OK folks: Redwings is officially full

[tabithakat64]

As much as I hate to say this, I agree with others on this thread and humane destruction of those with chronic illness, lameness and the elderly has to be the only way forward.
Giving charities the time and money to concentrate on the younger, fit animals that will be easier to rehome, until the economy picks up.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Right,you say PTS the ones with illness and behavioural problems,hmmm how about humans who have serious mental problems.and a older folks with a serious illnesses,you wouldnt put them to sleep would you? Sorry but these animals they have as much right to live as any other being!!!!! If on deaths door with colic and nothing can be done then yes PTS.

 

[Fools Motto]

Right,you say PTS the ones with illness and behavioural problems,hmmm how about humans who have serious mental problems.and a older folks with a serious illnesses,you wouldnt put them to sleep would you? Sorry but these animals they have as much right to live as any other being!!!!! If on deaths door with colic and nothing can be done then yes PTS.

LOL - I'm nearly 100% sure those humans who have terminal illnesses and or are old/senile would love to be pts. They often wish the law can be changed so they are put out of their suffering. If ever I was any of the above, then I wish someone would put me to sleep. Peaceful non suffering ending!
As for the horses, then I'm with the majority and agree that many old/injured/ill should be pts, and the money saved can then go to help those with a future. Makes sense to me.

 

[guesstimation]

They certainly have a right to live and for what equines give us deserve a nice life however it comes down to quality of life too and if that can't be given what is the better option? grazing cannot be found if it doesn't exist. Also there are many people who offer homes but actually have no idea what they are taking on or know what they are doing they just think ahhhhh poor pony and make it's life more of a misery through lack of knowledge. They can't be re-homed willy nilly as more suffering can be caused long term.

I have come to terms with knowing how the Dartmoors will now be getting slaughtered for zoo meat simply because it is a far better fate than what would otherwise await them and what has happened to them in the past (live transport with the same end) but it is such a waste. There are only so much resources in this country to help them and it just doesn't seem possible to help them all.

Something has to be done at the route cause of the problem but I can't see it ever happening.

 

[Cuffey]

I am surprised Redwings only rehome in a few counties as I understood they had welfare volunteers all over the UK, unless that policy has changed as well.

 

[guesstimation]

Link to Redwings re-homing page in case any one is interested!
http://www.redwings.org.uk/rehoming/

I remember I went to WHW once a few years back to try an Exmoor, he was lovely but they were really strict and wouldn't let it live out or let me try him shoeless etc, in the end I went for another horse I'd tried.

 

[SusannaF]

Thing is just because they do rehome doesn't mean they can then take on another pony in it's place as there are always horses and ponies then coming back from loan homes - in particular if they are ponies! At the Dartmoor Pony Training Centre this is one of the reasons we have had to stop taking in the ponies, we have about 50 out in permanent loan homes and if we had a sudden surge of ponies coming back, which can happen and has happened, we need to ensure we have the land to cope with them.

This is the catch 22. Charities can't rehome more horses if there isn't more demand, and there's less demand in an economy like this, which is why the horses end up being rescued...

 

[TGM]

Sorry but these animals they have as much right to live as any other being!!!!! If on deaths door with colic and nothing can be done then yes PTS.

But who funds it all? I take it you are willing and able to give these charities a substantial donation to ensure all these ailing equines can carry on until they expire of natural causes?

 

[luckyoldme]

Right,you say PTS the ones with illness and behavioural problems,hmmm how about humans who have serious mental problems.and a older folks with a serious illnesses,you wouldnt put them to sleep would you? Sorry but these animals they have as much right to live as any other being!!!!! If on deaths door with colic and nothing can be done then yes PTS.

i understand your disgust at pts.. but for these animals to exist with illness and behavioural problems they have to have someone to pay their way.. I don t mind looking after my one horse for his retirement but sadly lots of people need to get rid of one old horse to make way for a younger fitter horse. These people don t want / can't fund a retirement which means if you don t pts you need to find loads of people who want to buy a horse just to keep running up massive vet bills...
What would be your solution to the problem?

 

[Welly]

I am a bit confused the ponies were taken of the moor due to illness, strangles I think they were not dumped and it happened last Feb. I think charities do a good job but can we stick to the facts.

 

[Tinypony]

Right,you say PTS the ones with illness and behavioural problems,hmmm how about humans who have serious mental problems.and a older folks with a serious illnesses,you wouldnt put them to sleep would you? Sorry but these animals they have as much right to live as any other being!!!!! If on deaths door with colic and nothing can be done then yes PTS.

Yes - poor things.

So what is your solution to this? How do you propose that these physically or mentally ill horses are to be cared for and how could it be funded?

When a rescue is full and can spare no resources - what happens to the horses they turn away? Should they concentrate on horses that might have a future in a loan home (making space for another at the sanctuary), or should they fill up with long-term ill and behaviour problems and keep them until they die (meaning they can't take in healthy horses).

