Becky SolomonMany people are feeling the effects of the tough economical times and are having to make conscious decisions to deny themselves luxuries. But what happens when you can no longer afford to keep something you dearly treasure, something you didn’t think you could put a price on. More and more people are forced to give up pets they can no longer afford. The cost of keeping a cat or dog can be relatively cheap (excluding vets bills) but having a horse takes up a considerable amount of money and time, that many are no longer able to part with. The cost of keeping a horse is estimated to have doubled in the past five years, the basic necessities such as hay bails doubling in price, whilst the value of horses has declined. The Independent reported a great rise in the number of horses being abandoned. The problem has become so bad that Britain’s largest charity for abandoned horses Redwings, that houses 1,200 animals, is now full. The rise in abandoned horses has risen from 160 in 2009 to 450 last year. Not every horse is fortunate enough to find shelter and around 3,500 horses are left tethered and to fend for themselves.
The problem is simply that there are too many horses, and not enough people able to afford keeping them, or even enough charities to take them in. Whilst people may not be able to cover the cost of keeping a horse, surely there is an alternative to abandonment. The cost to have the animals destroyed is another determining factor to why so many are turned loose. Other worrying ways of rectifying this crisis is the slaughtering of the animals. Newborn foals and particularly mares are unlikely to raise any money and so are being killed. Other horses are sold for meat for zoos. The government reported that 8,000 horses were slaughtered for meat in 2012, a 50 per cent increase in previous years.
An increasing amount of horses are being left tied up and uncared for, which is extremely dangerous, as horses can get tangled in their tethers and become injured. This is just part of the huge number of animals that have been dumped. Reports have been the highest level in five years with the RSPCA receiving more than 28,000 calls.
The report from The Independent comes just days after the horrific incident of a horse in Cornwall that was brutally mutilated. It is saddening to hear that these beautiful animals could be subject to such torture and cruelty.
Horse charities remain under pressure to cope with the number of animals needing help. With the cost of keeping an animals rising, it is unfortunate to think that this could carry on.
Many charities are involved in tackling this crisis, helping neglected horses and providing much needed homes, who would welcome any public help.
