News. World Horse Welfare. We take in 76% more horses. Rehomed Baron is an artist's inspiration. One year on from the horse meat scandal

Transcription

1 World Horse Welfare News Spring 2014 Rehomed Baron is an artist's inspiration We take in 76% more horses One year on from the horse meat scandal Vulnerable horses failed at Britain's borders New project to help the horses rebuilding Haiti

2 In this issue Welcome from the Chief Executive 1 2 WELCOME 2-3 Welcome and News in pictures GOING UNCHECKED 4-5 The vulnerable horses failed at Britain's borders HORSE MEAT 6-7 One year on from the horse meat scandal HORSE CRISIS 8-9 We take in 76% more horses in extraordinary year CONFERENCE Tackling hot topics for horses in the next generation INTERNATIONAL New projects in Haiti and Costa Rica, and news from Senegal NEWS Colloquium, Year of the Horse, Europe update and more... Welcome to the Spring edition of World Horse Welfare News. The weather over the past few months has been quite diabolical and I hope this hasn't affected you or your horses too badly. This edition is jam-packed, not least because we've just launched two more projects overseas, one in Costa Rica (page 14), and the other in Haiti (pages 12-13), where we're working to help the horses, donkeys and mules that are rebulding the country following the devastating 2010 earthquake. In the UK our Field Officers and the teams at our Rescue and Rehoming Centres continue to work tirelessley to pick up the pieces of the current horse crisis, which the recent exceptional weather, including widespread flooding, has only worsened. We took in 76% more horses last year - a truly terrifying statistic (pages 8-9). As well as giving the most desperate cases urgent care at our centres and the opportunity of a second chance in loving new homes, we've also been battling to tackle the root causes behind this crisis, as well as to improve the laws to protect Europe's horses one year on from the horse meat scandal (pages 6-7). It is with great sadness that we broke the news to supporters in February that the hard-won protection for British horses from indiscriminate export to slaughter is being undermined by a lack of basic enforcement. Your support has been overwhelming so far, with an amazing 4,000 s sent to Defra at the time of going to print. You can read more about our investigations and help us today on pages 4-5. You can also read more about what went on at our annual conference (pages 10-11), and the vital debate this sparked, including the comments by our President, HRH The Princess Royal, that hit the media headlines. We hope that the features in this issue serve to show the true context of the debate, as well as highlighting how we continue to uphold the practical attitude of our founder Ada Cole as we strive to improve the lives of horses wherever we can. As always, we could not do any of this work without your support. Thank you, and may I wish you a safe and happy Year of the News in pictures Tom Burch, one of our long-serving international farriers, was made an MBE in the New Year s honours list for his services to horse welfare in the UK and overseas. We are delighted that Tom s hard work has been recognised and believe this honour highlights the importance of good practical training in horse care for horse owners worldwide. 2. North West MP Paul Maynard (centre) visited our Blackpool Rescue and Rehoming Centre in January to discuss the worsening horse crisis. He is pictured with Field Officer John Cunningham, Centre Manager Fran Williamson, and Penny Farm's Adoption Horse Joseph. 3. Field Officer Nick White assists the RSPCA in rescuing nine horses, including two foals and a Shetland pony, from deep flood waters in Middlesex. The recent weather conditions have been treacherous for horses across the UK, and at the time of going to print our teams are hard at work monitoring situations countrywide and helping where we can. Flood rescue photo 3 4 SUPPORTERS Challenge Rides, a Royal rehomer, your photos and more... Where you see symbols like this one you can scan it with your smart phone's QR code scanner app to be taken to videos and other content. Scan this one now to sign up for our e-newsletter! You can also find any of our videos on our YouTube channel - and don't forget to find us on Facebook and 4. Scottish artist Andy Scott with World Horse Welfare Baron, who has been rehomed by Glasgow City Council. Baron and fellow Clydesdale Duke were used as models by Andy for the amazing 100ft sculptures on our cover. Described as an engineering marvel that will attract visitors from across the globe' The Kelpies soar above Helix Park in Falkirk, a 40m+ project funded by The Big Lottery Fund to transform an area of industrial land into an award-winning public space. WATCH THE VIDEO We create our magazine in-house and it is printed on paper that has been produced using pulp from sustainable forestry, ensuring it is kind to the environment while keeping costs to a minimum. We hope you enjoy hearing about the work your support makes possible, and if you ever have any questions or suggestions we would love you to write to us or charlottejones@worldhorsewelfare.org Contact us Anne Colvin House Snetterton Norfolk NR16 2LR UK e: info@worldhorsewelfare.org w: Phone: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) UK Welfare: +44 (0) Donations: +44 (0) Merchandise: +44 (0) Membership: +44 (0) President HRH The Princess Royal Vice Presidents The Hon Gerald Maitland-Carew Christopher Hall Sir Peter O Sullevan Chairman Barry Johnson MRCVS Chief Executive Roly Owers MRCVS Registered charity no: and SC World Horse Welfare Patron Lee McKenzie visits our stand at Cheltenham Racecourse in January. Our tradestand will be at a lot of events this year including Badminton, Burghley, Horse of The Year Show, Your Horse Live and Olympia. We do hope you will come and see us! 6 NEWS IN PICTURES

3 GOING UNCHECKED The hard-won protection for horses and ponies from indiscriminate export to slaughter protection that supporters like you have helped our charity make possible is being undermined by a lack of basic enforcement. We can now reveal that our investigations into the movements of horses between the UK, Ireland and the continent show that an unknown number of horses and ponies are leaving Britain s shores under the pretence that they are for leisure or sport but may in fact be being sold for slaughter. They are leaving our ports without any checks on their welfare or their paperwork, so it is impossible to know whether the laws protecting them are being complied with. Without physical and documentary checks these horses and ponies could be going anywhere, for any purpose, in any condition. This lack of basic enforcement and other evidence we have uncovered during our investigations leads us to fear that many of these vulnerable horses and ponies are being sent illegally for slaughter on the Continent. OUR INVESTIGATIONS On 10th February the BBC s Inside Out programme revealed the shocking results of our largest ongoing investigation, uncovering evidence that horses and ponies are being exported through Britain s ports to uncertain fates on the Continent. It showed that an unknown number of horses and ponies are leaving Britain s shores under the pretence that they are for leisure or sport but may in fact be sold for slaughter. We have been investigating the movement of horses into and out of the UK, including reports of possible export for slaughter, for several years and have always passed any information that we have on to the proper authorities at the earliest opportunity. Unfortunately it has become clear that in many cases, proper preventative action from the authorities and enforcement of the law was simply not taking place despite the information that we were providing, and that horses and ponies were being left very vulnerable to abuse as a result. We're calling for the legislation meant to protect our most vulnerable horses and ponies from indiscriminate export to be properly enforced as a matter of urgency. Please help us. The very foundations of our campaign to protect horses are under threat... Our charity was founded by Ada Cole almost 90 years ago to protect Britain s horses from unnecessary and gruelling journeys to slaughter on the Continent. Our supporters helped us drive the establishment of a package of laws to protect horses from this ordeal. These laws are still in place, but are not being enforced. Defra says that based on export applications no horses or ponies have been exported for slaughter. Our investigation shows that they could not possibly know this because they are not performing the basic checks