See, this is how so many people who claim to be refuges, sanctuaries whatever get themselves into trouble. They open the doors, have a policy that no animal gets turned away, then sometime down the line they are the ones that animals need to be rescued from. I've got experience of two in Kent, one in Devon... but there are many that do this.

 

[Orangehorse]

There is no comparision between a human and an animal.

I'm afraid I agree with the alternative of PTS. I am not saying wholesale slaughter, but certainly those that cannot be re-homed or be used as a companion or the possibilty of a useful life of any sort and those with on-going health problems.

 

[brighteyes]

I think rescues are full of unviable horses. Very few are cases which 'simply' need some remedial farriery and feeding up.

WHW spends exhaustive amounts on veterinary costs - prophylactic care and keeping entires as such because/whilst their owners face prosecution and the horses cannot, meantime, be gelded or euthanised, except in extreme cases. It is a glorified sanctuary for the dross 'we' as a nation allow to be bred and be kept by incompetents and ignoramuses. Sorry, but a bullet and entry somewhere in the food chain is the best solution.

I could also question the rehoming of some animals into questionable homes, but that's another story.

 

[rhino]

Right,you say PTS the ones with illness and behavioural problems,hmmm how about humans who have serious mental problems.and a older folks with a serious illnesses,you wouldnt put them to sleep would you?

But as we aren't discussing people this is completely irrelevant - it is not a valid comparison.

There are far too many horses in the UK. There is not enough space to keep them as most charities are overflowing. There is not nearly enough money to look after and rehabilitate all the horses in need.

So should we spend, say £5000 (just an example) to 'rehabilitate' one horse who has recurring colic, will never lead a normal life and can never be rehomed?
Should we instead spend this money on a horse with severe psychological issues that it is dangerous to handle and can never be rehomed?
Or do we spend the money ensuring 2, 3 or more healthy, 'problem' free animals can be rehomed as useful riding or companion animals?

People really need to stop burying their heads in the sand. Of course in an ideal world all animals would live long, happy, pain-free lives but this is far from being an ideal world. There is a good reason why fairytale endings usually happen in fairytales!

 

[marmalade76]

Aswell as encouraging responsible breeding, responsble euthenasia also needs to be encouraged, and that should go for all owners, not just rescue centres.

I have just read yet another story on FB of a lady who loaned her unrideable mare as a comapnion only for it to be sold on by the loaner as a riding horse. The mare had competed at HOYS and bred a foal for the owner, yet she CBA to give her loyal servant a retirement, and if she couldn't, how the hell did she expect someone else to?? And why would anyone want to loan/buy old horses with problems as companions when there are perfectly healthy, young, cheap to keep ponies going for peanuts in markets?

I also think it's ridiculous the way charities spend huge amounts on veterenary care for horses with no viable future and the poster who wasn't allowed to rehome an Exmoor 'cause it had to be stabled and shod - unbelieveable!

 

[Marydoll]

I am in the process of looking for a rescue horse myself. I went on their website and found out they only rehome in a select few counties. I am not far from the counties they list, but somehow I cannot help one of their horses in need? This seems a bit ridiculous if you ask me.

Agree with this when i was looking for a horse i applied to the Blue cross only to be told they dont rehome in Scotland.The fact the horse was going to a very good 5 * home with an experienced owner who has a grooms diploma didnt come into it as i was flatly turned down and not even questioned on the type pf home i could offer

 

[SamanthaUK]

Humane Destruction seems to best way doesn't it. It's rather sad in my opinion. I don't mind starting fundraising schemes and getting people to rehome.

I do hope we can overcome this situation. Together.

 

[SamanthaUK]

I've set up a group on facebook. Still editing it and all that but please feel free to join and post

http://www.facebook.com/groups/296183327095528/#!/groups/296183327095528/

 

[leah_x]

Sorry if I'm a bit behind here, but just scan read some of this.
And the post saying redwings never rehome anything has stood out a bit. They rehome as many animals as they possibly can! They just don't rehome anything on permanent medication or with behavioural problems. BUT they have a strict 'training regime' to handle all horses so they are then fit to go to a home.
They will be able to bring in more horses soon when the Aylsham site opens, that's another 200 acres to help some lovely horses.
Redwings are fantastic and I hope they can get enough money to maybe purchase more land to help the poor animals that need it.

Plus - Redwings would never put a horse to sleep just to make room for more.

 

[beeswax]

whilst it is sad having to make decisions about euthanaesia what I would do if I owned a charity/rescue center is when a horse turns 25 (a good old age imo) it gets PTS, so that room is made for others which are younger and/or could do with a helping hand until they get to 25, at least those that are at the charity/rescue and are 25 they would have had hopefully a good few years of the good life. we cannot wait for horses to die naturally of old age when there are others waiting for a chance and need rescueing and unless we make room for them, not all of them can be rehomed then a decision has to be made, sad as it may seem.

