Backing young horses with respect

The approach is calm, respectful, systematic and with the welfare and the soundness of the horse at the forefront at all times. No rushed jobs or forced systems used here. The horse must be given the time to understand and to develop the muscle and strength to carry the rider with ease and confidence and in a good non damaging posture, so that he or she has a future. Long-reining, see on left, is very important at this stage. So much can be achieved on straight lines with no damage to weak young joints. Submission is not achieved through exhaustion but through understanding and the ability to be able to work with us and not against us.

Please ring Mary on 07929 666408 for more information and discuss your own horse’s requirements. www.moorcroftracehorse.org.uk

For almost 100 years World Horse Welfare has been at the forefront of horse welfare in the UK and around the world, rescuing and rehoming the most vulnerable horses here, educating owners of working horses in some of the poorest countries globally and improving welfare standards across horse sport as well as the movement of horses in Europe. The charity’s founder Ada Cole had a clear vision and continues to be the inspiration behind all that the charity does to drive positive change for horse welfare today. In the 1920s Ada enlisted the help of people from all walks of life to give horses a voice, garnering support for her important work, and the vast expanse of the charity’s work is still entirely funded by voluntary donations –and around sixty per cent of the work they do for horses is made possible thanks to gifts in Wills.

Rebecca Stojak, Head of Equine Law and Senior Associate at Geldards LLP explains how simple it is to support a cause that is important to you by including them in your Will: “There’s lots of jargon around Wills, but in simple terms you can leave anything to your favourite charity from a sum of money, to a piece of jewellery or even a property. We strongly recommend you have an open and honest conversation with your loved ones about supporting a charity in your Will to avoid any disputes later on. Involving a solicitor will ensure that nothing is overlooked and that all the correct procedures are followed to ensure your wishes are carried out after your death, but this doesn’t have to be a big expense with many charities, including World Horse Welfare, being part of the National Free Wills Network.”

Each year World Horse Welfare receives around 3,000 concerns from members of the public about vulnerable horses and its network of UK-based Field Officers responds, bringing around 300 horses in need of care and expertise into one of the four Rescue and Rehoming Centres.

Globally, there are around 112 million working horses and World Horse Welfare works in some of the most deprived areas of the world educating owners to improve husbandry and hone skills in farriery and harness-making. Ada Cole established the charity in response to the cruelty she witnessed on the docks at Antwerp where horses were being transported from the UK for slaughter in appalling conditions. World Horse Welfare remains faithful to her ambition to abolish long distance transport for slaughter in Europe and their work has resulted in a dramatic drop in the numbers of horses making these unnecessary journeys, as well as vastly improved welfare standards. However, there will be no let up on the part of the charity until they fulfil their founders ambition for the trade to stop once and for all.

To find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to World Horse Welfare visit www. worldhorsewelfare.org/support-us or call 01953 497239.