Horse charities are reporting “record numbers” of attempts to rescue horses from flooded fields this winter.
While 18 horses were rescued by the RSPCA in Christchurch, Dorset (6 February), welfare charities HorseWorld and World Horse Welfare combined forces to save another 4 at a separate location in the same area on the same day.
HorseWorld’s Jerry Watkins and World Horse Welfare’s Phil Jones attended the rescue, which was the 4th attempt to round up the horses
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The quartet of feral horses had swum on to neighbouring land to avoid rising floodwater — but unfortunately had no permission to graze there.
HorseWorld had already visited this site 3 times in an attempt to rescue the horses, but were unable to catch them. The charity had left hay and — along with the owner and World Horse Welfare — had monitored the situation.
On the 4th attempt, the 2 charities managed to round up the horses and secure them on dry land in a holding pen. After examination, they were transported to a World Horse Welfare rescue and rehoming centre, where they will remain safe and dry until it is safe for them to return home.
Setting up a pen to catch the horses
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
HorseWorld’s director of national welfare Jerry Watkins said that this has been “one of our busiest winters assisting rescues”.
“We are working very closely with other equine charities to help a record number of horses during this period of extremely bad weather,” he said.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
