National pet charity Blue Cross is celebrating 10 years of its Home Direct service which helps owners find suitable new homes for their horses if they can no longer keep them.
The scheme works directly with existing and potential owners and avoids the need to use the charity’s rescue centres. Since the start of the initiative in 2015, the charity has successfully rehomed 300 horses.
When an owner approaches the charity about a new home for their horse, a member of the Blue Cross horse unit team assesses the horse and then it is advertised on the charity’s website. Once a potential new owner has been found Blue Cross will arrange and oversee initial visits. If it’s a good match, the horse will then be rehomed.
RT’s story
RT was one of the first ponies to be rehomed through the Home Direct scheme when it launched 10 years ago.
The Exmoor pony enjoyed success in showing classes but proved a complex pony to ride. When illness and life changes meant the family could no longer keep him, they approached Blue Cross.
RT was quickly matched with a new family who needed a companion for their own Exmoor pony. He settled happily with them for several years before returning to Blue Cross when the family downsized. Since then, he has been rehomed by Blue Cross into another loving home where currently remains.
‘So impressed’
“We were aware that Blue Cross had horses available for adoption, but we didn’t realise they also helped rehome privately owned horses direct from their owners,” said RT’s current guardian.
“We were matched with RT and were so impressed with the Home Direct process, it was lovely that he could come straight from his previous home to ours, and even better that the whole adoption took place just a few miles apart.
“We absolutely adore RT, he has settled in beautifully and has been the perfect little companion for our other Exmoor. We couldn’t be happier.”
Neville’s story
More recently, Blue Cross rehomed Neville through the Home Direct scheme after his owner’s personal circumstances changed.
“After the heartbreaking decision to rehome my beloved horse, Neville, I approached Blue Cross to see if they could rehome him through their Home Direct scheme,” said Neville’s original owner.
“The process was smooth from start to finish and all the Blue Cross team I spoke with were really understanding and helpful, and nothing was too much trouble. Neville was quickly matched with a lovely family and after meeting him they were able to take him home shortly after, the whole process from start to finish only took 4 weeks.”
No judgement
Originally known as ‘Our Dumb Friends League’, Blue Cross was formed in 1897 to help the working horses of London, who were often underfed, struggled to carry heavy loads and became injured on slippery asphalt roads created for new motor vehicles.
“Home Direct enables us to help people as much as we are helping horses,” said Vicki Alford, Equine Centre Manager at Blue Cross, Burford.
“Please do get in touch as we are here to help, not to judge. We welcome approaches from horse owners while their horses are still healthy, rather than risk them potentially ending up in a welfare compromised situation if their owner is struggling to cope.
“We are here to help you make the best decisions for the future health and welfare of your precious horses.”
For more information about the Home Direct scheme or to make a donation to Blue Cross click here.
Main image of Neville and inset image of RT © Blue Cross.
