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A horse is for life, not your convenience – charity fears winter will see more rejected horses than ever.
Staff at a leading animal welfare charity fear this winter will see them having to turn away more requests to take on animals than ever before. Bristol-based HorseWorld, which rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes animals in need, too often finds itself having to decline requests from people who want the charity to take a horse off their hands.
“The economic situation is a factor in some requests for us to take animals. But far too often it’s simply down to irresponsible owners who took on a horse for completely the wrong reasons,” says HorseWorld Husbandry Groom Jodie Gold. She is urging people to think hard this winter before committing themselves to horse ownership. 
In a twist on the famous seasonal campaign ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’, Jodie Gold stressed “A horse is for life, not your convenience.
“We are asking people to seriously consider the long term commitment required before even thinking about taking on a horse. Whilst they are very rewarding animals, they are a massive commitment and can live for many years. We recently lost our eldest pony at the grand old age of 46.
“In particular, careful thought is needed about a horse’s care in its retirement. Some animals have to retire very young due to injuries or illness; others will be ridden well into their twilight years. Either way, horses are loving and loyal companions. Your horse deserves to have all the care and attention he needs no matter how useful or convenient he is to you.
“We often take calls from people asking us to take a horse off their hands simply because it cannot be ridden any more.
“Our experience shows that far too many people think when their horse is no longer useful to them, they can just offload it to a rescue charity for retirement and get a new one. They don’t realise we are here to help animals that are desperate and have no alternative. There are so many neglected, abandoned and abused horses that need our help. We are running at full capacity most of the time and cannot take fit and healthy animals on the basis that their owner simply wants to trade them in for a younger model.
As well as the 140 horses, ponies and donkeys on site, HorseWorld have over 300 horses on loving loan homes in and around the South-West.
Nicky Smallman has one of HorseWorld’s horses on loan and also a mare who has now been retired for 18 years. She said "Owning a horse is extremely challenging but equally rewarding. It's like being married - your commitment should be: For better, for worse, for richer or (most definitely!) poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part. Your horse will be there for you no matter what you are going through, so just because he gets old or can't work anymore, don't throw him away. Like any relationship you get out of it what you put in. You will never know what love is until you have the love of a horse."
HorseWorld’s Jodie Gold added: “If you are thinking of becoming a horse owner, please consider rehoming a horse from a rescue centre like HorseWorld rather than buying one. Experience suggests that this way you’re more likely to get to know the horse’s background story, helping you select the right horse in the first place.
“It’s also worth stressing the huge value of ‘companion’ animals. They may not be able to be used as working horses themselves but they still play a vital role for other working animals. Horses are herd animals and shouldn’t be kept by themselves, so a companion is very useful.”
Many of the staff and volunteers at HorseWorld also have their own horses. Some of these horses are unable to work and simply need someone to love and care for them. As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder, they will be saying goodnight to all of the rescued horses to go and trudge through yet another muddy field in the dark, wind and rain to bring in their own horse for the night by torchlight. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea so why do they put themselves through it? Because any one of them will tell you that when they shine the torch across the field and catch a glimpse of a shining eye in the darkness and hear their horse whicker “Hello” to them, it doesn’t matter how cold or wet it is, it’s all worthwhile.
People who would like to help HorseWorld’s animals but who don't have the money, time, or experience to rehome a horse could always sponsor one on HorseWorld’s adoption scheme for just £20 a year. Visit http://www.horseworld.org.uk/adopt_a_horse to find out more.
Article By: Amy Williams
Date Published: 14/12/2011
