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'War horse' euthanasia concerns as army animals are put down due to 'temperament'
A leading animal welfare charity says greater Ministry of Defence (MoD) transparency could help reassure members of the public who are concerned that ex-army horses may have been put down unnecessarily.
As smash-hit movie ‘War Horse’ takes the UK by storm, new figures published by the MoD reveal that 28 army horses were put down in 2011, 16 more than in 2009. The figures reveal that, while most suffered physical health problems, four were destroyed due to their ‘temperament’.
Staff at Bristol-based HorseWorld have written to the MoD suggesting greater transparency could help reassure members of the public who are concerned that an animal’s ‘temperament’ might not be reason enough to destroy an animal.
HorseWorld Equine Welfare Director Jerry Watkins said: “Alternatives to euthanasia always need to be properly considered when an animal reaches the end of its working life.
“Members of the public might understandably feel these new figures pose serious questions.
“We have no reason to believe the MoD is not following correct principles and practices, but the public will want to be assured that in each case every alternative was considered, and will be in future.
“Publication of case notes of the animals that were put down due to ‘temperament’ could help provide this reassurance, or the MoD may have other ways of doing so which makes things more transparent.”
In a letter to the MoD, HorseWorld has asked if the Ministry has plans to make the background to such cases more transparent.
Amongst the many hundreds of animals that HorseWorld has looked after in the past decade is a former army horse, Mountjoy, who was retired to HorseWorld in 2003 (pictured above). During his military career Mountjoy was the charger of Lt Colonel Crispin Lockhart, now Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry (when Crispin Lockhart was a squadron leader). Mountjoy died in 2008 after five years at HorseWorld, including a period where he was rehomed with a horse loaner.
The new figures emerged in a Written Parliamentary Answer from Defence Minister Andrew Robathan MP in response to a question from MP Kevan Jones. Full details are included below.
HorseWorld is currently responsible for over 140 horses, ponies and donkeys at its Whitchurch site and for a further 300-plus who have been successfully re-homed by people who care for them on a loan basis.
Free entry for War Horse movie-goers
HorseWorld runs a highly popular Visitor Centre where members of the public can meet many of its rescued animals. Under 16s who present their cinema ticket, having been to see ‘War Horse’, are currently being offered free entry to HorseWorld. More information can be found here
Article By: Richard Wyatt
Date Published: 19/01/2012
