Our rehoming agencies are in crisis. Surprised by the quality and

GIVE A
HORSE
A HOME
Singing Impressario
is a survivor of a
welfare case that
made headlines in
2008 — he’s now
beginning his
dressage career
Our rehoming agencies are in crisis.
Surprised by the quality and saddened
by the quantity of the horses on offer,
deputy editor Jaki Bell suggests
starting here if you’re looking for a
fun horse or pony
Claudia Livesey and her mother
Nicki found seven-year-old 14.3hh
Ava at HAPPA in 2008. The pony had
been gifted to the charity as part of
a legacy. Since then, they have gone
from strength to strength.
Showjumper Ava is now competing
at British novice and discovery level
and the pair are hoping to qualify for
Scope this year
22 HORSE & HOUND
. 24 may 2012
www.horseandhound.co.uk
COVER STORY
horseandhound.co.uk/rescuepics
W
OULD you believe me if
I were to tell you that I
know where you can
acquire a horse or pony
for which you’ll be given
a factual bill of health,
that you can try as many times as you like with
no pressure before committing to it and that
comes with an honest appraisal from a source
you can trust?
What’s more, it may be free or, at worst, cost
you a few hundred pounds. If things don’t work
out — worst-case scenario — you can take it back.
But as there’s always a source of help and advice
on hand, that probably won’t happen. And the
satisfaction you’ll feel from working with this
animal is almost guaranteed.
These are the circumstances in which, in
almost every case, you can acquire a horse from
one of the many rehoming agencies in the UK.
With the number of horses available for
rehoming exacerbated by the current economic
crisis, UK agencies are overwhelmed. All report
an increase in requests for rehoming and some
a decline in new homes. Most are full to capacity.
World Horse Welfare (WHW) declared March
its “rehome a horse month”. As a result, 23
horses and ponies found new homes, compared
with 15 in March 2011. But this is only the tip of
the iceberg and the agencies need our help.
Are you looking for a new horse? Could this
work for you?
The answer largely depends on the type of
horse you are looking for. Most of these horses
have had, to varying degrees, a traumatic start
Equine Welfare
in life, so they’re not suitable for inexperienced
owners. You can find a good ridden horse that
might be able to handle a bit of gentle hunting,
a child’s lead-rein pony, unbacked horses and
even the occasional competition horse (see case
studies below and on the next page).
irresponsible breeding going on and that there
aren’t enough homes to go around.
“People need to be encouraged to think twice
before breeding,” she says. “If they need another
horse, perhaps they could take one from one of
the charities.”
Why are they there?
Pongo’s story
WHILE the occasional horse does end up with a
rehoming agency because it is unmanageable,
the main reasons are abandonment, cruelty, a
change in owner’s circumstances or fallout
from the world of racing.
None of these reasons is new, but the growth
in the numbers is startling.
Take abandonment. At the end of last year
(news, 1 December 2011), we reported that the
leading welfare agencies were seeing a threefold
increase in numbers.
“By the end of the year, the number of horses
reported to our welfare helpline was 450 — to
date this year, it is 396,” says Nicola Markwell
of Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
Redwings, one of the largest rehoming
agencies in the UK — with five centres across the
country and over 1,250 horses currently in its
care — attributes this largely to the recession.
“Values have dropped,” Nicola continues.
“Two years ago, you could pick up a youngster
for £5, now I’m hearing stories of three for £1.
Irresponsible breeders or dealers are dumping
colts and private owners are dumping on livery
yards, especially when veterinary bills get out
of hand.”
Redwings is concerned that there is too much
WHILE the stories of large numbers of
abandoned horses tend to make the headlines,
not all cases involve big groups. The instances of
ponies tethered to the roadside and left are also
on the increase.
One such was 13.1hh Redwings Master
Blaster, or Pongo, although if you saw him now,
you wouldn’t believe it.
When Redwings field officer Jo Franklin first
saw Pongo, he had been tethered to the
roadside, his headcollar embedded in his head
(a common occurrence) and the wound full of
maggots — hence his name.