on welfare or for compliance with the law. OUR FINDINGS These movements are not small or insignificant: In just one weekend our investigators saw 91 lorries enter or leave one port, Dover, with a capacity to carry up to 24 horses each. None of these shipments were checked by the authorities. Nor were any checks made on the identification of the horses by Defra. None of these shipments were checked by AHVLA to ensure the welfare of the horses in contravention of WATO and Reg 1/2005. The absence of checks on welfare or documentation means that Defra and local authorities have no information about whether these horses welfare is being respected or whether horses exported or imported are in good health or suffer from disease. This is a risk to equine and human health. The lack of checks means that ponies could almost certainly be making these trips to Europe without the Minimum Values certification required for ponies by law. We have evidence that some of these horses and ponies were taken to markets that slaughter buyers attended. HOW YOU CAN HELP... Scan this QR code to take action now and Defra thank you! KEEP OUR INVESTIGATORS ON THE ROAD Our latest investigation involved members of staff from every department of our charity. Monitoring ports and markets requires a huge amount of time and resource. Please help us continue our investigations and keep our teams on the road by making a donation. Call or go to LIVE EXPORT TAKE ACTION WITH US Our investigations have made a difference but enforcement is key. Join us in calling on Defra to protect horses by ensuring laws to protect them laws which we together made possible are properly enforced. Go to to send your now, and please encourage others to do so. FIND OUT MORE AND SPREAD THE WORD You can find out more about this issue on our website and Facebook page, and we would urge you to share our findings and the action with others. You can also share any information that you have on the transportation of horses or any other issue, anonymously and in complete confidence, via the Tell Us pages of our website: LIVE EXPORT 4 5

4 ONE YEAR ON FROM THE HORSE MEAT SCANDAL... One year ago consumers were shocked to find out that what they thought was beef was actually horse meat. While many of the public were horrified and left feeling deceived, the horse meat scandal gave World Horse Welfare a chance to shine a spotlight on what was going on in the tangled and often sticky web of the horse meat trade. It allowed us to highlight how the laws in place meant to protect horses and the food chain don t do the job, and bring focus to the importance of improving accountability and traceability. Here are some of the ways that, thanks to your support, World Horse Welfare has been at the forefront of challenging existing laws and working with others in the horse sector and UK and EU governments to bring about change... PUSHING FOR AN END TO LONG-DISTANCE JOURNEYS ACROSS EUROPE TO SLAUGHTER The horse meat scandal brought horse slaughter into the light of the public eye, and now across Europe there is greater awareness of the welfare problems caused by these long journeys. MEPs have shown their support for shortened journey limits for horses intended for slaughter. World Horse Welfare s scientific evidence, including that cited by the Commission s own scientific advisors, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), supports a journey limit for horses intended for slaughter of 9-12 hours. The charity is pressing the Commission to heed the advice of its scientists and impose a journey limit that reflects the evidence and protects the welfare of horses. In 2014, elections will be held to select Members of the European Parliament, and a new European Commission will also be chosen. The charity will have to work hard to present its campaign to a new audience so we will need your help to highlight the plight of these vulnerable horses and make sure that the new Commissioner understands the issue. Please watch this space for future actions, and sign up for our e-newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Twitter so that we can keep you updated: MANDATORY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELLING FOR EUROPEAN HORSE MEAT If beef - and soon sheep, lambmeat, pork and poultry - are labelled with their country of origin, why not horse meat? The EU is considering changing food labelling laws and World Horse Welfare believes all horse meat should be labelled with country of birth and, if different, country of rearing and slaughter. Consumers across Europe are denied this simple information that is needed to make informed decisions. Currently horse meat may be legally labelled as the product of the country in which the animal was slaughtered. This means that meat from a horse transported for thousands of miles, spending only the final few hours of its life in the country where it is slaughtered, may appear to a consumer to be a local product. World Horse Welfare believes that this may be fuelling the trade in live horses transported needlessly longdistances across Europe for slaughter, and is calling for the public to tell the European Commission that clearer labelling is needed now. Go to to read more about food labelling and write to Commissioner Borg today. WELCOME RESTRICTIONS OF THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT Another huge achievement made possible by the horse meat scandal was the change to an agreement between the UK, Ireland and France to restrict the movement of horses without health checks or traceability. World Horse Welfare had long campaigned for the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) to be restricted so that it applied only to horses of a high health status which was its original purpose when established. However, its expansion in 2005 to cover all horses moving between the three countries (except for slaughter) posed serious disease risks and is believed to have facilitated the needless transport of thousands of vulnerable horses of a low market value, sometimes as cover for other illegal activity. From May 2014 the privileges of the TPA will apply only to high health horses including Thoroughbred racehorses and breeding stock, and FEI sport horses, going to and from France; furthermore all these movements will be traceable. Movements between the UK and Ireland will remain unchanged due to the two islands shared health status. All other movements of horses between these countries would be required to follow the normal rules when moving between EU countries and must travel with a health certificate issued by a veterinary surgeon. IMPROVING THE HORSE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM IN BRITAIN We've been raising our concerns about problems with the passport system with government for some years before the horse meat scandal. The scandal has thankfully prompted the European Commission and Defra to launch a review of equine identification and World Horse Welfare, as an active member of the equine sector council, is now part of a group supporting Defra to overhaul the system in the UK and inform changes to EU law. The law requires that only horses born after 2009 have microchips linked to their passport, meaning that the hundreds of thousands of horses born before 2009 (who will potentially live on for decades) will potentially remain untraceable, and the system remain open to abuse and difficult to enforce despite other measures to tighten the system. World Horse Welfare believes micro-chipping of all horses regardless of age is essential (these microchips to be issued in batches so they are traceable back to vets), however Defra and the European Commission may be reluctant to require this. While Defra is rolling out more robust standards for equine identification soon, changes to the overarching EU Regulation are still being negotiated and are unlikely to be agreed until the end of the year, meaning no Europe-wide changes will take place until at least COMPULSORY CCTV INSIDE BRITAIN'S SLAUGHTERHOUSES We began our CCTV campaign following revelations of flagrant horse abuse at a Cheshire abattoir early last year. We've since been backed by an amazing 43,737 members of the British public, who signed our petition calling for mandatory CCTV inside Britain s equine slaughterhouses. Signatories included BBC Formula One presenter, Lee McKenzie and British Olympic equestrian, Mary King. Celebrated equestrians William and Pippa Funnell joined us to hand the petition to Defra - thank you to them and to every single one of you who signed and collected signatures. Defra however, is still reluctant to compel slaughterhouses to install the cameras, saying