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The UK’s leading equine health & well-being magazine
December 08/January 09 £2.95
Horse charities struggling with requests By Louise Cordell HORSE charities struggling to cope with an unprecedented number of homing requests are being forced to recommend euthanasia as a last resort. The Horse Trust has confirmed that the credit crunch is taking its toll on the country’s horses after being inundated with calls for help from cash strapped owners. Susan Lewis, The Horse Trust’s marketing manager, said: “It is a massive issue for the equine industry. We have gone from 20 to 30 enquiries a week to well over 500 in just the last three weeks, and the numbers are increasing all the time. We are being approached by a new generation of horse owners who never thought they would find themselves in this position. But now the credit crunch is severely impacting on their lifestyle and they don’t know what to do.” Rising feed, bedding and livery costs, together with a decline in demand for leisure riding, is affecting yards and individual owners and with, waiting lists of over 18 months, few charities are in a position to help. The Horse Trust will look at each individual case and make any recommendations they
can to help keep horse and owner together, but this is not always possible. Susan added: “If people are having trouble feeding themselves, let alone their horse, and this means the welfare of the horse will suffer, then we do suggest euthanasia as an option. I think it would be irresponsible not to, especially if the alternative is compromising care, because we have to put the horse’s interests first.” Re-homing charities are also finding that there are fewer people taking on horse ownership, and there has also been a rise in people taking on horses and then bringing them back a few months later – either because their financial circumstances have changed or because the costs are higher than they expected. Susan added: “Unfortunately we can’t take in every needy horse – if only we could – but we are doing everything we can under increasingly difficult circumstances. “The worry is that people will start trying to cut costs, leading to compromised care, for example thinking twice before calling out the vet. The situation is a big concern for horse charities across the country and it has the potential to escalate. “We are extremely concerned and we don’t know where it is going to end.”
A study of foot balance and lameness in riding school horses has won the Royal Agricultural Society of England’s ‘Eqvalan Duo Equine Thesis of the Year Award’. Laura Corbin from Warwickshire College reported her research on riding school horses and developed an objective system to evaluate foot balance. She found that horses with
chronic foot conditions often had poor scores for foot balance and so maintaining good foot balance could reduce lameness and provide long term economic benefits. Her winning thesis was selected by judges Professor Graham Suggett, Dr Emma Batson of Merial Animal Health, Dr Pat Harris of Mars Horsecare Ltd, and Alison Bridge of Horse and Rider.