Equine welfare groups unite to fight against neglect

Fourteen major organisations concerned with horse welfare have pledged to work together to help prevent equine neglect and abuse in the UK.

The group, which includes the RSPCA, the Horse Trust, Defra, World Horse Welfare (WHW, formerly the International League for the Protection of Horses), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the British Horseracing Authority, was formed by the British Horse Society (BHS) earlier this year following the rescue of 111 horses from Spindle Farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

The resulting protocol, launched in London last week, is an agreement between the groups to work together to fight equine neglect.

The group has also produced guidelines for the public on how to report a welfare concern, detailing which organisation to contact for what type of concern and in which area.

Brig Jepson said the organisations would meet again in September, to discuss lobbying for the tightening up of loopholes in the Animal Welfare Act .

Find out how to report a welfare concern

Read this news story in full in today’s issue of Horse & Hound (19 June, ’08)

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