that a voluntary system is preferred. World Horse Welfare is disappointed at Defra s response, and believes that had there been CCTV present inside the abattoir in question, the welfare abuses seen would not have occurred or would have been identified at an earlier stage. The abattoir in question was closed down temporarily for reasons unrelated to horse welfare. However, the HORSE MEAT charity is keen that CCTV be put in place as soon as possible to ensure such abuses cannot happen again, and to give horse owners confidence that humane slaughter is an option at the end of their horses lives, particularly as euthanasia and carcase disposal can be unaffordable for some owners. World Horse Welfare's Chief Executive Roly Owers, UK Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens, and Chief Executive of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Louise Kemble outside Defra to welcome the new TPA. TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSES OF BRITAIN'S HORSE CRISIS Based on a report by World Horse Welfare and other major equine and animal welfare charities there are currently at least 7,000 horses at risk of abandonment or neglect across England and Wales. Over the past year we have been working with other welfare charities to bring in tougher laws against the dangerous and illegal practice of fly grazing, where horse owners graze their horses on land that they do not have permission to use. Fly grazing accounts for half of the number of horses deemed at risk, and is in part a consequence of the unenforceability of the current equine identification system. The Welsh Government is introducing laws to control this, and we are now asking England to do Exhibiting at the Scottish Parliament in December to highlight the horse crisis. Our Public Affairs Officer Hannah Lynch, right, is pictured with Dr Nanette Milne MSP, who kindly sponsored the exhibition. the same or we fear the problem will continue to move over the border and thousands of horses will be left to fend for themselves with an uncertain future. What is clear is that this problem will not go away and is likely to worsen unless government takes action to help. We've also been promoting our Need to Breed? initiative to try and highlight the impact that breeding just one foal can have, and publicising the benefits of rehoming as widely as we can. You can read more about how we have been helping horses affected by this crisis over the page - thank you so much for helping to make this work possible. HORSE MEAT 6 7

5 WE TAKE IN 76% MORE HORSES IN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR World Horse Welfare took in 325 new horses last year, an increase of 76% from But while our Rescue and Rehoming Centres are full to bursting with welfare cases, the number of people rehoming horses has dropped... In one case alone last year our Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre took in more than 60 horses from one site after the situation at a Surrey owner and breeder s premises spiralled out of control. It took four days and a huge team of people to round up and safely process the herd, load them into fleets of lorries and transfer them to our care. The farm was able to accommodate the horses only after special measures were put in place and the investment, thanks to the support of our donors, in races and crushes (pictured left) to bring in the herd. We also recruited extra temporary staff to help the horses get settled. This case is just one example of the scale of Britain s horse crisis and how this continues to take its toll on charities everywhere. World Horse Welfare, RSPCA and Redwings pulled together resources at short notice in October to rescue 17 horses left to rot in Essex, after we received an anonymous call to our Welfare Line. In November a man from North Wales received a ten week prison sentence and was banned from keeping horses for ten years after being found guilty of multiple animal welfare offences. 51 ponies in total were removed from the site, 25 of which came into our care. Today many of these ponies still have serious problems, and tragically due to this some have had to be put to sleep. Thanks to the successful RSPCA prosecution however we can now look forward to one day finding them loving new homes. Sapphire's owner was banned from keeping equines for five years in December after we found the three-year-old filly emaciated and close to death. She's since made a full recovery. Azlan arrived at our Blackpool centre, Penny Farm, in January as part of a group of four ponies. He is now safe and recovering well. Ethel, Mavis and Peter are recovering at our Norfolk centre, Hall Farm. In December their owner received a threeyear ban from keeping horses. Macy was found in January last year collapsed in an icy field. Fortunately, we found her in time to administer life-saving emergency treatment and we were able to save her. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US CARE FOR THEM HORSE CRISIS You can Defra and find out more about the horse crisis and how we are working to tackle its root causes by visiting: We are so grateful to the generosity of our supporters for allowing us to help so many of these horses during such difficult times. Without you we wouldn't be able to give these horses a second chance in life. Macy, right, was the face of our Christmas appeal, and her story inspired a fantastic response - thank you. You can still watch her video and donate by going to WATCH THE VIDEO HORSE CRISIS 8 9

6 Tackling hot topics for horses in the next generation On November 14 an influential audience of nearly 350 people from across the horse world and beyond gathered in London to debate what the next generation will bring for our horses and the horse world. The answers were sometimes surprising. Here is a snapshot of the day, and you can watch all of the presentations and discussions, and read more about what went on, by going to Growing Pains: Young Equestrians, Young Markets Alex Hua Tian China s first Olympic eventer spoke on the opportunities and challenges of the global rise of equestrianism. "The two worlds the West and China are in stark contrast. In the West we are lucky to enjoy welfare charities and sport governing bodies - all essential infrastructure and organisations that ensure crucial structure and regulation. There is nothing like this in China...There is no regulation or qualification for vets, farriers, riders, instructors, trainers, breeders. No access to bute or antibiotics...it is these factors coupled with the extraordinary growth in the equestrian sport in China that particularly worry me." Enduring Threads in the Tangled Horse Meat Web Felicity Lawrence Investigative journalist for the Guardian and author of Not on the Label, Felicity gave a fascinating insight into the tangled and often sticky web of the international horse meat trade. It was a scandal waiting to happen...successive government trends have been towards de-regulation and lightening the burden on businesses. There has been much less inspection at meat plants, less funding to those who might enforce. HRH The Princess Royal's practical opening speech covered a wide breadth of the challenges facing horses worldwide today. In response to the desperate situation of Britain s current horse crisis our President boldly asked whether we should be considering a real market for horse meat and would that reduce the number of welfare cases if there was a real value in the horse meat sector? In light of how horses appear to be worth more dead than alive in the current market, she said the issue needed a debate. The next day s headlines made hay with the comments; however, discussions are now taking place across social media on the key drivers of the horse crisis: over breeding and fly grazing. Thanks to the Princess s remarks, the national media have now put a welcome spotlight on the horse crisis and the need for urgent solutions. Following the way the media covered these remarks a number of our supporters got in touch with us to raise concerns. We would urge you to watch the Conference recording to see the proper context of these remarks, and of course do get in touch with us should you wish. What you said... This year we streamed our Conference live on YouTube for the first time. There was lively debate across Facebook and Twitter throughout the event, and we loved hearing your views. Here are just a selection of them... The Future of Horsepower Professor Derek Knottenbelt Derek looked at whether working horses will continue to power economies in the future, and how we might help them. Horses are good for the world and our future...in 2027 we will