"orphaned" horse - can anyone help?

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Halfstep

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A colleague of mine at work pulled me over just now and asked me if I could help her. Her neighbor has recently died, leaving behind two horses in a rented field, and the horses are now about to be evicted. One horse has been re-homed, but there is a 16 yr old mare left. The problem is that she has never been ridden. She was kept as a pet. She's a well bred ISH, good with other horses, and good to handle. Apparently she is also overweight and needs her feet doing. Sounds like she would make a good companion horse. Can anyone offer her a home? Colleague knows nothing about horses and is at her wits end. The horse sounds like she will live out but probably will need feeding and a rug in winter. Arrrgghh. Next step for her will be pts unless she an find a companion home for her, which I know is a long shot. Also, she's never been traveled.......:( :(:(:(
 
sorry i cant help, but here is a prime example why owners should provide after their death.

probably be best if she's PTS ...At least you'll know where she is

poor horse
:( :(
 
Why PTS??
She just needs a good home and her feet doing. The Blue Cross has an equine rehoming centre in Oxfordshire and if you google horse rehoming Oxfordshire (I assume that's where they are from your location) , lots of places come up.

What about the late owner's family and was the provision of the horses included in the will..? Apart from animal rescue centres, you could try calling around the local vets to see if they know who may be able to take her. It seems such a waste to put her to sleep.
 
Hello

Sorry to hear about this predicament but I'm with Native Ponies on this one. If she can't be sympathetically rehomed as a companion (and given last winter I doubt it) then PTS is not the worst that can happen. What shouldn't happen is for her to be passed down and down the 'food chain' and end up neglected. Sounds like she's had a good life up to now and I'm going to sort out my will this week as does not bear thinking about.
 
The executors of her estate will be responsible for dealing with the horse - assuming that she left a will! Otherwise contact the BHS Welfare Line or the WHW (World Horse Welfare) Line. Telephone numbers on their web site.
 
No provision for horses in will, apparently. Blue Cross has a waiting list the length of the M40, I'm afraid :(.

I've told my non-horsey colleague that realistically she may have to be pts and explained the dangers of her being "passed down the food chain". But I also said I'd give it a good shot and try to find a home for her.

yes, in Oxford.
 
Of course the mare's welfare is the most important thing here and being passed down the food chain just shouldn't happen; putting to sleep should be the very last option though once all other avenues are exhausted. Hopefully a sanctuary or even someone here will be able to take her. Who's looking after her now? Definitely try WHW/RSPCA,etc or even some equestrian centres/livery yards who may be able to take her in. Let us know how you get on and if you need any help ringing around places for her.
 
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