Redwings have taken in 26 horses...

[Natch]

Dunno, can only assume they were not spotted/reported.

I think you (Piebaldsparkle) will already know this but to answer those who cannot understand why the horses were not seized before they got to this condition; animal charities (including the RSPCA), can only act within the law, and as such cannot just take horses, even when they can see that they are suffering. That takes a great amount of time, effort, expenditure and liasion with other external bodies such as the police, HorseWorld and SWHP (not sure who they are ) who both took some ponies from this case (there seems to have been a total of 34 live horses, of which Redwings took 26 and the other two 4 each). The most preferable, sustainable and cheapest option all around in most cases is that the owner accepts help and guidance on how to bring the standard of the horse's welfare up to scratch. If that fails and the charities are able to find space, it is STILL preferable to keep the owner on side and have them voluntarily sign horses over to a charity. If neither of the above work, the police must be involved and most likely the RSPCA too, who are the only animal charity that I know of who will pursue prossecutions.

So please don't think that charities have been lazily sitting on their bum while horses suffer, because I have a feeling that cases like this will have required a hell of a lot of behind the scenes work before the horses are able to be taken to somewhere like Redwings.


The Redwings facebook feed is an interesting one to follow and has pictures of these horses:

https://www.facebook.com/RedwingsHorseSanctuary


Just my own personal opinions on the matter.

 

[Alec Swan]

.......

Redwings were one of the charities involved in writing a report warning of the impending welfare crisis associated with abandonment of large groups of horses (back in the Autumn I think). It's happening as predicted.

........

I wonder if Redwings will now support my call for a reinstatement of an equine slaughter industry, for human food.

Were those pitiful creatures to have a value, they would have gone for slaughter fit and well, and not as they were, a liability, to be incinerated and with no value.

I'd also question what they have to look forward to. Standing in mud and being kept alive? Really? With no future and no hope of a use, their predicament is only one step away from starving.

I would that it was different.

Alec.

 

[Spring Feather]

Am I the only one wondering why Redwings still has some Spindles Farm horses? That had to have been 4 or 5 years ago now They say they are still rehabilitating them Not a complaint, I'm just genuinely interested as to how it can take 4 or 5 years to rehab a horse.

 

[touchstone]

Am I the only one wondering why Redwings still has some Spindles Farm horses? That had to have been 4 or 5 years ago now They say they are still rehabilitating them Not a complaint, I'm just genuinely interested as to how it can take 4 or 5 years to rehab a horse.

It does seem a long time doesn't it? I wonder if these were foals that they are breaking and riding away before going out to loan homes or something.

I supposse a ridden pony will stand a better chance than just a companion, but I'm not sure if they loan them out for the adopters to break either.

 

[Spring Feather]

It does seem a long time doesn't it? I wonder if these were foals that they are breaking and riding away before going out to loan homes or something.

I supposse a ridden pony will stand a better chance than just a companion, but I'm not sure if they loan them out for the adopters to break either.

Ah yes thanks; I hadn't thought of foals so you could very well be right, but even so, if they're 5 years old now you'd have thought they would have been moved on to adopted homes by now. It just seemed strange to me that some are still there.

 

[melbiswas]

I believe there was a long drawn out legal case over the Spindles Farm horses.

I don't suppose anything was started until they were signed over to the charities. Then they would have to assess any underlying issues and a lot of man hours put into re- backing etc
Our local charity that had a number of them is for retired working horses and I don't suppose they were geared up for this!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Am I the only one wondering why Redwings still has some Spindles Farm horses? That had to have been 4 or 5 years ago now They say they are still rehabilitating them Not a complaint, I'm just genuinely interested as to how it can take 4 or 5 years to rehab a horse.

Thought it was 2009, so not even 4yrs (yet). Some were foals, others would have been born in rescue. Thus suspect they have been given chance to recover and grow, doubt given there poor start, any could have been backed early.

 

[Polos Mum]

Not sure about Redwings but lots of the charities loan out the youngsters as companions and then take them back when then are old/ mature enough to break before sending them out on loan again as ridden horses - so it may be that they haven't had the costs of caring for them for all this time

 

[Spring Feather]

It seems Redwings aren't the only charity who still have Spindles Farm horses. The Horse Trust still has some too. I found this nice little story on their ones. I'm still not sure why they can't be fostered/adopted out though.

http://www.naphillridingclub.co.uk/files/adverts/Spindles%20Farm%20-%20where%20are%20they%20now.pdf

 

[Shysmum]

I dearly wish I had my own land, just to take in one of them - I always fight for the underdog, which is why I love coloured gypsy cobs so much. I hope someone here will be able to help.

 

[FairyLights]

I expect the charities keep some of the high level media horses as crowd pullers and also some because of on going medical issues.
I hope these poor ponies from Wales recover well and find loving homes.
I also hope the owner is fined and has to pay toward the rehabilitation of these ponies.

 

[Adopter]

I dearly wish I had my own land, just to take in one of them - I always fight for the underdog, which is why I love coloured gypsy cobs so much. I hope someone here will be able to help.

I do agree, there must be other people like me who have empty fields now their family have grown up and left home, taking on two rescued youngsters to look after until they go back to the Blue Cross for training is giving me a lot of pleasure, and seems to be a good way for charities to manange caring for youngsters until they can be trained. The two I have will make lovely children's ponies, they are so appreciative of attention and having a fuss made of them.

 

[Natch]

Esther has turned into a bit of a celebrity and is on the Redwings Adoption scheme, thanks to HHO operation Esther presumably.

ETA: I got curious and started googling. Bert is a special's police horse, one got a home with a HHOer, 4 are in a riding school in Norwich and the RSPCA gives an update about several of the ones they took here