have countless more working animals not less. Working animals will gain in value to their owners and there will be many more families reliant on the working horse as oil and transport mechanisms will no longer be available. One Standard for All? The Globalisation of Racing Lord Howard of Lympne Arena Racing Club Chairman and former leader of the Conservative party spoke on the future of racing and the importance of horse welfare within it. He welcomed the establishment that year of the International Horse Sports Confederation, the first formal vehicle for co-operation between the world s leading governing bodies for equestrian sport - the FEI and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Our Chief Executive summed up the Conference with a call to action for the sports industry, vets, the public and government as we asked for help to bring better futures for horses everywhere. He said: We have the influence to shape the next generation of horses...overpopulation is the largest welfare problem in the UK today and something that the next generation will face...at least 7,000 horses are at risk of suffering or needing rescue right now. Charities are bursting and our waiting lists are longer than ever." You can watch all of these presentations and the discussion panel by going to CONFERENCE Our Question Time-style discussion panel - debating a wide range of current horse welfare issues - was chaired this year by TV commentator Philip Ghazala (centre). The Panellists were, from left to right, Defra Minister, Lord de Mauley; the celebrated three-day eventer and trainer Ian Stark; Horse & Country Television presenter Jenny Rudall, and international endurance rider Anna Williams. The need to reduce breeding was a key issue raised again and again at this year's conference. We played our Need to Breed? animation on the day. You can watch this and download the leaflet on our website, and please share them with others if you can: CONFERENCE 10 11

7 LASTING CHANGE FOR HAITI'S HORSES We re very excited to announce that, thanks to your support, we ve been able to launch a brand new community project to help the working horses rebuilding Haiti. Over the past four years the people of Haiti have been recovering from the disastrous 2010 earthquake that devastated the lives of three million people. Half of the population lost their homes, 300,000 were injured, and an estimated 220,000 died. Since then, Haitian horses, donkeys and mules have taken on a range of roles to help rebuild the country. We ve teamed up with Humane Society International (HSI) to improve the lives of these hard-working equines, and in turn the people who rely upon them. At the time of going to print a World Horse Welfare team were already on the ground in Haiti. Liam Maguire, Director of International, reports: Since my first visit to Haiti, I have never had to agonise over the decision of whether there is a need for a project here. Perhaps the suffering of the horses in this country can be understood when there is so much human suffering alongside them, The thousands of horses and donkeys that work tirelessly everyday as the labour, and transport, for people in Haiti have no access to vital veterinary care. This exciting program that we are very happy to be working on with World Horse Welfare will not only treat equines to alleviate their suffering, but also teach local owners how to properly care for their animals and train local veterinarians in equine veterinary science. Kelly O Meara, HSI and so few of even the basics like school and healthcare. This is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, a place where 80% of its population lives below the international poverty line of just $2 a day. The devastation caused by the 2010 earthquake event is hard to describe, and it is evident everywhere you go in Haiti still. Perhaps the suffering of the horses in this country can be understood when there is so much human suffering alongside them. Four years on, the work of rebuilding property and roads continues, and the burden of this work falls heavily on the horses, donkeys and mules, which remain today as the only means of transport and draught power available to the vast majority of Haitian people. They are being used to haul building materials and move goods to markets, and they play a direct role in the welfare of many families who rely on them to make a living. "Unfortunately this can mean long hours of work, carrying poorly made pack saddles that are often overloaded, causing pressure sores and wounds on the withers and back that are unable to heal and prone to infection. They work in pain caused by these wounds and by damaged feet. Most have a poor diet and do not have access to enough water that is safe to drink, and as a result many are under-nourished and in poor condition. Owners here have neither knowledge of nor access to farriery, saddlery and basic horse care. "In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, USA based animal welfare organisation HSI were able to set up a veterinary-based project to provide support and services. Now there is a real need for a World Horse Welfare community project to provide the long-term support needed to give these communities vital skills and sustainably protect these horses' welfare. Now there is a real need for a World Horse Welfare community-based project to provide the long-term support needed to give these communities vital skills and sustainably protect these horses' welfare. "As well as partnering with HSI we are also privileged to have the support of an American association of voluntary equine vets called The Equitarian Initiative (EI), who we work with on several of our other international projects. World Horse Welfare will take the lead in actual day to day management of the project, and we're currently working alongside HSI and EI to provide veterinary support to communities. While doing this we're collecting important information about exactly how the horse owners within these communities use their horses to sustain their livelihoods. This information will be vital for us as we tailor a number of individual community-based projects aimed at building the knowledge and skills about good horse care. "We need to create the situation where we are helping Haitians to support Haitians in improving the welfare of their horses, so a central part of our project here will be training key local people to become Community Based Equine Advisors (CBEA). The CBEAs we train can go on to become the go-to person in their community on all things to do with horses and their welfare, and we have already found in other countries where we work that CBEAs have been incredibly successful. We need to create the situation where we are helping Haitians to support Haitians in improving the welfare of their horses. "It is not known exactly how many working horses there are in Haiti, but what is clear is that most of the people here rely almost entirely on them for their livelihoods. If organisations like ours do not provide support, the cost of that reliance will rest on the backs of these animals and will be paid for in their welfare and suffering. I've seen first-hand just how desperate things are for the horses here, but it doesn't have to be this way. With a network of skilled people in place in each community who understand the benefits of working with a healthy horse, we can enact sustainable change. I and everyone in my team are incredibly grateful to all of our supporters for giving us the means to establish this project, and to transform these horses' lives. HAITI 12 In February we launched an appeal to raise funds for our Haiti project, and the response was amazing. At the time of going to print our supporters have raised 74,293 so far, which will go a long way towards changing the lives of these hard-working horses. Thank you! You can donate to this appeal by calling or going to HAITI 13