“But it was the maggots that saved him,
stopping the wound from becoming infected,”
says Sam Wilson, mother of 13-year-old Rosie,
who now competes Pongo both in-hand and in
ridden showing classes.
“When we first saw Pongo, he was nothing to
look at,” said Sam. “He’d been at the centre for
six months, but we just fell in love with him.”
At the time, he was still being retrained and
not quite ready for rehoming under Redwing’s
Guardianship scheme.
“We literally stalked the website until he
went ‘live’ and then put our application in,”
says Sam.
After a nerve-racking test ride, in which
Pongo went beautifully for Rosie, he was theirs.
He moved to his new home with their two other
horses, a pony that Rosie had on loan and Sam’s
eight-year-old show horse. That was April 2010.
During the first year he needed time to
mature, so they took him to a couple of shows
with Sam’s horse for the experience. The
following year, his first big outing of the season
was the Suffolk Show where he stood reserve in
the in-hand British Piebald and Skewbald
Association (BSPA) championship.
From then on, he was placed in every class
for which he was entered. This year Rosie and
Pongo qualified for the Royal International
(RIHS) at Ponies (UK), having been placed in
the ridden native/traditional pony class
under 153cm.
Patience and determination have
paid off
for Rosie Wilson, who is heading
to the
Royal International Horse Show
with Pongo
Ex-racehorse Chance has evented at BE100 level, competed
at unaffiliated dressage and showjumped to discovery with
his loaner Karla Parsons — he’s now settling down to a
quieter life with Karla’s children
24 may 2012
. HORSE & HOUND 23
Pictures supplied by relevant charities or owners. Research and additional words by Emily Noszkay
For pictures and details of more deserving rescue cases
looking for special homes, visit our online gallery at
GIVE A HORSE A HOME
It’s not just the number of cases of
abandonment that are increasing. While there
are no statistics available, most agencies echo
the opinion of Helen Whitelegg, welfare officer
of the Bransby Home of Rest for Horses.
“We are getting more calls from the private
sector,” says Helen, “especially where owners
are experiencing a change in circumstances or
can’t sell a horse.”
Racehorse rehoming feels the pinch
THOSE agencies that specialise in rehoming
racehorses are also seeing an increase in the
numbers of horses needing rehoming
This is due to a sort of pincer action, as Nicky
McDonald, operations director of the
Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre (TRC)
which currently has 320 horses in its care,
either on the yard or in loan homes, explains:
“First, the small trainers are being forced to give
up because of spiralling costs.
“Secondly, the success of retrained racehorse
classes and the falling prices of ex-racehorses at
sales has encouraged people to believe that they
can take on an ex-racehorse, occasionally with
IN 2008, the
CASE H&H forum
buzzed
STUDY with
the
name of
SuzyJenkins, a
British woman who had
fled to Spain when the
RSPCA tried to prosecute
her for welfare offences.
In Spain she had
allegedly allowed 16
Trakehner horses, some of
which she had taken from
the UK, to starve to death
Pictures supplied by relevant charities and owners
Imp in the early days
of his retraining at
Bransby Home of Rest
BACK in July
2011, Jan
CASE Cooper was
STUDY looking for a
horse to
take on loan.
“I Googled
‘loaning a horse’ and
discovered that it was
World Horse Welfare’s
(WHW) ‘rehome a horse
month’, so I went on to the
website to see if there was
anything suitable and up
she popped,” says Jan.
“She” was Wilma, a
14hh cob and a survivor of
Spindles Farm, a shocking
welfare case which made
national headlines in 2008.
When Jan clicked on the
website, Wilma had been
with WHW for three years
of rehabilitation.
Jan decided to go
through with the application
process and a few days later
was notified that she was
on a shortlist to try Wilma.
“Wilma isn’t your
average cob — she’s very
forward-going, a real
pocket rocket,” says Jan. “I
watched Adele Edwards
and left another 36 horses
in a critical condition.
