RSPCA horse welfare report

The basic problem with over-supply of low value equines and enforcement is that in many cases it can be too dangerous for enforcement authorities to enter premises where these equines are being kept and so the poor welfare continues.

On another note I'm glad that the report mentions several times the welfare issue of delayed euthanasia - something that is seen on here too frequently as there definitely are worse things than death for some equines. The cost of euthanasia is a factor. It will only get worse if this current government succeeds in banning trail hunting such that hunt kennels cease to exist and that (often cheaper) method of euthanasia is no longer available for equines.

Increasing vets fees and insurance costs are also a factor in some welfare cases in light of the economic crises in this country - which it appears will only get worse in the coming year. The bulk ownership of vets by corporations is a looming scandal, not just for horses.

Completely agree with above posts in regard to a fodder crises looming, maybe not this autumn but certainly by feb/march next year based on the reduced yield of the hay crop on the 300 acre farm where my OH works. (hay bale yield about 60% of normal).
 
Education of children regarding animal welfare sounds a good place to start and legislation actual involvement at ministerial level

Responsibilities, finances, time commitments, basic training time scales, vet interventions, costs of same, all the daily needs to be met
 
meleeka said:
I haven't read it, but someone who has said that they've stated the horse crisis is over?!
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Well, I have just read it, and as an RSPCA report, about bloody time they addressed the equine compatibility training of some of their own officers, and deigned to promptly attend when called to equine welfare emergencies.
Deeply unimpressed with the RSPCA responses to equine crises, generally.
 
Herewegoagain said:
I haven’t had a chance to read the whole thing yet but it’s not saying the crisis is over. It’s quite a sad read.
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It's saying it's eased. Second paragraph here. Certainly not in my area it hasn't and ponies tethered on wasteland without food/water, hammered on the road until they break, then dumped, is worse than it's ever been. They seem to have glossed over that :(
 

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meleeka said:
It's saying it's eased. Second paragraph here. Certainly not in my area it hasn't and ponies tethered on wasteland without food/water, hammered on the road until they break, then dumped, is worse than it's ever been. They seem to have glossed over that :(
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It’s saying the original crisis is eased (not sure what data they have used but they must have some way of measuring abandonment etc).

If you read on it makes it says that most horses are not having their needs met and are ‘ suffering neglect at all levels of horse keeping society’ - that bit is on page 14 put I can’t figure out how to post pics on here 🤦‍♀️
 
onemoretime said:
If they said that then they are totally out of touch with reality! :rolleyes:
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The whole report needs reading. It's definitely not saying there is no crisis, indeed it's highlighting the fact that there is one! A paragraph taken out of context doesn't give the story. It highlights several pertinent facts, such as an over supply of thoroughbreds and small cobs and nowhere near enough suitable homes available for them all. It's a very relevant report IMO and give indicators about when change is needed in the equine world and includes legislation being required at government level .
 
I do sometimes wonder if the various equine charities should pts more of the 'coloured cobs' with very poor conformation that they often struggle to rehome. Many are ultimately good prospects but not all.

I do feel sorry for those cobs long term future as many have spent their lives on poor grazing and having no alternative but to eat ragwort - which has long term implications for their liver and hence their longevity.
 
reynold said:
I do sometimes wonder if the various equine charities should pts more of the 'coloured cobs' with very poor conformation that they often struggle to rehome. Many are ultimately good prospects but not all.

I do feel sorry for those cobs long term future as many have spent their lives on poor grazing and having no alternative but to eat ragwort - which has long term implications for their liver and hence their longevity.
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I agree with you - life should not be preserved at all costs. That's a welfare issue.

Maybe these charities should have a grading system like most breed societies do now. I have thought for a long time that equine charities are (in some away) contributing to the welfare crisis. Their sites are full of ponies that they consider 'companion only' due to conformation issues etc, which means the ponies/horses that could be rehabbed and rehomed quickly are turned away, they could help more animals as turn over would be greater if they prioritised 'useful' animals first. As brutal as it may sound to a lay person PTS is better than a life as companion in low level pain due to conformation issues which will likely go un-investigated because they are 'just a companion'.
 
dorsetladette said:
I agree with you - life should not be preserved at all costs. That's a welfare issue.

Maybe these charities should have a grading system like most breed societies do now. I have thought for a long time that equine charities are (in some away) contributing to the welfare crisis. Their sites are full of ponies that they consider 'companion only' due to conformation issues etc, which means the ponies/horses that could be rehabbed and rehomed quickly are turned away, they could help more animals as turn over would be greater if they prioritised 'useful' animals first. As brutal as it may sound to a lay person PTS is better than a life as companion in low level pain due to conformation issues which will likely go un-investigated because they are 'just a companion'.
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In my experience these are few and far between. Most horses will only end up at a rescue when they have been passed around with untreated problems over and over again until they have zero "value". Sometimes a neglect case can be rehabbed and rehomed but usually it is horses with complex problems. Rescues also usually don't have the resources to do rehab projects! Either through lack of time, lack of facilities, staff training or finances.