8 INTERNATIONAL New project helps Costa Rica's working horses This year we've launched a brand new project in Costa Rica. In November our International team embarked on a research trip to the country, where they encountered clear and needless suffering among the working horses. Karen O'Malley, Deputy Head of International, reports their findings: "We visited communities within the Guaymi Indigenous Reserve in the southern region of Costa Rica. Horses in this area lead particularly challenging working lives, supporting subsistence farming and transporting people and goods into and out of the reserve. We had been made aware that around 600 horses here could be suffering from very inadequate hoof care and preventable injuries, and we wanted to see if we could help them. Our team, including a saddler, farrier, and local vet, spent five days engaging with the local horse owners to establish some of the reasons behind these problems. "It was immediately obvious that one of the major concerns here is hoof care. With no farriery services available within these communities, horse owners rely on using machetes to crudely cut away the hoof, a technique adopted from previous generations. The impact of this is very severe. Often too much hoof is cut away, leaving the horses with extremely painful, misshapen feet which then affects their limb conformation as well. "Harness equipment is available, but we soon saw that there is a very much a one-size-fits-all approach, and so despite there being good quality equipment available, the poor fitting means that horses are left with needless sores and wounds. "There are two veterinary stores at the border 35 kilometers away, but Guaymi horse owners rarely travel this PROJECT UPDATE: Senegal 2013 was a very positive year for our project in Senegal. The students have been practising their skills and our trainers have seen a great improvement in their technique. We've also been looking into harness-making and First Aid training for horse owners in key communities. Government support has been overwhelming, and they've been putting a lot into helping our students and our project. In December we hosted an end of year celebration in the centre of Rufisque where our students could demonstrate their new farriery skills, and showcase the tools and equipment our project has commissioned from local tradesmen. The event was organised with the Senegal Minister of the Horse, who has been very supportive of our training programmes and is enthusiastic for us to continue our communitybased work in the future. We were very honoured that the Minister of Agriculture was also able to attend. She has a very large public following and her presence brought lots of press coverage and attention to some of the problems these working horses and their owners face. Our trainees were the focal point amongst all the singing, drumming, speeches and paparazzi, and the Minister of Agriculture showed her gratitude for our continued support for the local tradesmen, owners, and horses, and the improvements to welfare our project had created. extensive distance. There are also no veterinarians at the border, so the closest veterinary assistance is a further 30km away from the stores, meaning a 130km return trip for Guaymi horse owners. "We believe that we can improve conditions for horses here, and have begun working with these communities to raise awareness of the importance of daily foot care and basic husbandry. We'll then teach owners correct, basic techniques on how to trim their horses hooves properly. Our communityfocused programme will also involve demonstrating to owners simple but effective alterations they can make to their equipment to ensure it does not cause injuries and unnecessary pain. "Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, World Horse Welfare's Costa Rica project is already underway, and we look forward to bringing you more news from these efforts soon." Misshapen feet and saddle wounds are causing these horses needless suffering Our trainers were very proud of their students work and progress, and the trainees were really pleased at the local interest in their skills and in the horses - who are often under-appreciated. At the time of going to print one of our UK farriery advisors was heading off to deliver two weeks of training to new students from all over Senegal. They will be using locally-produced tools, tool kits and aprons, and will be assisted by former students from The Gambia. Training will include trimming, shoe making, nail making and treating common injuries. We ve also recruited a researcher to carry out an investigation into horse owner activities and attitudes, including gathering information on common injuries, working hours, and feeding. This will help inform the future direction of this project. We'll also be looking to find a capable local partner organisation to help us continue our community-based schemes in the future." New set of wheels helps former student improve more hooves! Ten years ago we started a five-year project in The Gambia, and Baba Trewelly was one of the many local students who benefitted from the farriery training this provided. Like many of the countries where we work, there was a serious lack of trained farriers in The Gambia, which was having a very negative impact on the welfare of the working horses there. Our training was able to equip Baba with the skills to confidently tend to the footcare and shoeing needs of working horses in his community. He later became one of our assistant trainers on The Gambia project, and then carried on spreading our work in neighbouring Senegal, where he acted as a Regional Training Advisor and translator. More recently, Baba let us know that while the services of a good farrier were needed more than ever in The Gambia, he was finding it difficult to get to all of the horse and donkeys in his area on a regular basis. So we decided to increase the range that Baba could travel. Up until recently he was borrowing his brother s pushbike to try and carry out his work. Obviously this restricted Baba s ability to get very much done. We decided to get a motorbike for Baba to allow him to visit more horses and donkeys and tend to their feet. With a small purchase price and low running costs, Baba will easily be able to keep the motorbike operational with the extra funds that will be generated by the increased amount of customers he can see. It's incredibly gratifying that, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, students from our projects around the world continue to use their skills to help working horses in their communities. With the help of the motorbike 'Baba the mobile Gambian farrier can continue to spread a lasting legacy of better footcare in his area, and change many working horse's lives for the better. You can see all the latest photographs and news from our International projects on our awardwinning Facebook page. We hope you'll join us online to spread the word about the work you are supporting, and share your views! INTERNATIONAL

9 Full steam ahead for The 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids 2014 Latest news and developments from our work in Europe Saddle fitting and maintenance means better welfare for the horses we love UPDATES New membership furthers our role as voice for the horse in equestrian sport We're delighted to announce that on January 1st this year World Horse Welfare became a new associate member of the British Equestrian Federation (BEF), the national governing body for horse sports in the UK. Established in 1972, the BEF is an umbrella organisation representing the interests of 4.2 million riders, vaulters and carriage drivers in Great Britain. It is the largest representative body within the equestrian industry. Andrew Finding, Chief Executive of the BEF, commented: Equine welfare is particularly critical to all we do and therefore World Horse Welfare s role is vital to our industry. We have been highly impressed by the leadership and quality of the work of the organisation and are delighted to welcome them on board as part of our operation. Their coming into the Federation draws together the work we do both nationally and internationally in conjunction with the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale). This is a particularly important time in review of the considerable number of horses requiring care and attention. There is also a potential synergy for us in partnership with World Horse Welfare in finding homes for horses after rehabilitation - that will not only improve welfare but may also contribute to increasing participation. World Horse Welfare's Chief Executive, Roly Owers, says: World Horse Welfare is delighted to become a member of the BEF. Our membership makes good sense given our long-term support for the responsible use of horses in sport and our role as welfare advisors to the international federation (FEI) for the past three decades. Of course we already liaise closely with the BEF, such as through the Equine Sector Council, but this development can only help further strengthen our relationship. We fully support the BEF s strategy, most especially the emphasis on better horses, as equine welfare is so important in all aspects of equine sport." Preparation is well underway for The 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, which we're hosting at Royal Holloway, University of London, from the 1st to 3rd