'The worst is yet to come': RSPCA fears second wave of equine crisis as more sick horses are dumped during lockdown

Anglia
Tuesday 9 June 2020 at 2:02pm

The RSPCA fears a second wave of equine crisis is on its way - and warns "the worst is yet to come".

During lockdown, 84 horse-related incidents have been reported in Essex alone. Other counties in the region have also had several cases reported to the RSPCA where horses have had to be rescued.

The animal charity is warning a financial recession, sparked by the Covid 19 crisis, could plunge the country into a second wave of the equine crisis which has already led to thousands of dumped and dying horses, and crippled welfare charities.

Staff at the RSPCA say they fear irresponsible horse breeders will continue to breed their animals in a bid to turn a quick profit and that existing horse owners will struggle financially to keep their animals and cover vet bills. This may lead to animals suffering, and some may even resort to abandoning their animals out of desperation.

Horse found in Essex Credit: RSPCA

In 2019, the charity received reports of more than 4,370 incidents involving horses in the south east of England, 202 in Suffolk alone. By the end of the year it had nearly 900 in its care nationally. This has left its rescue centres full and while it funds hundreds more in private boarding.

The RSPCA is appealing for vital donations to help it prepare for an influx of horses and ponies desperately in need of help.

“This is a truly worrying time for equine charities - we still haven’t got a handle on the repercussions of the current horse crisis, and it now looks like the worst is yet to come. In April 2011, before the effects of the financial recession had hit, the RSPCA had 290 horses in its care, already more than our official stables could house. The following year, the impact of the crisis really began to hit and our officers were called out every day up and down the country to neglected and abandoned horses. By May 2012, the number of horses in our care had leapt to 600. Fast-forward to today, and we’re caring for 927 horses - that’s three times the amount since the crisis hit, and we strongly fear that the impact will be even worse this time round."

. Credit: RSPCA

The charity spends approximately £5200 per year for the care of each horse taken in - that’s more than £4.8 million each year.

It has been working alongside the Blue Cross, Bransby Horses, British Horse Society, Redwings, The Donkey Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare, in a bid to tackle this national crisis. Many of these charities have seen their income plummet while still continuing to look after the horses in their care.

Read more about the RSPCA in our region here: