Blue Cross reporting increase in rehoming requests for horses.

Blue Cross is urging owners not to delay contacting them if they feel they may need to give up their horse. The charity wants to avoid situations developing into welfare problems.

The national pet charity is seeing an increase in the number of people who are having difficulties with the financial costs related to caring for their horses. So far in 2023, it has received 137 rehoming requests for horses or ponies, with 31 per cent of those giving financial circumstances as the reason.

There were 326 rehoming requests in 2022, with 23 per cent giving personal or financial circumstances as the reason. This compares to 277 rehoming requests in 2021, with approximately 15 per cent of those stating financial circumstances as the reason.

Two horses recently taken in by the charity were Comet and Billy:

Comet, was taken in after his owner’s situation changed. The owner got in touch as soon as she realised she was unable to care for Comet. He arrived at the charity in good condition, with a new set of shoes and all his tack. Because of this, the charity was quickly able to find him a new home.

In contrast, Billy was brought in after his owners struggled with his aggressive behaviour. He had been left in his stable for 11 months, and his feet hadn’t been trimmed for over five years.

When his owners got in touch with Blue Cross, Billy’s welfare had been seriously affected, and his feet were in need of immediate attention from a remedial farrier. He also needed rehabilitation due to his social isolation, which had caused his mental health to decline. 

Annabelle Taylor, rehoming coordinator at Blue Cross said: “We really hope that by sharing Comet and Billy’s stories we can encourage people to contact us earlier if they need help with their horse. 

“A lot of people leave it far too late and the horse ends up suffering as a result. Subsequently rehabilitation can be difficult and upsetting and usually takes much longer.

“We urge you to get in touch if you are struggling, rather than let problems escalate.”

Blue Cross rehomes horses from its centres in Oxfordshire and Staffordshire, as well as through its Home Direct scheme.

Since it was launched in 2015, the Blue Cross Home Direct service has helped 98 horses. After assessment from the horse unit team, the charity aims to rehome animals directly from its old home to the new one.

Image (C) Blue Cross