News. World Horse Welfare. Weathering the 'perfect storm' of a growing horse crisis. Why horse burgers are no laughing matter

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1 World Horse Welfare News Spring 2013 Weathering the 'perfect storm' of a growing horse crisis Why horse burgers are no laughing matter Buy time for Senegal's working horses

2 WELCOME 2 In this issue WELCOME 2-3 Welcome and news in pictures. CAMPAIGNS 4-5 The horsemeat scandal, a transport campaign success, and our new CCTV petition. CONFERENCE 6-7 Highlights from our conference discussing 'The Importance of Horses in Society Today'. WELFARE NEWS 8-9 The growing threat of disease, Grand National changes and more. EQUINE CRISIS Britain's major welfare charities need help! FARMS 15 Horses to rehome and all the latest from our four farms. SUPPORTER IN FOCUS 16 An interview with F1 presenter Lee McKenzie. INTERNATIONAL How new approaches are helping working horses overseas. LEGACIES 20 A look at the legacies our work relies upon. SUPPORTERS From skydiving fundraisers to happy rehomers - your pictures! Cover: World Horse Welfare, the BHS, Blue Cross, HorseWorld, Redwings and the RSPCA at Westminster to present a report warning of a growing equine crisis in the UK - with help from some rescue horses! Welcome from the chief executive With the scandal of horsemeat being sold as beef never far from the headlines in recent months, we ve opened this magazine with an update on our campaigns. You can be proud of your part in our campaign to end the long-distance transportation of horses across Europe to slaughter, which has been boosted by a recent successful vote by MEPs. You can also add your name to our new petition, if you are not one of the 28,000 to have already done so, calling for CCTV in UK slaughterhouses in the light of shocking footage of abuse emerging from a Cheshire abattoir earlier this year. The sad fact of the matter is that at the root of all of these headlines is a growing unwanted horse population. Overbreeding is an increasing problem, and one that is exacerbated by the spiralling costs of keeping horses in the current financial climate, and a lack of effective legislation to curb irresponsible ownership, fly grazing and abandonment. Our main feature for the spring edition is the growing horse crisis in the UK, and we have joined together with the other major horse welfare charities to call for government and public help in the difficult months and years ahead. We hope you will be inspired by reading these features as well as updates from supporters, including an interview with BBC Formula 1 presenter Lee McKenzie, and continue your support for the charity as we head into Thank you! Contact us Anne Colvin House Snetterton Norfolk NR16 2LR UK info@worldhorsewelfare.org website: org Phone: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) UK Welfare: +44 (0) Merchandise: +44 (0) Membership: +44 (0) Good luck Rocky! Penny Farm s former adoption horse Rocky has now completed his rehabilitation and at the time of going to print he was preparing to find a new home through our rehoming scheme. We look forward to updating you on his progress in the future! Read more about new adoption horse Joseph on page 12. 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 President HRH The Princess Royal Vice Presidents The Hon Gerald Maitland-Carew Christopher Hall OBE Sir Peter O Sullevan Chairman Barry Johnson MRCVS Chief Executive Roly Owers MRCVS Registered charity no: and SC038384

3 1 2 3 News in pictures Women and children cooking lunch in the village of one of World Horse Welfare s Senagalese saddlery students. Read more about how Gaye Bah is making use of a new sewing machine to help working horses in his community, and other solutions to some unique challenges our teams face overseas, on page The presence of Phenylbutazone or bute in contaminated beef products was just one of the concerns in the recent horsemeat scandal. As well as highlighting the dangers to horses and people of the lack of a national equine database and an inadequate passporting system, we have been working hard to inform the media and public of the terrible suffering and disease risk inherent in Europe s slaughter horse trade. Read an update from our transportation campaign overleaf. 3. Prominent BBC Formula 1 presenter Lee McKenzie doing some promotional filming for the charity at our Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre. She tells us on page 16 why she supports the charity, and how others can get on board through social media and elsewhere. 4. Field Officer Nick White at a microchipping and passporting day for horses belonging to the Travelling community in Buckinghamshire. The need for the basic ability to link a horse to an owner was a major theme of our annual conference, which also included an insightful presentation from Traveller and RSPCA Chief Inspector John Grant. More on page The view from Glenda Spooner Farm in January, which after the continual rain has been affected by waterlogged fields and emerging springs causing damage to tracks and landslips. We have had an increased number of calls from horse owners struggling with, or concerned for the welfare of horses during the relentless wet weather. Want more news? Get up to the minute information and share your views by following us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. You can also scan this symbol with your smart phone's QR code scanner app or go to enews to sign up for our monthly newsletter. WELCOME 3

