. Why is it, that as soon as French horses are nominated, out pops the '1 post' poster? Im quite sure that there are enough good quality animals needing help in GB without you having to making the 'French Farmers' happier with the hugely inflated prices they manage to wangle out of the 'stupid' Brits with a sob story etc. You are being taken for a 'ride'. Will you ever learn? No, I dont think so. Buy a Frenchie and get yourself an everlasting ego orgasm. I find you lot sadly lacking in good sense and local politics. Im deeply saddened by the whole scenario and can only hope that there are very few idiots waiting to part with their money. Mairi.
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Gonetofrance

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All these sites buy from farmers and dealers. Few, if indeed any of these horses are going to Italy. If they do, the journey is certainly not going to exceed welfare guidelines due to the distances involved.
You are no more 'saving' them than if you bought from a UK market or low end dealer.
The only difference is, along the way you line the pockets of at least one or two middlemen, whether it be the French site, the UK site buying from the French site, or the transporter.

At the moment in the Uk a nice riding horse can be picked up from a sale for about £500, less than the transports costs across to the UK from France.
For that, you can see the animal in the flesh and probably find out about it's history (you speak the same language as the seller for a kick off).
Equine Section have stated that they will refuse to give out any contact information to potential buyers about the sellers.

Dealers tricks.
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M_G

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Not while EIA is in europe and none of these animals have been tested.. If you really want to rescue a horse contact any of the equine welfare charitys
 

piebaldsparkle

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[ QUOTE ]
has anyone ever rescued from this site and what does it entail am rather taken with one of the horses available

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry this is not rescuing, it is purchasing from the French equivilant of a low end dealer, via ES. I suggest you save yourself some money and either find a low end local dealer, or go on Project horses if you want a not so cheap horse with issues (because these horses aren't cheap especially once you add transport costs)...........You could call it a rescue if it makes you feel better!!!!
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Who in their right mind would normally buy a horse unseen and unvetted?
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N.B. If you are on livery you may find your yard will not accept one of these so called rescues either. This is because most come with lice and some have come with Strangles. EIA is a another potential worry to consider too.
 

AmyMay

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[ QUOTE ]
(where it is done with great secrecy to avoid being picketed and getting animal rights people outside all the time)

[/ QUOTE ]
Now that is an interesting bit of propaganda. Where ever did you dream that one up from?
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piebaldsparkle

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[ QUOTE ]

If someone buys a child's pony or donkey off a rescue site or at an auction then they are totally nuts anyway. You would only buy something like that from a known source. You wouldn't go to a scrap yard looking for a Rolls Royce in perfect nick, would you. If you are looking for a first pony then common sense alone would tell you to buy by word of mouth - but there are plenty of idiots in the horse world and it isn't the fault of rescue sites if they buy horses that are inappropriate for their needs .

[/ QUOTE ]


Has to up the odds of getting something unsuitable when it is unseen/tried...........No??
 
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