HorseWorld has reported a rise in the number of horses being abandoned across the South West over the last year and this winter the rescue charity is reaching out for support to provide these equines with the sustenance they desperately need.
“This year, we’ve received a record number of calls to our equine welfare team with owners increasingly desperate to rehome horses,” said Head of Equine Welfare, Sarah Hollister. “It seems that the economic climate and the spiralling cost of hay is pushing owners to desperate lengths, and we are seeing an increase in owners operating on a shoestring who can no longer cope.
“HorseWorld are being asked to take in more horses and this has impact on our costs particularly at this time of year. We are operating at capacity and carefully plan for our winter feed supplies but with the increasing prices we find ourselves appealing for extra support this winter.”
HorseWorld provides a home for life for more than100 horses on their farm in Whitchurch, Bristol. The heatwave in spring meant that the normal grass supplies on the charity’s land were sparse, followed by the rain downpours which flooded acres and meant the charity were unable to produce their own hay.
The appeal to ‘Feed the Herd’ has been set up to help raise funds to continue to care for the rescued horses, ponies and donkeys during the winter months.
To find out more, visit www.horseworld.org.uk/hay/