July. This event will be an essential forum for those who want to improve the welfare of the 100 million working horses, ponies, donkeys and mules around the world as well as those seeking to improve livelihoods in communities that depend on them. We look forward to welcoming speakers and delegates from across the spectrum of working equine practitioners, as well as those working in human international development, including veterinarians, technical advisers, project managers, community development practitioners, academics and equine and human welfare NGOs. Presenting new research is central to the event, and we are delighted that we have received an outstanding response to our call for abstracts with more than 160 applications from all over the world, covering all three of our core themes. We hope to stream the event live on YouTube, so that people from around the world can take part in celebrating working horses and exploring the ways we can help them. We will be sharing more details in the run up to the event in our next edition of World Horse Welfare News, and you can also find out all the latest on the Colloquium on our website: was an important year for horse welfare in Europe. A new Animal Health Regulation is now currently under discussion in Brussels, which has the potential to improve disease control. Diseases do not respect national borders, so it s great that there may now be a coordinated approach to controlling and eradicating some of the most dangerous equine diseases, like African Horse Sickness. We were busy last year making comments on the draft of this Regulation all 250+ pages of it! and will be watching its progress to make sure that the needs of horses are taken into account. The end of 2013 also saw the fallout from the horse meat scandal continue to send shockwaves across Europe. We have been working hard to ensure that horse welfare is not forgotten as the Commission look at how they can improve the systems meant to stop this from happening again (read more on pages 6-7). One crucial aspect of this is food labelling specifically, country of origin labelling for meat products. Horse meat may currently be labelled as a product of the country in which the horse was slaughtered, even if the animal only spent the final few hours of its life there after enduring long-distance transport to slaughter. We think that this misleads consumers and denies them the chance to demand welfare-friendly choices from retailers, so we re asking supporters to get online and contact Commissioner Borg to call for change. Find our more and take part: Making 2014 Europe's Year of the Horse As the Chinese Year of the Horse captures the public s imagination we re hoping to capture the attention of the new European Parliament to ensure that horse welfare is put to the top of the list. Our Chief Executive Roly Owers says: We ve produced our manifesto on five key issues for the forthcoming European Parliamentary elections, to promote what is needed for the benefit of horse welfare. The new candidates need to be aware of the major issues facing horses across Europe in order to make well-informed decisions about their welfare. Our manifesto aims to bang the drum for horses at UK and EU government level to make sure that horses are not only seen as an important priority, but that their needs are clearly understood during the election campaign. The five key issues in our manifesto are: Horses need a much shorter journey limit when transported across Europe to slaughter Horses need an identification system that works Horses need their welfare and health protected in EU legislation Horses need the law to be enforced Consumers need food labelling that gives them the information to make welfare-friendly decisions We ll soon be asking supporters like you to get in touch with your MEP candidates to ask them where they stand on these issues. In the mean time you can share your own views on what you want 2014 to bring for horses with us by going to: We have collaborated with the Animal Health Trust to compile some simple advice for horse owners and riders on fitting, using and maintaining saddles. A poorly fitting or maintained saddle can cause injury and welfare problems for a horse, and our research has highlighted some areas that should be carefully considered to help develop and maintain the horse s topline and reduce the likelihood of back pain. You can download this and other information leaflets on topics ranging from laminitis to responsible tourism from our website's Advice Library: You can also call our Advice Line on during office hours to speak to our team on anything from how to deal with sweet itch to what to include in a loan agreement. We would be happy to speak to you and will always do our best to help. Chinese eventer announced as new World Horse Welfare Patron We're delighted that international eventer Alex Hua Tian has agreed to join us as one of our Patrons. Alex represented China at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is a strong supporter of our work. He says: I was honoured to be asked to work with World Horse Welfare, as there is such a good story for me to tell about the positive effect the charity has on the welfare of all breeds of horses around the world. I value and rely upon a strong relationship with my horses, and I want to help promote the responsibilities we all share in caring for them and the incredible joy they bring to our lives whether in competition or just for being part of the family. Alex is also a brand ambassador for the tailors Gieves & Hawkes, and we are extremely grateful to them and the British luxury car company Bentley for hosting and supporting a fundraising reception in February to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Horse. Among the supporters present at the Bentley showroom in Mayfair s Berkeley Square were Alex s fellow patrons: BBC Sports reporter Lee McKenzie; the former athlete, model and now accomplished polo player Amy Guy, and leading equestrian businesswoman Gabriella Atkinson. We welcome and thank them for being among our first group of Patrons. UPDATES

10 How gifts in Wills help horses in need Born in 1931, Mrs Jean Lovatt was typical of so many of our supporters in that she loved animals, particularly horses, and wanted to do something to help transform the lives of those most in need. Jean began supporting our work in 1999, and her donations have helped us to make a real difference to the lives of many horses. Jean s son, Karl, speaks with great affection of his mother s support for our work, saying: My late mother was a very fond supporter of your charity; we would often have conversations around a dining room table with close family and friends and jokingly tease her about why she was so fond of horses as she was, in fact, a little bit scared of them. We could never get a true answer, but I know she loved the good work done by your charity. Sadly Jean passed away in February 2012, having made her Will a couple of years earlier in which she very kindly left us a gift of 5,000. This generous sum will help us to rehabilitate the many neglected horses and ponies we take into our UK Rescue and Rehoming Centres. Horses like Panther, pictured, a 12.1hh cob mare who came into our Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Norfolk, as part of a large welfare case in When she arrived Panther was emaciated with a body condition score of just 0.5 on a scale of 0-5. After a successful prosecution, all the horses in the case were signed over to our care, ensuring them a safe future. However it took 18 months of tender, expert care before Panther was well enough to begin work. Now a bright, happy pony, 9-year-old Panther is an adorable Panther as she arrived into our care Panther today - ready to find a new home! little mare with a very sweet nature. She has found a new lease in life as a driving pony and is proving to be a quick learner who loves her work. At the time of going to print she was looking for an experienced home to continue her education and bring out her full potential. If, like Mrs Jean Lovatt, you would like to leave a gift in your Will to help horses like Panther please call to speak with Dawn Witney on for further information in complete confidence, or you can visit our website at Intrepid Challenge Riders raise funds to help horses Our 2013 challenge ride to the Moolmanshoek Valley in South Africa returned in October with an elated and triumphant group of riders! Our intrepid fundraisers still went despite a last minute bush fire which decimated a massive section of the veldt. They had an amazing trip, and we are running another Challenge Ride to this region again