Recent findings from a Cost of Living Survey conducted by World Horse Welfare on behalf of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) have highlighted the financial strain many horse owners are experiencing in the current economic climate.
A significant number of owners are contemplating rehoming their horses due to increased costs in livery fees, feed, bedding, and veterinary care. Of the 6,143 survey respondents, 1.9% indicated that they might need to approach a charity to rehome their horse within the next year. This seemingly small percentage translates to over 7,000 households across the UK, underscoring the potential scale of the issue.
Together with Blue Cross, World Horse Welfare are urging horse owners who are already struggling to take care of their horses to consider finding good homes for them during the summer months, rather than waiting until winter when conditions are harsher and more horses will be seeking new homes.
The charity is emphasising that summer is the optimal time to rehome horses. The longer days and better weather allow new owners to bond with their horses more effectively. Conversely, winter presents additional challenges with dark, cold nights, increased mud, and the need for more feed and stable time, making horse care more demanding.
“Rehoming your horse during the summer gives both the horse and the new owner the best chance of a smooth transition. Waiting until winter can be far more difficult for everyone involved, and this is the main time of year people decide to rehome their horses, so there will be far more competition for homes just at the time it becomes much harder to care for your horses. We know many people understandably hang on to their horses for as long as possible, but it will be in everyone’s best interest to plan ahead and start the process now,” said Tony Tyler, World Horse Welfare Deputy Chief Executive
Over two-thirds of all horse owners who responded to the survey admit to having made additional sacrifices in their lives to provide the basic care their horses need. Savings can often be made, but there is a point where care, and then the horse’s welfare, starts to suffer.
“Our priority is always the welfare of the horses,” said Ruth Court, Blue Cross Horse Welfare Manager. “With 98% of concerned owners worrying about their financial situation regarding horse care over the next year, we strongly encourage anyone struggling to seek advice and consider rehoming now before the winter months set in. Both ourselves and World Horse Welfare offer advice lines where you can talk in confidence to a kind and understanding member of our teams, and they will discuss options with you. It’s so important to do this before it is too late and the horse has started to suffer and stands the risk of becoming a welfare case.”
There are many ways horse owners can try to rehome their animals, but Blue Cross offers a direct rehoming service, which we can both point struggling owners towards. Owners can keep their horses during the process while Blue Cross advertises the horse through their website and performs necessary vetting checks on potential new homes, just as they would if rehoming one of their horses.
If you are considering finding a new home for your horse and are looking for tips on responsible rehoming, Blue Cross offer a ‘Responsible equine rehoming’ advice page here.
If you are in a situation where you are already struggling to provide day-to-day care for your horse, World Horse Welfare offer a ‘Help for Horse Owners’ support service Here.
Katie Gilmour is the host of Poles, Piaffe & Prosecco: the podcast for riders that love to train, laugh and drink prosecco! The podcast is free to listen to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Katie is a Webby and ESMA award winning multi-media journalist with an equestrian focus. She hosts the podcast Poles, Piaffe & Prosecco, which is free to listen to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Katie lives on her family farm in West Sussex with her husband, four children and an assortment of horses, ponies, dogs, cats and poultry.