To put it bluntly as well, the general public will not financially support a charity who put down every broken horse they are handed. If a dog rescue posted "we put down 80% of intake this year because they were reactive, had a bite history or had ongoing medical needs to focus on the 20% that could be easily rehomed with no issues" would that get them donations? Then even the 20% go to the council pound and are put down. We can't rely on the equine community who may understand PTS is better than a sad life either, if we could then there wouldn't be a crisis of miserable horses to rescue in the first place.
 
reynold said:
I do sometimes wonder if the various equine charities should pts more of the 'coloured cobs' with very poor conformation that they often struggle to rehome. Many are ultimately good prospects but not all.

I do feel sorry for those cobs long term future as many have spent their lives on poor grazing and having no alternative but to eat ragwort - which has long term implications for their liver and hence their longevity.
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I sort of agree, but I think the RSPCA would do better by trying to get the government to invest in enforcing the laws we already have. If every welfare visit included a microchip check and any horse not having one, seized and PTS and the owner prosecuted, the coloured cob numbers would be much reduced. If owners were traceable, it would be something and might put people off from owning so many.
 
smolmaus said:
In my experience these are few and far between. Most horses will only end up at a rescue when they have been passed around with untreated problems over and over again until they have zero "value". Sometimes a neglect case can be rehabbed and rehomed but usually it is horses with complex problems. Rescues also usually don't have the resources to do rehab projects! Either through lack of time, lack of facilities, staff training or finances.

To put it bluntly as well, the general public will not financially support a charity who put down every broken horse they are handed. If a dog rescue posted "we put down 80% of intake this year because they were reactive, had a bite history or had ongoing medical needs to focus on the 20% that could be easily rehomed with no issues" would that get them donations? Then even the 20% go to the council pound and are put down. We can't rely on the equine community who may understand PTS is better than a sad life either, if we could then there wouldn't be a crisis of miserable horses to rescue in the first place.
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I suspect the RSPCA do already put down a large percentage of the ones they take in. I wonder if there's any figures anywhere?
 
meleeka said:
I suspect the RSPCA do already put down a large percentage of the ones they take in. I wonder if there's any figures anywhere?
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In NI we have no RSPCA sites here, are there RSPCA-run rescues in England?

Here the protocol is any horses seized by animal welfare (very rare, honestly) go to the pound (usually an individual with a contract with the council) and they may make their way to a rescue charity from there, be rehomed from the pound or PTS.
 
smolmaus said:
In NI we have no RSPCA sites here, are there RSPCA-run rescues in England?

Here the protocol is any horses seized by animal welfare (very rare, honestly) go to the pound (usually an individual with a contract with the council) and they may make their way to a rescue charity from there, be rehomed from the pound or PTS.
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The RSPCA have a network of foster homes that they use when an animal is seized. When the RSPCA seized some near me, they were collected by a person who kept them until they were fit to travel onto another rescue. They also have a couple of rehoming centres that they run.
 
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meleeka said:
I suspect the RSPCA do already put down a large percentage of the ones they take in. I wonder if there's any figures anywhere?
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Certainly when I was a welfare officer the RSPCA put down horses with severe issues.
However if a horse is the subject of a court case and the owner won’t sign it over it can’t be PTS unless it necessary because of suffering and that would be quite a high bar because they have to be sure that if the owner takes them to court it does could end up in a right mess.
What happens is you end a year down the line with horses that a lot of time and money has been spent on and they look after them extremely well
The case comes to court they win and then what do you do with a horse that’s in better condition than it’s ever been and happier than it knew it was possible to be .
They are not in an easy position.
 
Goldenstar said:
Certainly when I was a welfare officer the RSPCA put down horses with severe issues.
However if a horse is the subject of a court case and the owner won’t sign it over it can’t be PTS unless it necessary because of suffering and that would be quite a high bar because they have to be sure that if the owner takes them to court it does could end up in a right mess.
What happens is you end a year down the line with horses that a lot of time and money has been spent on and they look after them extremely well
The case comes to court they win and then what do you do with a horse that’s in better condition than it’s ever been and happier than it knew it was possible to be .
They are not in an easy position.
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Im not judging them for it. It's a fact that there are too many horses for the amount of good homes available. From what I've seen there are also the abandoned horses, where they aren't claimed by anyone, or horses that get signed over where there's no prosecution. I suspect that's quite a high number where they are free to PTS as they see fit.
 
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