in Collectively our South African Challenge Riders raised over 33,000 for our work, which is fantastic news. Thank you! Here is just some of their feedback... We are all having the best time EVER! The riding is amazing - miles and miles of cantering, stunning scenery despite the burnt bits, fantastic horses, fabulous accommodation and they are looking after us very, very well. None of us can walk straight today after our 50km ride, most of which either at high speed or up and down sheer cliff faces but we all have massive grins! Nicky Jackson Big, big thanks for introducing me to Moolmanshoek which was the most wonderful experience. The whole family and team went out of their way to make our trip very special. Jane Irvine Challenges lined up for later this year include a Colorado Cowboy Challenge and a Battlefield Centenary Ride. Or if you fancied fundraising closer to home we will be running another Norfolk pleasure ride in August - keep an eye on our website for dates and details. SUPPORTERS A sad farewell to Shadow In our 2013 Summer edition we shared a feature about Shadow, who we named our Rehomed Horse of the Year Shadow's rehomer Sophie was delighted to win the competition, and the story of this unassuming 27 yearold pony, who had taught Sophie and many other young rehomers to ride, touched staff and supporters alike. Sadly, Sophie got in touch later in the year to let us know that Shadow had been diagnosed with Neoplasm and had to be put to sleep. She has sent some words to us, which we wanted to share with you all. We know you'll join with us in sending our thoughts to Sophie, her family, and everyone involved with Shadow: "It was a terrible shock when I realised that I was going to lose Shadow. When our vet diagnosed him with Neoplasm I couldn't believe it. He was such a huge part of my life that I just couldn't imagine being without him. When the time came to part ways I told him what he meant to me and I hoped he could understand if not the words, but the love for him that they carried. "I told him how he d taught me one of life s greatest lessons: how to see a beauty in the world that I would have otherwise missed without him. That I understood some of the courage it had taken to carry his head high through the lows of neglect and to not lose faith. That even though he had been treated the way he had he could still see the beauty of friendship. I told him how brave he had been and how incredibly proud that I was his friend. "We were together in his paddock at the time, the sun was shining, and the birds were singing and were having one of our picnics. In those wise old eyes I saw him smile. The bond you share with your horse or pony is a priceless treasure. The memories you share are timeless. They give us this beautiful gift that we can keep forever. Shadow certainly trotted through life in style, he was his own free spirit and my inspiration. "I can only hope that his story has helped change other lives and I am so grateful that World Horse Welfare has given me the opportunity to share his story through Rehomed Horse Of the Year and to give Shadow the recognition he truly deserved." Shadow and Sophie We had such a fantastic time in South Africa - can't believe it s over. It really was a challenge despite living in the lap of luxury. Nicky Jackson AWESOME!!! is the best word to describe Moolmanshoek...the riding, the horses, the people, the food. Jen Grandison Our hosts at Moolmanshoek especially Weisman were absolutely wonderful. I was especially impressed he took so much time with us and with his leadership pushing us just that bit out of our comfort zones whilst coping with the after effects of the dreadful fire. The horses were excellent. The accommodation, food and everything else wonderful. Jane Irvine See the upcoming Challenge Rides that you could take part in and register your interest today on our website! INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTERS

11 SUPPORTERS FARMS Penny Farm Blackpool, Lancashire. Open every Wednesday, weekend and Bank Holiday from 11am to 4pm. Penny Farm s Christmas Fair on Sunday 8th December was a huge success, raising just over 1,000. Santa was much in demand and Roseacre School Choir performed wonderfully. Penny Farm had a couple of (arranged, don't worry!) visits from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in January. The aim of the visits was to give the firemen a chance to practise handling equines in a calm, safe environment, so they are all familiar with horses before encountering one in an emergency situation. As you can see, Penny was happy to help out as a demo horse! There will be fun days every Wednesday during the Easter holidays, so come and see us for some family fun. Penny Farm is open over the Easter weekend, with lots of Easter-themed activities for children to enjoy. We also offer children's birthday parties, so do get in touch. We hope to see you soon! Fancy dress at Penny Farm's Open Day. Find our farm on Facebook! Penny helping out Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service! Cappy as he was found Suzanne Witham raised 429 by jogging and walking nearly 40 miles from Warrington to Penny Farm! See more supporter photos overleaf... Belwade Farm Penny Farm Glenda Spooner Farm Hall Farm Glenda Spooner Farm Somerton, Somerset. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm until 4pm. Excitingly, the building work at Glenda Spooner Farm has finally been given the go-ahead and has begun in earnest. For further details on this, please turn to page 22 to read the full story. One of the ponies we have recently found a loving new home for is a skewbald called Cappy, a seven-year-old Welsh cross standing at 14hh. Cappy came into the care of Glenda Spooner Farm in September 2009, in a very poor state and incredibly underweight. Since then, Cappy has come a very long way and he even made an appearance at Your Horse Live in November 2013, where he was a very good boy and didn't put a hoof wrong. He obviously enjoyed his newfound fame! Cappy has now found a loving home of his own and has the potential to make a lovely Pleasure Competition pony. It is supporters like you who make such transformations possible, so thank you very much for helping us to help horses and ponies like Cappy. Seren is looking for a home Seren is ready for rehoming Barney at Glenda Spooner Farm. Cappy was extremely underweight when he came into our care Cappy is now happy and healthy and has found a loving new home! Belwade Farm Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. Open all year Wednesday to Sunday, from 11am to 4pm. Belwade Farm s Christmas Fair on Sunday 8th December was a great success, with 22 stalls on the day and in the region of visitors. The stalls offered a wide variety for visitors to see, try and buy from produce from a local bakery, to a parents group from a school, to local author Gordon Milne signing his books. The (infamous) Belwade café was very busy during the fair if you haven't tried it out already, do come along and test it for yourself! Perhaps you might like to spoil your mum by bringing her along to our Mothering Sunday event, so why not check out the menu on our website? Belwade Farm's annual charity clay shoot was once again a great success. The day was well-attended and raised over Many thanks go to all the volunteers and organisers, who worked very hard to make it such a great day out. The date for the 2014 clay shoot is still to be confirmed. Belwade Farm will have plenty of fun activities going on over the Easter weekend, so we hope to see you there! Hall Farm Snetterton, Norfolk. Open all year on Wednesdays, weekends and Bank Holidays, from 10am to 4pm. The annual Candlelit Carol Service at All Saint's Church, Snetterton, on Monday 9th December was once again a lovely event. After much sweeping of cobwebs and bedecking by a merry team of Head Office staff, the church looked fabulous. The Carol Service was very well-attended and the church was packed out, with standing room only at the back. We were delighted to see so many people coming along to join in with the festive carols led by Revd Langan and the Bury Friendly Orchestra. Three donkeys from Hall Farm even joined us for the occasion. Two of them made it to the front of the church but the third decided the heater was too scary and rooted herself at the back instead! However, stage fright aside, they all behaved impeccably and a lovely evening was had by all. Mulled wine and mince pies were enjoyed up at the Visitor Centre at Hall Farm afterwards. Santa and his helper Stan were as popular as ever with a queue half way across the yard at one point! Upcoming events at Hall Farm include an Easter family fun indoor dog show on 18th April and also a jumping clinic on 20th April, with heights ranging from 40-70cms. Some very sad news from Belwade Farm: former Adoption Horse Spencer (right) sadly succumbed to a nasty bout of colic and had to be put to sleep. Our thoughts are with his rehomer, who is understandably devastated. We are so grateful to them for giving Spencer a loving home for the time he had left, and to all the adopters who supported his journey. Horses preparing to meet the visitors at Belwade s Family Fun Day on 26th May. To see upcoming events and to find out more about visiting your nearest Rescue and Rehoming Centre go to Find our farm on Facebook! Find our farm on Facebook! World Horse Welfare Opal, Moss and Harry Potter from Hall Farm wearing rugs very generously donated by Horse & Hound subscribers Opal featured on the Horse & Hound Facebook page SUPPORTERS FARMS

