RSPCA Home Check - What to expect?

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MingledZulu

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Hi,
Anyone adopted from the RSPCA? What was the home check like? What should I expect? Do I need to have anything prepared? 🤭

We’re hoping to adopt a companion for my pony, and now that the family are set on the little mare we’ve reserved we’re all very anxious to ensure the home check goes well!

Any tips/advice welcome!!! ✌🏻

I know there were some old threads that showed on Google but the pages wouldn’t open so, and the search didn’t bring anything up - so hopefully this isn’t a repeate post! 🤭
 
They’ll just turn up and chat to you and pretend they aren’t scrutinising your facilities. It’ll be fine I’m sure, they are usually very friendly.
 
That’s the bit I’m worried about. We’re on a working farm, so although it’s very quiet in the field it can be busier down the stables end. And we have only peramater hedges and trees none in the fields so wondering if that would be held against us? We have an abundance of grass and my fields are all electric fenced with running water in the fields, and owner lives on site so horses are seen to multiple times a day and if it’s ever particularly wet or hot the farmer will bring them in. But - obviously it’s only my word? So not sure if they’ll accept that 🤦🏼‍♀️
Sure I’m over thinking it. Just like to be prepared 😶
 
I have fostered young ponies for the RSPCA. I found the home check to be sensible and supportive. They are happy for their youngsters to live out, whereas IME other charities want them stabled part time. I don't think that well maintained permanent perimeter electric fencing should be a problem. The ponies that I have fostered already knew about leccie fencing, though I only use it to strip graze. You're ahead of me in having running water in the fields, as I only have plastic dustbins topped up via a hose, and that was the only thing I didn't sail through on. They were happy, though, as the mains water hose reaches to the bins, they'd have been less happy if water had to be manually carried to the fields.

The support and back up I got through the fostering process was good. Let us know how you get on :).
 
The last thing I need is more companion ponies (although mine are all retired horses I've had for years) so not had to deal with that side of things - but as long as you don't mention if you support hunting, you should be fine. One of my part-time grooms worked for the RSPCA on equine rehoming for years, and she is VERY sensible - as are most of the ground level RSPCA Inspectors I've had to deal with (a wounded badger, an unjustified 'report' for horses in poor condition, etc.) But if they give you any grief, there are many good 'local' horse rescues that usually have candidates for rehoming.
 
It turned out that one member of staff I liased with at the Shropshire equine rescue centre was for several years a rider/groom at the same reputable dealers yard that I had bought the late maxicob from, and the famous Hovis came from. She and others there certainly know their stuff.

ETA Hunting was never mentioned, I did wonder... I have hunted in the distant past, but not at all since we moved here in '86. I wouldn't go out with the local shower if you paid me.
 
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