RSPCA asks fosterers to hold their horses after phenomenal demand
Hundreds answer the call to give horses a Stable Future
The RSPCA has been overwhelmed with the fantastic response to its appeal for fosterers for young horses, receiving over 300 applications.
The Stable Future appeal, which was launched on 14 May, aimed to find foster carers for those young horses which had suffered neglect and cruelty but which weren’t yet ready to go to new permanent homes.
Partly as a result of positive media coverage the charity has found fosterers for many of the 270 young ponies and horses in RSPCA care. So far, at least 13 horses have already gone to their new homes. Tack, rugs and equipment have also been donated and some generous people have offered land on which to keep some of the horses*.
One lucky horse went to her new foster home four weeks ago. Zara (pictured left), a 2½ year old coloured cob, was taken on by Suzette Simms who lives in Gloucestershire. Suzette saw the Stable Future appeal on Countryfile and in newspapers the following day and decided that fostering would be something she’d like to do. After her successful application, Zara was fostered from the RSPCA’s Gonsal Farm animal centre near Shrewsbury.
Zara spent her first two weeks in a separate paddock next to Suzette’s other horses to make sure they all got on. After this first fortnight they were moved in together and are getting along very well, although Zara occasionally budges the other horses out of the way to get more food!
Suzette said: “Zara is very sweet, she knows her name and follows me everywhere. She is a youngster and can be bossy with the other two, but she is nice natured.
“I am lunging her and am doing in-hand work which will gradually get her much more used to handling ready for when she can be ridden when she’s older.
“I would recommend fostering to anyone, it’s a really nice thing to do if you have the time and resources and it frees up rehoming centres so they can take on more horses in need.”
The great response means that the RSPCA is asking people to please be patient whilst the applications are processed. We have very few staff available to follow up the applications and carry out home visits but we would like to reassure people that we will get back to them all as soon as we can.
More horses and ponies come into the RSPCA every week so are still appealing for new foster carers and adopters to stay in touch and please, if you cannot offer a horse a new home, consider donating tack or a little money to help us care for the equines in our care. We face a huge £3.2million bill (not including vet or prosecution costs) just to care for the influx of ponies and horses which are still coming in.
Chief Inspector Cathy Hyde, who heads the RSPCA’s equine officers, said: “We didn’t expect this level of demand and we are so very grateful to everyone who has expressed an interest in offering a temporary home to a young pony or horse in need. We are just asking people to be a little patient as we usually only have handful of home visits each month and in July we have 163!
“These foster homes will prove invaluable in getting the horses used to people, a day to day routine and helping them to develop.
“Although we have had such a great response, sadly there will always be horses which need foster and permanent homes so we would ask that people do contact us if they are interested.
“Unfortunately while young horses are still being sold for as little as £5 the situation is unlikely to improve. Horses are still being abandoned and neglected because of rising costs of care and irresponsible breeding.”
Some people expressed an interest in fostering, but then decided to permanently adopt a horse. Angela Makepeace, from County Durham, has given a new home to a pony called Ajax. Her family initially considered fostering but then realised they could give a new loving permanent home to a younger pony who could step into the horseshoes of their granddaughters’ older pony, Carlos, when he retires. As well as Carlos, the family has two other horses and Ajax has settled in very well.
Kaytlen Carruthers with Ajax
Angela says: “It is such a nice feeling knowing that Ajax is now loved and cared for everyday after such a poor start in life. Before he is ready to be ridden we can teach him many things and my granddaughters can build up a trusting relationship with him so they trust him and he will also trust his little riders.
“The RSPCA’s procedure for adoption was very straightforward and all the staff were extremely helpful. It is a very rewarding experience to give a home to an animal that needs care and attention through no fault of their own.”
Foster carers must have experience handling horses, grazing and be able to take in a youngster for a minimum of six months. To apply log onto www.rspca.org.uk/stablefuture or call 0300 123 8000 for an application form.
-ends-
Notes to editors
*Unfortunately due to a lack of staffing resources to manage the horses the RSPCA is unable to take up these kind offers, although we are very grateful.
The second photo shows Angela Makepeace’s seven-year-old granddaughter Kaytlen Carruthers with Ajax.
Stable Future figures of 5 July:
— The RSPCA had received 320 applications from potential fosterers
— 194 potential fosterers had been contacted and 163 passed the initial telephone interview
— 13 horses had already gone to their new foster home
RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk
Want to raise money for the RSPCA every time you talk? Rabbit on with RSPCA Mobile! http://www.rspcamobile.co.uk/
-01.png){kind=spacer}