Horse Crisis?

[Meowy Catkin]

I was specifically talking about horses that are already signed over to a charity. So the decisions that are made by the charity (I have no doubt that there is veterinary input, but the Peel case really showed up how that can be ignored) once they have control of the animal.

Just in case anyone has forgotten about this or missed it the first time around.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...nued-claim-vet-stable-fees-months-deaths.html

RSPCA shoots 11 HEALTHY horses: Charity culled 'bright, alert and responsive' animals…and continued to claim vet and stable fees months AFTER deaths
RSPCA ordered the killing of 11 healthy horses after they were rescued
Several horses were described as 'doing ok' but were still shot days later
The charity then claimed thousands of pounds for stabling expenses

1. Khoomi Diagnosis: BAR - vets' term for bright, alert, responsive'... a condition attributed to 7 of the 11 horses. Khoomi also had bad rainscald ( a skin bacteria), scabs, overgrown feet. Fate: Shot a month later

... and so on.

The whole conviction of the person who starved the horses in the first place was also disappointing to say the least.

I really hope that things are improved and that this would never happen now because the fact that it happened this once was bad enough.

 

[Widgeon]

See the Peel horses and the RSPCA.

Yes this is true, absolutely not denying this. While I think that much of the RSPCA's work is commendable, I also think that there's a lot about the way they operate that makes me very uncomfortable. But they are so big and seem to have such a big publicity budget that they get away with things like this. But that is a whole other discussion that would derail this thread.

 

[SO1]

I don't if this would work but if a lot of charities have small cobs with nothing wrong with them just not having time to prepare them to be suitable for children to ride perhaps if each charity contributed they could between them rent a suitable premises & employ staff to set up a centrally funded training & rehoming centre that all the charities could use. Good children's ponies are hard to find & parents may prefer to loan rather than buy as they can return pony to charity when child outgrows it or if child looses interest.

Another option might be putting together a scheme where lead rein & first ridden showing producers are asked if they can support charities by taking one of these small ponies for a year 6and train them & get them out & about. They often have good small jockeys & maybe their rich clients might be able to help support these schemes. It would be good perhaps for children from wealthy families to get involved with this sort of scheme & learn about charity work. It would also raise the profile of professional yards if they are connected with charity work. Wealthy clients who give to charity might like that connection.

These smaller sound ponies do have a chance of having nice homes they just need to be produced to a standard that makes them safe for children.

Maybe also collaborating with the BHS to put together a scheme where instructors who wanted to help charities could offer discounts on lessons to those who rehomed horses from charities. Horses rehomed from charities could perhaps get discounts on entry fees at show or free entry if they were in the training phase at the charity & not rehomed or free pony club membership if you take a charity pony to rallies.

 

[Dasher66]

What She Said ^^^^^

 

[Kaylum]

Quite a lot of people have show ponies that are not ridden. It is how we attract attention of the ones that need rehoming they get seen at a show. Again it is time and volunteers to take them. We have foster carers who do take our small ponies and bring them on for us, including producers.

 

[Frumpoon]

I don't if this would work but if a lot of charities have small cobs with nothing wrong with them just not having time to prepare them to be suitable for children to ride perhaps if each charity contributed they could between them rent a suitable premises & employ staff to set up a centrally funded training & rehoming centre that all the charities could use. Good children's ponies are hard to find & parents may prefer to loan rather than buy as they can return pony to charity when child outgrows it or if child looses interest.

Another option might be putting together a scheme where lead rein & first ridden showing producers are asked if they can support charities by taking one of these small ponies for a year 6and train them & get them out & about. They often have good small jockeys & maybe their rich clients might be able to help support these schemes. It would be good perhaps for children from wealthy families to get involved with this sort of scheme & learn about charity work. It would also raise the profile of professional yards if they are connected with charity work. Wealthy clients who give to charity might like that connection.

These smaller sound ponies do have a chance of having nice homes they just need to be produced to a standard that makes them safe for children.

Maybe also collaborating with the BHS to put together a scheme where instructors who wanted to help charities could offer discounts on lessons to those who rehomed horses from charities. Horses rehomed from charities could perhaps get discounts on entry fees at show or free entry if they were in the training phase at the charity & not rehomed or free pony club membership if you take a charity pony to rallies.

It's a sweet idea but rests on parents wanting cobs again, all the parents I know want pretty ponies - natives and crosses for their children.

 

[The unicorn]

The problems that I have seen are firstly that some charities spend a lot of money on a few horses/ponies that are in very, very bad shape. Such bad shape that PTS is possibly the kinder way forwards depending on the individual case. If these poor horses were PTS then that would free up money that could be spent on horses with fewer issues that possibly have a more useful future. These awful cases make good 'poster cases' though and get the money in, so I doubt this will ever stop.

Secondly they need more highly trained equestrian staff. Staff who can deal with breeds that are stereotyped as more 'highly strung' for example. I have a horrible suspicion that this was one of the issues that led the Peel Arabs to be dealt with in the way they were. That was a complete shit show and we should never forget it. Quality horses with people wanting them who (apart from the poor mare who broke her leg while being transported after being rescued) had comparatively minor issues were mostly PTS despite offers of help from the breed society. Even the guy who did the PTS apparently questioned the decision.

This is so true a rescue that I follow on Facebook are taking seriously sick horses that should have been put down when they are found. But they don’t they put them in big expensive equine hospital they end up having putting the horses down a few days later. Than they post on Facebook that they cannot afford to pay big vet bill and ask the for the public to pay for it.

 

[Mikas-mom]

I’m currently in the market for a new horse, be it buying or loaning (I’m not particularly fussed either way) don’t want anything fancy, don’t need anything that can jump or take me to the next Olympics, and I don’t mind an older horse.
So I thought I’d try and do my bit (if I could) to help out a horse charity by possibly rehoming a horse.
not going to happen.
As has been said, 99% of the horses I’ve seen/heard about (from making calls to various charities) are coloured cobs under 14hh, and most of those are only going to be rehired as companions.
I would love to be able to ease a tiny bit of the burden a Charity feels by offering a home to a rescue horse, but sadly i Just don’t think it’s going to happen.

 

[GTRJazz]

I offered a local horse charity free use of my field 10mins up the road from them and they did not even reply. I can only assume they are more interested in cash donations