Deadline looms for doomed veterans
The Veteran Horse Society is trying to find new homes for the three horses that will be put down next week if they are not rehomed
Three healthy veteran horses are urgently seeking new homes, or they will be destroyed within the next week as their owners are no longer able to care for them.
Fly (22) is due to be put down on 9 September, while Kelly (17) and Muddle (18) will be destroyed on 10 September, unless new homes can be found.
Fly (pictured top) is a semi-retired 14.2hh grey New Forest/Arab gelding whose carer is no longer able to look after him. He has a dust allergy and can be prone to laminitis but is very handsome and would suit a home where a lightweight rider would keep him in light work.
Kelly, (middle) a 15.2 bay part-bred Irish Draft mare, and Muddle, a 16hh bay (bottom)former Grade B show jumping mare, live together. Their owner is emigrating to America and needs to rehome the horses before 10 September or they will be destroyed.
Kelly hasn’t been ridden for the past three years but is very quiet and could be brought back into lightwork. She windsucks and crib bites but is very good to handle.
Muddle is only suitable for an experienced rider as her owner describes her as a “difficult ride”. However, she is very affectionate to handle and has no stable vices.
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Muddle and Kelly are friends and ideally should be rehomed together, although they could be split up if suitable homes are found.
“The Veteran Horse Society works as a meeting point between owners and carers,” says VHS founder Julianne Aston. “Horses rehomed via the society are visited every six months by our field officers to ensure they are receiving a good standard of care.”
If you think you may be able to help rehome any of these horses please visit www.veteran-horse-society.co.uk or call the rehoming hotline (tel: 01239 881310) between 10am and 2pm. All VHS careers are asked to pay £75 to help cover the costs of the rehoming register and the field officers.
Read more articles on veterans:
- Top veterans head for Olympia
- Q&A: feeding veterans
- Help needed to rehome veterans
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.