Horses, seen as luxury accessories of the wealthy, are the latest victims of the credit crunch, with a growing number being abandoned because their owners cannot afford feed and livery bills.
The onset of winter, along with a serious shortage of hay because of the bad summer, has worsened the situation. In some northerly parts of Britain, it is almost impossible to buy hay.
Charities across Britain are reporting a rise in calls from desperate horse owners seeking homes for their animals, many of which are elderly and therefore unsellable. The number of people rehoming horses from charities has dropped dramatically.
As a result, more horses will be put down, or sold cheaply at sales. Many will end up in the abattoir.
In another case known to the British Horse Society, a horse was moved from yard to yard by its desperate owner, leaving a trail of unpaid bills.
Livery costs can be as high as £120 a week over the winter, when animals require shelter and extra food. Shoeing costs another £55 every six or seven weeks.
Contrary to the popular image, the majority of horse owners make big sacrifices to keep their animals, and the squeeze on jobs and mortgages is forcing them to make painful choices.
World Horse Welfare, the largest British horse welfare charity, reports a sudden drop of about 50 per cent in the number of people rehoming horses from its rehabilitation centres in Aberdeenshire, Somerset, Norfolk and Lancashire.
In August and September of last year, 42 horses were rehomed, while in the same period this year the figure had fallen to 23. Staff expect the numbers to decline further as winter gets under way. The number of horses the charity has taken in, mostly welfare cases, has risen from 108 by the end of September last year to 165 in the same period this year. Incidents of welfare concern have risen from 1,339 to 1,375.
Hannah Rowley, a spokesman for the charity, said: “We have certainly noticed a difference across all four farms. We are having more calls from people saying they can't afford to keep their horse any longer and can we take it.
“We try to help wherever we can but because of the situation we are in, finding it difficult to rehome horses, all four centres are pretty close to capacity. Generally we don't take private horses as we have to reserve spaces for emergency RSPCA cases.”
At the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre near Lancaster, the leading charity dedicated to the welfare of retired racehorses, there is a six-month waiting list of animals, and staff are turning away at least six more a week.
“We are turning down horses every day,” said Nicky McDonald, the centre's operations director. “We can't take them because they are too old or because they are unsound. Nobody wants horses over 12 now, and unfortunately we can only take animals that can be rehomed as ridden horses.
“We are at full capacity with 32 horses, and in the last few months the number of calls has increased. People are saying they can't financially manage their horse any more.
“We have had two welfare cases where horses were abandoned because the owners couldn't look after them. The horses had been in four or five different livery yards and owed money everywhere in farriers' bills and feed bills.
“We're also getting calls from racehorse trainers who are selling up or downsizing - this is an industry reliant on affluence and trainers are being hit. They're trying to offload two and three-year-old animals that aren't showing ability.
“Definitely this will end in more horses being put down, because people simply can't afford to keep them.”
Irene Whitson, the chairman of the British Horse Society's committee in Central Scotland, said: “This is a really concerning situation, not only for the owners who cannot afford to keep going, but also for the horse charities which cannot take them in.
“Most horse owners are responsible, but we were contacted to see if we could help to rehome a 28-year-old horse which had been abandoned with unpaid vet and livery fees. Sadly, there are really no options for a horse of that age other than euthanasia. You cannot just leave a horse in a field to fend for itself.”
I know....I think that's just weird. I had someone tell me not to buy one over 10, when I was shopping for my first horse. I bought one who was 14.5...see how well I listen! I think older horses are the creme de la creme of our breed!
_________________ They are not here for us...we are here for them.
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:47 am
Marleen Robinson
Joined: 29 Aug 2007
Posts: 143
Location: North Carolina Foothills
I totally agree with you! I like a horse with some 'miles' on it. I always recomend an 'older' horse (over 10) to first time buyers. They are usually set in their ways, so what you see, is what you get. I know, it is not always so, but I would rather see first timers invest in a 10 yr old+ than a 2 yr old!
I guess the mentality in Europe has changed over the last 25 years, because when I started riding in Belgium, I was always told by instructors to ride the older horses, cause they would 'teach me'. Sure enough, they did!
I just can not believe they have to euthanize healthy horses because they are over 12.
I do understand the hay/feed shortage, but it has always been bad over there. I remember about 35 years ago, no basic forage was available, and the stalls were always bedded with straw, and some horses would just eat all of their bedding. My favorite gelding, coliced and died. That year, the stables lost at total of 4 horses. Sad. Maybe euthanizing some of the horses is the least cruel thing to do, but it's breaking my heart.
I am trying to get in touch with my old riding teacher now, just to see how bad things really are.
Will let you know...
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I think older horses are the creme de la creme of our breed!
