A foal has been born to a mare who was rescued as part of the ‘Trafficked 20’, a group of horses who were discovered at Dover being transported to an unknown fate – likely a European slaughterhouse – in horrific conditions.

The healthy filly foal, who has been named Joy, was born at World Horse Welfare’s Norfolk Rescue and Rehoming Centre to Amy, who was pregnant when she was discovered as part of the ‘Trafficked 20’ last December. 

Of the 20 horses who were found, five had to be euthanised, seven were claimed by their owners, and eight – including Amy – were abandoned and signed over to World Horse Welfare’s care. 

Following a period of quarantine, the eight abandoned horses, which also included a pony called Kevin who was battling a severe skin infection, three foals, two Irish Thoroughbreds and a riding pony, were moved to the charity’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Norfolk.

Some of the horses who were part of the ‘Trafficked 20’.

Mare and foal thriving

Given the horrendous conditions Amy endured during the journey and the condition she was found in, it is remarkable that both mare and foal are doing so well.

“Despite being sick and underweight, horses such as the Trafficked 20 are still profitable to unscrupulous traders,” said Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare. 

“Smugglers cut costs by cramming horses onto overloaded vehicles and skipping feed and water. If they don’t sell for riding or breeding, some still end up going for fattening and slaughter where traders make a final profit, no matter how poor the horse’s condition.” 

“The ban on live exports to slaughter now makes it illegal to export horses from Great Britain for fattening and slaughter, but sadly it is still all too easy for once well cared for horses to be exploited by those who only view them as commodities. Those involved in the trade know they can operate with impunity as a result of a flawed system.

“Horses crossing borders with different jurisdictions and identification policies, and paper-based ID, the mainstay for most, simply isn’t good enough to protect these vulnerable animals,” continued Roly.

One of the ‘Trafficked 20’ Irish Thoroughbreds at the holding yard.

Digital equine ID system needed

“For the evidence to be robust and those responsible held accountable World Horse Welfare is working with the wider horse sector, to push for a digitalised equine identification and traceability system in the UK and EU.”

Defra minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock told the National Equine Forum in London in March that while the government recognises the importance of equine identification and traceability, pressure on public finances means the project has been paused.

She said: “I do recognise that a key concern in the industry is the improvement of equine identification and traceability.”

The Trafficked 20 and other high profile cases have highlighted the need for a centralised and fully digitalised ID and traceability system across the UK and EU.

Illegal trade

In February last year, the ‘Dover 26’ — a transporter crammed full of horses being exported to Europe — were discovered. Many of the 26 equines on board did not have the necessary paperwork to travel.

Five months ago, Your Horse reported on the three-year-old ex-racehorse who suffered a fractured skull and severe wounds after being trampled by other horses in an overloaded lorry destined for slaughter.

World Horse Welfare are not the only ones who are growing increasingly concerned about the impact that the absence of a digital equine identification and traceability scheme is having.

Leading voices from the equine sector as well as the food industry are warning that there’s a real danger that horses treated with lethal veterinary drugs could enter the human food chain undetected as beef.

“There is absolutely nothing stopping a horse euthanised with barbiturates — rendering its meat a toxic hazard — from being passed off as a clean carcass for human consumption,” said Dr Jason Aldiss, executive director of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS).

“We are sitting on a ticking time bomb.”

Images © World Horse Welfare.

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