Singing Impressario was
one of the lucky survivors
of her UK establishment,
and was rescued and taken
to the Bransby Home of
Rest for Horses.
“I was aware of the Suzy
Jenkins story and, when I
heard about this horse
being at Bransby, I
managed to get hold of the
details of his pedigree,”
says Carrie Adams, who
More than your average
cob: Wilma has survived
the nightmare of
Spindles Farm
from WHW ride her and
then got on.
“When I jumped off I
said, ‘I love her’ and Adele
burst into tears. She’d
been tried several times
but people were expecting
a plod and she’s certainly
not that.”
Fortunately, Jan has
plenty of experience in
reschooling youngsters
and problem horses.
So, six months down the
line, how are things going?
“She’s still quite green
runs Centre Lines
dressage near Lincoln.
Carrie breeds
Trakehners in a small way
and was impressed by the
elite breeding of this horse,
whose sire is
Kronungswalzer and
whose pedigree includes
EH Friedensfurst
and EH Hohenstein.
“I went to see him as
part of Bransby’s Friends
for Life rehoming
programme and he was
everything I thought he
might be,” says Carrie.
“Bransby has done a
fantastic job of retraining
him and he has no
psychological problems
despite his history.”
Carrie believes 16.3hh
“Imp”, now six years old
and on loan to her, is the
best horse she has ever sat
on. Her trainer Stephen
Clarke is also very
impressed with him.
Carrie is currently
working on building Imp
up and hopes to start
competing with him
this summer.
and finds new experiences
daunting,” says Jan.
“I’m not sure if that’s
because of what she’s
been through or just
because she’s green.
“We’ve had a go at
dressage, jumping and
gymkhana — she loved
that — and I’m going to try
showing her as a
lightweight cob. Hopefully,
one day, my children will
be able to ride her.”
Now that really is a
happy ending.
disastrous results. I would say that about 60%
of our intake comes from private homes who
have taken on a horse they can’t cope with or
can’t afford.”
‘I could have spent £1,000,000’
NOT so for Karla Parsons and Chance. When
Karla decided she wanted a thoroughbred in
1999, everyone thought she was mad.
“I couldn’t afford to buy a horse at the time
and was riding everyone else’s,” she recalls. “I
had this idea of getting an ex-racer, which
wasn’t as fashionable then as it is now, and rang
the TRC for some advice.
“Before I knew where I was, I was going along
to have a look at two horses.”
Karla fell in love with Chance, “an ugly Flat
racehorse who had been too slow on the gallops,
sent for meat and rescued by the TRC”.
Chance was three years old and had just been
backed by the TRC. Karla will have had Chance
for 14 years in June. He’s evented at British
Eventing (BE100), done unaffiliated dressage,
showjumped to discovery, had a go at
endurance and Le Trec and is ridden by Karla’s
children today.
“I could have spent a million pounds and not
got as good a horse as Chance,” says Karla.
Now aged 17, Chance is winding down. But
Karla has found herself another ex-racer and
has built up such a relationship with the TRC
that she still refers to it for help when needed.
There is an increase in the number of people
wanting to rehome a racehorse and TRC
averages about 30 horses rehomed a year.
➤ Number of rehoming applications with Redwings:
24 HORSE & HOUND
. 24 may 2012
www.horseandhound.co.uk
Equine welfare
IS THERE A HORSE
HERE FOR YOU?
THE National Equine Welfare Council
(NEWC) is an umbrella body working to
raise equine welfare standards in the UK.
Its members are large and small and include
most of the rehoming charities in the UK,
for which it provides support and a code of
practice. Visit www.newc.co.uk for more.
On the following pages, we’ve selected
24 horses from its members who are involved
in rehoming. They range from a mare by
Primitive Rising to shocking welfare cases;
from a horse that needed rehoming due to
the death of its owner to a youngster born
to a rescue animal and ready to start his
new career.
