Thousands of horses in Wales 'at risk'

Horses rescued from Wales Credit: ITV Cymru Wales

A leading welfare charity says it fears the ongoing horse crisis could lead to rescued animals being put down because there is nowhere for them to go.

Thousands of horses are considered at risk in Wales because of overbreeding, falling values and rising costs.

But rescue charities say they are running out of space and are struggling to cope.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary does not currently have a base in Wales, but cases from here have dominated its work in recent years.

It is one of several charities currently trying to tackle the equine crisis.

In some cases scores of animals have had to be rescued from a single site.

On Gower last October nearly 60 horses were left to graze in a farmer’s field without permission.

The animals were rounded up and rescued in an operation led by local authority Trading Standards.

By law, all horses must have a passport, and all horses born since 2009 must also have microchip to help with identification.

The regulations were originally introduced to help prevent horse meat containing certain medications ending up in the food chain.

Some equine experts say the system is not working.

A tethered horse grazing on land in Swansea Credit: ITV Cymru Wales

Leaving horses to to graze on land without the owner's permission is now described as "flygrazing".

Earlier this year the Welsh Government introduced new legislation giving local councils more powers to remove flygrazed horses and prosecute their owners.

However there is concern that local authorities may lack the resources to fully implement the new laws.

In the last two years more than 1,000 horses have been rescued in Wales, and more than 100 put down on veterinary advice Credit: ITV Cymru Wales

You can see more on this story on WALES THIS WEEK: The Equine Crisis at 8pm tonight on ITV Cymru Wales.