12 Annie finds a home with a royal rehomer! Our President, HRH The Princess Royal, joined the ranks of our rehomers in October by giving a home to Annie, a 15hh Welsh Cob from our Glenda Spooner Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Somerset. HRH The Princess Royal says: "I wanted a reliable horse that I could get on and off easily. Annie has a good temperament and I thought it was silly to look for something else when I ve got the space here to rehome her. "If you ve got room then you can do an awful lot of good by rehoming. Sadly we read about the many horses that World Horse Welfare has rescued as part of the horse crisis at the moment, but we don t hear about what happens next. It s very disappointing to hear that the charity is finding it so difficult to rehome horses when people could rehome so easily, and make space for others that need help. "Rehoming from a charity may be the best way of finding a horse because you know so much more about the animal you are getting. You get told about their quirks, how easy the horse is to manage, their physical limitations, if any, and what their needs are. All of this is important information when getting a horse that you rarely get when buying one...my advice to someone looking for a new horse is to go to the charity and see what is available. "I hope Annie enjoys it here with me. We will be doing some hacking and she will be helping me herd the sheep and cattle. I m just really glad World Horse Welfare didn t find somebody else for her!" Our Chief Executive, Roly Owers says: "Seeing the horses that come into our care - often from incredibly distressing circumstances - go on to flourish and be much-loved in new homes is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. We wish HRH The Princess Royal all the very best with Annie and look forward to hearing how they are getting on in the future." You can find out more about rehoming by visiting or by contacting or visiting your nearest centre. WATCH THE VIDEO Video QR Supporters in ACTION We are continually inspired by our supporters, and simply could not carry out our work without you. Here are just a few photos - we only wish we could feature all of your amazing efforts. We would love to hear from you so send your fundraising news to jenniefewell@worldhorsewelfare.org and your horse updates to rehoming@worldhorsewelfare.org Please remember to your digital photos in as large a format as possible, as many files are simpy too small to feature here. Thank you! Janet Breed and her friend Roz raised 117 through a Remembrance Day collection for animals in war. Sarah and Olivia Lucas ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon and raised a grand total of over 400. Heather Hinkley (pictured with our Field Officer Jacko) raised 1,045 by organising two 1940s dances. SUPPORTERS Urgent expansion work finally underway at our Somerset Centre Building work at Glenda Spooner Farm, our Somerset Rescue and Rehoming Centre, is finally underway. Despite the terrible weather conditions good progress is being made, and we hope to see the initial phase completed by April. As we've reported before, we desperately need to improve our facilities at the farm to enable us to rescue and house more horses, and also to rehabilitate and rehome these horses more efficiently - so it's fantastic news that the building work has started. The construction of a new equine reception unit, six crew yards and a large storage barn has now begun. Having the reception unit will enable us to provide care more efficiently and safely for our new arrivals. The new crew yards will enable us to house small groups of horses together, which reduces stress levels, particularly in animals that are unused to being stabled. It is also less labour intensive and allows the horses more freedom to behave in a natural way, when an element of confinement is necessary. Our new storage barn will enable us to store all our hay and haylage that we produce onsite. We're really grateful to our supporters for making this expansion work possible, which we know will be of great benefit to the work we do at the farm. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Glenda Spooner as the project progresses, but please do check our website for amended opening hours while the building work continues. WATCH THE VIDEO Marian Draper (centre) raised 404 through an evening with Jane Holderness-Roddam (right), held near Glenda Spooner Farm. The farm team, also pictured, lent a hand. Joanne Thubron raised 250 by match funding sponsorship for a cancer charity walk. Louise Benson, Sophia Price and Esme Chadwick raised 65 by selling homemade cards, old toys and books. The Revd David Mill and his wife Evlyn raised 400 at their Animal Blessing and Thanksgiving Service, held in Strone Church and attended by police horses Glespin and Houston. Katie Wrigglesworth raised 142 doing a sponsored walk from Kinlochleven to Fort William. Remember to find out more about events coming soon in aid of World Horse Welfare by going to or by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Just one such upcoming event arranged by some of our supporters is the Glasgow University Veterinary Medical Association's 54th annual fundraising rodeo. This year's event will take place on 12th April, at the Garscube Estate. The event is a great family-friendly day out, so why not come along and have fun in aid of a good cause! Thank you to our wonderful volunteer committees in Scotland, who raised 20,000 in 2013 and helped to spread the word about our work. They have some great fundraising plans for this year, too! The teams will be collecting at race meetings and equestrian shows, and organising demonstration lectures. If you re planning a trip to the Blair Castle Horse Trials in late August, do go along and visit them at our stand. Find out more about volunteering on our website SUPPORTERS

13 The benefits of being a member... We offer three types of membership. Take a look and choose which one is right for you! ChampionPlus Public Liability Insurance to the value of 10 million* for any horse you own or look after and ride, regardless of age Personal Accident Insurance up to 15,000* Discounts on marketleading SEIB insurance policies for horseboxes and trailers see our website for more information FREE expert equine advice and helpline for just 52 a year A personalised welcome pack with lapel badge and car sticker World Horse Welfare colour newsletters packed with interesting equine articles three times a year Fantastic behind the scenes Members days at one of our four Rescue and Rehoming Centres for just 40 a year Junior ChampionPlus All the benefits of a ChampionPlus Membership for anyone under 21 years... was 52 now only 40 per year! Family members can enjoy the benefits of ChampionPlus Membership at reduced rates All the benefits of ChampionPlus Membership but for a second family member All the benefits of ChampionPlus Membership but for a third and subsequent family member Second Family ChampionPlus Member for only 34 Third and subsequent Family ChampionPlus Member for just 30 for just 36 a year Champion Membership Enjoy all the other benefits of a ChampionPlus Membership, minus the insurance. Membership of World Horse Welfare makes a great gift for anyone who loves horses... Please call our Membership line on for more information and join today or visit *Recreational horse riding excluding business activities see Terms and Conditions on our website. World Horse Welfare is an Appointed Representative of South Essex Insurance Brokers Ltd. who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Underwritten by International Insurance Company of Hannover Ltd and Millstream Underwriting Ltd. Terms, Conditions and Territorial Limits apply.