Spring
Age: 15
Breed: thoroughbred by Primitive Rising
Height: 14.3hh
Sex: mare
Suitability: dressage/competition horse
Location: please check with agency
Cost: £350, plus £25 passport retainer fee and £80
annual membership fee
Spring came to the Horse and Pony Protection
Association (HAPPA) after her owner lost her battle
with cancer. She has the potential to be a dressage
dream for the right person. She needs a competent
rider with a sympathetic, light contact. She is snaffle
mouthed and very responsive under saddle, with
established lateral work, including walk pirouettes.
She will be eligible for veteran classes. She can be
grumpy in her stable and has been known to weave.
HAPPA
Tel: 01282 455992
How it works
EACH agency has its own criteria and if you
identify a horse that you are interested in,
it’s important to check what terms and
conditions apply to that particular agency.
But this is a general guide:
➤ Initially, your suitability will be assessed via a simple questionnaire.
➤ Almost without exception, these agencies remain the owner of the animal concerned.
➤ You will be invited to undergo a ridden assessment and, if successful, will ride either the horse of your choice or one that the agency feels is suitable. The selected horse will usually be ridden initially by a member of the team.
This assessment will always take place in an arena or school. You will also have the opportunity to hack out with a member of the team. Most agencies will encourage you to come back and visit the horse several times before committing.
➤ Most will also want to undertake a home visit to view your facilities.
➤ Some form of financial check will usually take place, such as employers’ references.
➤ In some cases it is not necessary to have owned a horse previously, as long as you are able to guarantee a mentor or trainer will help you in the initial months.
➤ The majority of agencies make some form of charge, although the amount varies greatly. They will insist on insurance being in place.
➤ Regular home visits are made and, for this reason, some agencies will only consider
new homes within a set distance.
➤ If you are interested in any one of these equines, please contact the relevant
agency using the website/telephone
number given. The exact process that
relates to that agency will be explained
to you.
Swifty
Age: 19
Breed: Welsh section B type (no papers)
Height: 12hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: Pony Club/second pony
Location: please check with agency
Cost: £250, plus £25 passport retainer fee
and £80 annual membership fee
Buddy
Age: three
Breed: unknown, but cob type
Height: 12.2hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: ride or drive
ch, Bristol
Location: 1½hr drive from Whitchur
Cost: placement fee of £200
Swifty came into HAPPA’s care as a colt in
November 1994 when found tethered with a
headcollar embedded in his head. He has led
an active life in a Pony Club home and was
returned when outgrown. He is described as
a cracking pony with the potential to take part
in all riding club activities. His only fault ? He is
not great in heavy traffic.
HAPPA
Tel: 01282 455992
rely
Rescued in 2011, Buddy was seve
rging
emaciated and very sick due to eme
ded and
redworm. He was unable to stand unai
d
needed intravenous fluids and bloo
r lost his
transfusions to save his life. He neve
is now in
spirit and proved to be a fighter. He
ed.
good health and is ready to be back
HorseWorld
Tel: 01275 832067
[email protected]
Getting started
To get an idea of what sort
of equines are available,
take a look at the horses
and ponies on the
next four pages
Otto
Age: 16
Breed: unknown
Height: 13hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: riding/competition pony
Location: please check with agency
ner fee and £80
Cost: £250, plus £25 passport retai
fee
hip
annual members
family, as he has been
Otto is looking for an experienced
e riders. Otto will pop
novic
with
e
ntag
adva
known to take
and is good in traffic
vices
le
stab
a small fence. He has no
snaffle mouthed and is
in company (not tried alone). He is
and needs a home that
being reschooled. He has laminitis
.
ition
cond
can manage this
HAPPA, tel: 01282 455992
2010 = 290; 2011 = 335; 2012 = 145 (so far)
Subscribe for less at www.horseandhound.co.uk/subs
24 may 2012
. HORSE & HOUND 25
GIVE A HORSE A HOME
Duncan
Age: 14
Breed: New Forest
Height: 13.2hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: competition pony
Location: to be rehomed within 80 miles of
Toft Monks, Beccles, Norfolk
Cost: £150 adoption fee for rehoming. It is also a
requirement that loanees become Horse Rescue
Fund members, which is a minimum of £10 annually.