 

[leah_x]

Just read some more and cannot believe some of the things I am reading!
The rehoming thing - do you really think a charity can afford to advertise in magazines etc? I'd personally rather them use money on feed and rugs for horses, not advertisements!
Redwings rehoming is fantastic! Yes it takes time but for a reason! They have to find the perfect home, go out on visits to guardians to see how they're getting on etc etc, all with a very small team of staff! All you have to do is call them and they'll help find you a horse! Its quicker if you want to break them yourself, but Redwings staff break more often than not which obviously takes time.

Also, I am surprised at how many people say "PTS if it has illness or behavioural problems. Personally I would be disgusted if they done this. After all, medication exsists to help the horses that are ill, to try and help them get some satisfaction out of life. And the horses are handled daily at all of the farms to make sure as many are rehomed as possible.

I say good luck to Redwings, I hope all works out well for them and that not everyone thinks the same as the majority do on here as they do a FANTASTIC job and hope people realise whatever they do, someone will always disagree, but they are doing what's best!

 

[Ibblebibble]

I am in the process of looking for a rescue horse myself. I went on their website and found out they only rehome in a select few counties. I am not far from the counties they list, but somehow I cannot help one of their horses in need? This seems a bit ridiculous if you ask me.

similar situation here, i am actively looking for an older horse who could cope with some gentle hacking, but i can't find one!! I understand totally that rescues have to have rehoming policies to safeguard the horses but sometimes i think they also shoot themselves in the foot with those very same policies
There is no easy answer to this problem, although we cry out for new rules and regulations to try and control things ,the reality is most of us would not like to be inspected and tested and have beaurocrats dictating to us what we could or couldn't do with our horses or any other pet we own!

 

[JanetGeorge]

Not true! They adopt out horses. It's many many moons since they had that old policy. Total change of personnel since then.

It wasn't that they had to change personnel. Their charitable charter didn't ALLOW them to rehome - for a while they had a deal going with Blue Cross andWorld Horse Welfare that Redwings took horses who were unlikely to be able to be rehomed, and the others took ones who could be rehabbed. The Charity Commissioners had to agree a change to their charitable charter to allow them to rehome.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

What a shame When i was looking for a youngster (2 up to 7) I contacted a good few charities but them being in England meant they wouldnt rehome to me in Scotland as they wouldnt be able to readily check on the horse.

Shame on the people putting horses in to the sanctuary fields without them having been checked over/wormed/quarantined etc is despicable

 

[Spudlet]

.... the poster who wasn't allowed to rehome an Exmoor 'cause it had to be stabled and shod - unbelieveable!

Most of the horses at WHW live out actually - if that Exmoor needed stabling it would have been because that was what that individual pony needed - same goes for shoeing it. They base what they look for in homes on what that individual horse needs only.

It would be 'unbelieveable' if they did anything else, frankly.

 

[touchstone]

Plus - Redwings would never put a horse to sleep just to make room for more.

You see if finances dictate what happens, then I'd question whether it's better to put to sleep an old horse or a horse that needs expensive care and medication, when it could mean the difference between saving another two or three horses with the cost of keeping a single ill one. It is simple mathematics, there aren't enough homes available for all the horses needing them and there isn't the money available to help all those in need.

 

[leah_x]

At the end of the day, your basically asking someone to have their favourite horse PTS to make room for another. Why don't you have yours PTS to get another who needs more help? Redwings are only doing what's best for the horses in their care.

 

[smellsofhorse]

I've not read all the post but my opinion is I'm not surprise by this news.
The amount if horses that are out there, people can't afford them, the marked is stale.

The only option I can see is to humanly put down the older or ill horses to make room for the more "useful" horses.

I'm not heartless, I would love them all to live out their days, but in this situation I think its s fair option and kindest to all.

 

[rhino]

At the end of the day, your basically asking someone to have their favourite horse PTS to make room for another. Why don't you have yours PTS to get another who needs more help? Redwings are only doing what's best for the horses in their care.

No-one has said anything of the sort. These are not people's prize pets, they are unwanted, often either bred indiscriminately or specifically for meat.. Where did you get the idea of 'favourites' from? We are not talking about private owners and their own cherished oldies!

The simple facts are that there are too many horses, not enough homes and not enough money. We can't save/rehabilitate/rehome all the horses so surely it is down to us trying to save/rehabilitate/rehome as many as possible?

 

[SamanthaUK]

No-one has said anything of the sort. These are not people's prize pets, they are unwanted, often either bred indiscriminately or specifically for meat.. Where did you get the idea of 'favourites' from? We are not talking about private owners and their own cherished oldies!

The simple facts are that there are too many horses, not enough homes and not enough money. We can't save/rehabilitate/rehome all the horses so surely it is down to us trying to save/rehabilitate/rehome as many as possible?

Rhino's right, nobody actually mentioned this. But I do see where you're coming from.
Although if there is nothing they can do for the horse I'd rather they be pts rather than left starving and unhappy!