Duncan arrived as a three-year-old from a local
equine sanctuary, which ceased to operate. They
found homes for all their horses apart from the last
four, which the Horse Rescue Fund took on. Duncan
had been in such poor condition that he nearly died.
He has previously competed in showjumping, crosscountry and showing and is now coming back into competition work after being in a companion home for over a
year. Duncan needs a very competent rider as he can be unpredictable but, in the right hands, he could go a long
way. He would be most suited to an experienced small adult rider.
Horse Rescue Fund
Tel: 01502 679191, www.horserescuefund.org.uk
Wexland
Cariadus (Millie)
Blue Cross Georgie
Age: three
Breed: New Forest
Height: 14hh
Sex: gelding
short-term
Suitability: non-ridden companion,
ns
ictio
restr
no
:
Location
e. Non-ridden Blue
Cost: £100 + transport to new hom
a healthcare
from
fit
bene
Cross companions also
des financial
package supplied by Pfizer, which inclu
dental
k,
chec
y
rinar
vete
al
annu
an
for
support
us vaccinations
etan
flu/t
al
annu
,
rasp
examination, teeth
ts.
men
treat
ing
and a year’s supply of worm
give him up for
Georgie’s previous owner had to
g pony looking for a
lovin
a
is
gie
financial reasons. Geor
He is a sweet pony
home as a non-ridden companion.
all basic handling. As
ived
rece
has
and
re
natu
kind
a
with
on a short-term
med
reho
be
will
gie
Geor
he is young,
ths.
mon
18
of
basis for a maximum
s.org.uk
Blue Cross, contact: www.bluecros
Age: five
Breed: Welsh section D
Sire: Trevallion Prince William
Dam: Wexland Cariad
Height: 14.3hh
Sex: mare
Suitability: competition horse
Location: please check with agency
Cost: £500, plus £25 passport retainer
fee and £80 annual membership fee
Millie is a sweet and honest mare who
is good to shoe, box and catch. She is
going well under saddle and has three
lovely established paces. Millie hacks
out alone and in company and has just
started working over coloured poles.
She has recently been to an intro
dressage test and has potential to excel
as an M&M or as a great all-rounder.
HAPPA
Tel: 01282 455992
Wellington
Age: seven
Breed: part-bred cob
Height: 15hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: ridden
Location: Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambs or Herts
Cost: £40 passport fee
Wellington was a young entire who was part of
an abandonment case in July 2007. He was very
nervous and has needed quite a bit of handling. He
has now been castrated and is a delightful chap
who is going well and is ready to be rehomed as a
ridden horse.
Redwings, tel: 01508 481034
➤ 30: the average number of ex-racehorses rehomed by TRC a
26 HORSE & HOUND
. 24 may 2012
www.horseandhound.co.uk
Equine welfare
Travis
Age: Four
Breed: thoroughbred
Height: 16.2hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: potential hack/riding club
dressage
Location: no restrictions
Cost: a one-off loan fee of £600 and
a regular
donation by direct debit — minimum
£5 per month
Travis never reached the racecour
se, as he had a
check ligament desmotomy on his
right foreleg as a
yearling to correct a conformation
issue when he
was born. The TRC has taken time to
break him to
saddle and he has grown into a very
handsome
horse. He has a wonderfully kind natu
re and loves to
please. He is good to shoe and hand
le with no vices.
Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Cen
tre
Tel: 01524 812649
Kudos
Dora Cabino (Bino)
Age: 12
Breed: thoroughbred
Height: 15.3hh
Sex: mare
nder
Suitability: potential eventer/all-rou
Location: no restrictions
a regular donation by
Cost: a one-off loan fee of £600 and
th
direct debit — minimum £5 per mon
placings and was
Bino raced 18 times with a couple of
tendon strain.
retired to the paddocks owing to a mild
t six years off work in a
spen
she
own
her
of
fault
no
ugh
Thro
patient and confident
field. Bino will need an experienced,
is a lively hack but good
She
.
ining
retra
rider to continue her
has no vices.
in traffic, is good to shoe, clip, box and
tre
Cen
tion
bilita
Reha
bred
ough
Thor
Tel: 01524 812649
Age: 13
Breed: thoroughbred-cob
Height: 16hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: light hack
Location: Kudos is currently being
cared for at WHW’s Glenda Spooner
Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in
Somerset. There is no specific
catchment area, as long as the rehomer
is prepared to travel to see the horse and
to collect him
Cost: World Horse Welfare asks for a
loan agreement fee from each rehomer,
which varies between £20 to £400
depending on the horse
Kudos came into care with his dam in
January 2011. His owner, following a bout
of serious illness, had put them out on
loan. But, after a long period of time, the
loan home was not able to keep them
and their owner couldn’t take them back.
He has a lovely temperament and thrives
on attention. He can live out all year
round. He would need a knowledgeable
and experienced rider who wants to
enjoy quiet hacking.
World Horse Welfare
Tel: 01953 497238
Dougie
Age: 3½
Breed: unknown
Height: 14.3hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: ready to bac
k
Location: within 30-40
miles of Wetherby
Cost: £150-£200
Dougie was found alone
in a field at three month
s
old. He has been well han
dled, is not troubled by
traffic, and has been bac
ked. He is looking for a
knowledgeable home.
National Equine Defen
ce Society
Tel: 01937 541555
Bramble
Age: six
Breed: part-bred cob
Height: 15hh
Sex: mare
Suitability: all-rounder
s
Location: can only be rehomed in Wale
Cost: £200
Trust as a serious neglect
Bramble’s dam came into Lluest
she was in-foal. Bramble
knew
dy
case, so much so that nobo
vered went out on loan
reco
once
but
,
birth
at
weak
very
was
to a Lluest volunteer
out
went
then
She
.
three
until she was
year. She is doing well
this
her
ed
back
and
who brought her on
needs an
she
but
er,
cant
on the flat in walk, trot and
her on. Bramble is
bring
to
rider
dent
confi
ed,
rienc
expe
out alone and in
ridden in a snaffle and is now hacking
with the farrier.
good
is
and
vices
no
company. She has
t
Lluest Horse and Pony Trus
nytrust.co.uk/re-homing
Contact: www.lluesthorseandpo
Moss
Age: 12
Breed: warmblood-shire
Height: 17hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: riding/dressage horse
Location: please check with agency
ner
Cost: £350, plus £25 passport retai
fee and £80 annual membership fee
Moss is an ex-police horse who has
e
retired from active duty due to low grad
not
navicular syndrome. However, he is
on medication and is capable of light
k.
to hack, but has been known to spoo
n
lema
gent
a
rally
gene
is
He
work and hacking.
some dressage.
do
to
bility
capa
the
has
s
Mos
le.
He can pull faces in his stab
HAPPA
Tel: 01282 455992
year ➤ 158 cases of cruelty or neglect taken in 2011 by WHW
Subscribe for less at www.horseandhound.co.uk/subs
24 may 2012
. HORSE & HOUND 27
GIVE A HORSE A HOME
Juno
Storm Mission
(Storm)
Age: eight
Breed: thoroughbred
Grandsire: Nijinsky II
Height: 15.3hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: competition horse
Location: 60-mile radius of Bransby’s Lincolnshire
site (this is worked out as 60 miles driven rather
than 60 miles as the crow flies)
Cost: £150 per equine, £75 for
non-ridden companions
Storm arrived at Bransby in 2010 with two
companions. All three were in a very bad way, emac
iated and extremely weak. Storm’s owner was
successfully prosecuted on three counts of causin
g unnecessary suffering. Storm is a friendly, playfu
l
chap who is good to shoe, clip and load. He is a
forward-going horse who is working well on the
flat and
is showing potential with his jumping. He hacks
out alone or in company. He is enthusiastic and
energetic so would need a competent, experienced
rider.
Contact: www.bransbyhorses.co.uk/re-hom
ing%20animals-Storm.html
Fairys In A Storm
(Fairy)
Age: 13
Breed: Shetland
Height: 10.2hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: lead-rein pony
d for at
Location: Juno is currently being care
Rehoming
and
ue
Resc
Farm
ade
Belw
’s
WHW
e are no
Centre in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. Ther
the rehomer is
specific catchment areas as long as
to collect him
prepared to travel to see the pony and
a loan
for
asks
are
Welf
e
Hors
d
Worl
:
Cost
which varies
agreement fee from each rehomer
the horse
on
g
ndin
depe
between £20 to £400
serious
Juno came into WHW’s care as a very
collar was
head
His
1.
200
r
mbe
welfare case in Dece
lice and worms.
embedded into his head and he had
with his
He was underweight and had problems
fully
now
has
He
r.
colla
head
the
to
teeth due
r. Juno is
recovered and is a cheeky characte
t with children.
excellent as a lead-rein pony and grea
this is
He does suffer from sweet itch but
will come and
controllable. He is good to catch and
the field.
in
le
cudd
a
and
tch
see staff for a scra
38
World Horse Welfare, tel: 01953 4972
Blue Cross Milly
Age: 12
Breed: part-bred thoroughbred
Height: 15.3hh
Sex: mare
Suitability: ridden/dressage
Location: no restrictions
Cost: £100, plus transport to new home, plus a
minimum donation of £250
Milly is a lovely looking mare with three good
paces looking for an active home where she can
hack and school. Milly would excel at dressage
but, due to a history of side bone, her jumping
would be restricted to a low level on a surface.
Milly is not a novice ride and will need an
experienced, quiet and confident rider. She has
a lovely nature around people and is good to
handle. She will live in or out, but can take a while
to settle into a new herd and is generally happier
turned out with geldings. Milly is more settled
when she is in a routine and receiving one-toone handling.
Blue Cross, tel: www.bluecross.org.uk
Age: five
Breed:
thoroughbred
Height: 16.1hh
Sex: mare
Suitability:
potential
all-rounder
Location: no
restrictions
Cost: a one-off
loan fee of £600
t — minimum
and a regular donation by direct debi
th
£5 per mon
g yard but
t temperament and
Fairy was bought straight from a racin
dn’t handle her. She has a lovely swee
coul
she
that
ed
realis
soon
r
hase
yet learnt
the purc
not
has
and
TRC
with
ining
es of her retra
with an exciting
girl
enjoys cuddles. Fairy is in the early stag
big
a
is
she
as
re,
matu
time to fill out and
conventional aids. She has been given
with no vices.
future. Fairy is good to box and shoe
tre, tel: 01524 812649
Cen
tion
bilita
Reha
bred
ough
Thor
➤ How many horses do you have in care (on site and in homes): Redwings
28 HORSE & HOUND
. 24 may 2012
www.horseandhound.co.uk
Equine welfare
Skhilling Spirit
(Spirit)
Age: nine
Breed: thoroughbred
Height: 16.1hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: hack/pleasure
ride/light schooling
Location: no restrictions
Cost: a one-off loan fee of £60
0 and a regular
donation by direct debit — min
imum £5 a month
Spirit had a short but succes
sful racing career.
He is now being hacked and
schooled on the flat.
Spirit has arthritic changes in
some of his joints
and so is looking for a slower
pace of life. He will need a com
petent, confident loaner. He
traffic and is happy to hack alon
is good in
e or in company. He is good to
shoe, clip and box and has no
Thoroughbred Rehabilitat
vices.
ion Centre
Tel: 01524 812649
Percy’s Pearl (Percy)
Lau Lau
Age: 12
Breed: warmblood
Height: 15.2hh
Sex: mare
Suitability: riding/competition horse
Location: please check with agency
Cost: £500, plus £25 passport retainer fee and £80
annual membership fee
Lau Lau came to HAPPA when her owner was
diagnosed with a terminal illness. She is currently
being reschooled and is showing great promise.
She is sweet natured with an attitude to please. She
had some small napping and bucking issues, but
these were quickly resolved and she has huge
potential to excel in a knowledgeable home.
HAPPA, tel: 01282 455992
Age: 10
Breed: thoroughbred
Height: 17hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: riding horse
Location: 60-mile radius of Bransby’s
as 60 miles
Lincolnshire site (this is worked out
flies)
crow
the
as
s
mile
driven rather than 60
Cost: £150 per equine, £75 for
non-ridden companions
d twice. He
Percy raced five times and was place
y is only
loves attention and is very gentle. Perc
s out alone or in
as a mid-level dressage horse. He hack
help reach his full
suitable for flatwork and has potential
can
who
rider
He needs a calm, competent
company, but can nap occasionally.
episodes of mud fever.
avoid
to
aged
man
be
to
s
need
also
potential. Percy does windsuck and
ercy.html
s.co.uk/re-homing%20animals-P
Bransby, tel: www.bransbyhorse
H&H strongly recommends you always wear a hat when riding
HEROS Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme) matches
Horses4Homes
HEROS (Homing
es or by selling them at
owners through loan hom that retirement from
ex-racehorses with new
w
kne
ir
Mu
S founder Grace
horses a
affordable prices. HERO
was scope to give these
re
the
t
tha
and
end
the
omed
an
reh
me
lly
not
sfu
did
ces
ing
suc
e
rac
hav
n, Grace and her team
ial new owners are
second career. Since the
ent
pot
and
y
var
ces
rses. Pri
more than 300 ex-raceho
S
n when they visit HERO
asked to make a donatio
Providing a slightly different serv
ice, Horses4Homes puts owners who
wish to share or put their horse on
loan in touch with potential candidate
s.
“We’re a bit like a dating agency for
people who are struggling to find a
solution for the care of their horses,
” says Horses4Homes’ Rebecca Evan
s.
Potential new owners/sharers are
charged an application fee of £10
to
cover the extensive screening proc
ess that takes place and there is a
£50
rehoming fee for all horses and poni
es
Proud
Protector
Rokokko
Age: 13
Breed: thoroughbred by
oray Lady
Hector Protector ex Ho
h
16h
Height:
Sex: gelding
wing
Suitability: ridden/sho
on
Ox
ge,
nta
Wa
on:
ati
Loc
donation
Cost: £2,000 plus £30
S
RO
per visit to HE
ation
Loan: £1,500 lifetime don
a private home
e to HEROS in 2007 from
r his racing career.
Proud Protector cam
afte
g
win
sho
at dressage and
changes in
to
where he had competed
due
k
eral times but came bac
He has been on loan sev
in the Jenny Pitman
-up
ner
run
was
he
0
s. In 201
personal circumstance
to riding horse.
Challenge for racehorse
w.heroscharity.org
ww
,
20
Tel: 01488 6388
(Roki)
Age: 19
Breed: Danish warmblood
(part-bred)
Height: 16.3hh
Sex: gelding
Suitability: ridden
Location: the applicant
should be in a 60-mile radius
of the location of the horse
(Somerset)
Cost: £10 donation to Horses4Home
s Foundation, plus a £10 application
fee to cover the extensive screening
process and a £50 rehoming fee
Roki is available for permanent loan
. He has competed in affiliated
eventing up to intermediate level and
affiliated dressage to medium. He
still loves to jump but now at unaffiliat
ed competitions. He is bombproof
in
traffic, hacks along and loves fun rides
. He is forward-going but a complete
gentleman. He has Cushing’s disea
se, which is treated with Pergolide.
Contact: www.horses4homes.ne
t
1,750; TRC 320; HAPPA 381; Lluest 35-40; WHW 1,800; HorseWorld 443
Subscribe for less at www.horseandhound.co.uk/subs
24 may 2012
. HORSE & HOUND 29