4 We call for CCTV in UK abattoirs We were horrified by the shocking treatment of horses in a Cheshire abattoir, filmed by Hillside Animal Sanctuary and broadcast by Sky News in January. Roly, our chief executive, described it as: disgusting, appalling and totally illegal. The footage showed a terrible catalogue of animal abuse, with horses being beaten, slaughtered in view of other horses and not being humanely despatched. As part of the Sky investigation, Roly was asked to review the footage and believes there was clear evidence of catastrophic breaches of the law. We feel a full investigation should undoubtedly be carried out. Roly said: I cannot see the public trusting this establishment again until we have CCTV monitoring in place. The FSA has staff on the premises who should have been enforcing the laws that protect these horses, but their efforts Photo courtesy of Hillside Animal Sanctuary have been found seriously wanting." However, we urge horse owners not to panic as there is no evidence to suggest that other slaughterhouses in the UK are abusing the law in this way. Sad though it may be and distressing as many people may find it, we believe there is a role for humane slaughter in this country. We have set up a petition calling for all operations at the plant involved to cease until new FSA-approved procedures can be put in place and we need your help to make this a success. We also believe CCTV should be installed in all slaughterhouses which take horses in the UK to assist the FSA in their duty of enforcement. At the time of going to print we had received an amazing 28,000 signatures. Go to to sign the petition online, or alternatively complete and send back the below 'mini petition'. You can print a larger version of this petition on our website too if you are able to put it up at your yard or elsewhere to collect signatures. Or if you like we can send you one in the post: just call or campaigns@worldhorsewelfare.org - thank you! Inhumane slaughter has no place in the UK We, the undersigned, deplore the deeply disturbing images shown on Sky News, showing repeated and callous abuse of horses during the process of slaughter. We call upon the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to fully investigate these incidents as a matter of urgency; for operations at the plant to be immediately suspended until new procedures are put in place and the FSA guarantees the plant will comply with the law; to properly enforce the established welfare laws in place to protect animals from this needless suffering; and for Defra to require the installation of, and monitor footage from, CCTV in all English slaughterhouses. [NB: there are currently no slaughterhouses licensed to take horses in Scotland or Wales, and policy for these is the responsibility of the devolved administrations. A copy of this petition will also be sent to them]. Principle petitioner: Roly Owers, Chief Executive, World Horse Welfare, Anne Colvin House, Snetterton, Norfolk, NR16 2LR Tel: (Registered charity no: and SC038384) Name First line of address Post code address Please tick this column if you do wish to receive future communications Please tick this column if you do not wish to receive future postal communications Please tick to confirm that you are aged 16 or above Please return completed petitions by Freepost to: FREEPOST Plus RRXL-LHJS-YEKK, World Horse Welfare, Anne Colvin House, Snetterton, Norfolk, NR16 2LR

5 Campaigning for Europe's slaughter horses Horsemeat is no laughing matter Like you, we were appalled by the revelation in January that traces of horsemeat had been found in products marketed as beef. Many of you have been in touch with us about this scandal and we thank you for your support. We have had countless s confirming your outrage that too many people have not given a thought to the welfare issues inherant in the slaughter trade and the suffering of the thousands of horses transported longdistance across Europe to slaughter each year. We have been campaigning tirelessly to raise awareness of the welfare issues involved in this story since it first broke. We've had a great deal of coverage including within the Daily Express, the London Metro, The Guardian, the Observer, the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror, The Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday. At the time of going to print Roly has also appeared on Sky News three times, on Radio 5 Live and the BBC News over the weekend of 9th and 10th February and across regional radio stations. Tony Tyler, our Deputy Chief Executive, was interviewed on BBC Radio Four on the 13th February. In our press statement during this crisis, Roly said: Horsemeat is no laughing matter. Where there is horsemeat, you can bet there has been suffering. Horses suffer on long-distance journeys across Europe to slaughter or, as we have discovered in Britain, they may suffer needlessly during slaughter due to poor enforcement of the legislation meant to protect them. "I have no doubt much of the horsemeat from Europe is the product of great suffering from long-distance journeys to the slaughterhouse. We need a 9-12 hour journey limit in line with scientific evidence that shows how bad these longdistance journeys are for horses. However, we have found that the media have been less interested in the welfare problems posed by longdistance transportation to slaughter and more in the genuine problems within the UK s passport system. While we agree the passport system needs fundamental change, and have been saying this to government for years, we believe the media needs to focus much more on the needless suffering of horses caused by this trade. We will continue to raise this with the media, and please feel free to write to them yourselves. Together we can use this crisis as an opportunity to highlight this trade. Transport campaign success! In December, we were extremely pleased to welcome the European Parliament s landslide vote in favour of a report calling for improved conditions for the live transport of animals for slaughter, including short, maximum journey limits for horses in line with scientific opinion. The vote of 555 for and 56 against will put more pressure on the European Commission which has so far sought not to review current legislation which allows 65,000 horses each year to be transported for what can be days on end in appalling conditions with little food, water or rest. Our Campaigns Officer for Policy and Public Affairs, Hannah Lynch, said: We are very clear: enforcement of the current Regulation cannot solve all of the welfare problems that we see, because the Regulation itself does not go far enough to protect horse welfare. We hope that Commissioner Borg will realise this soon, and will indeed revisit his plans and begin the process of proposing changes to the Regulation. The vote of 555 for and 56 against will put more pressure on the European Commission which has so far sought not to review current legislation We continue to press for change and have set up an action where you can Commissioner Borg, asking him to impliment changes to make the suffering of horses transported long distance across Europe to slaughter a thing of the past. We need your help to get this message across: What we are calling for: A short, maximum journey limit for horses transported long-distance across Europe to slaughter. Country of origin labelling rules extended to cover horsemeat (currently only covers cows and soon goats, pigs, sheep and poultry). Better traceability of horses in Europe including a passport system that works effectively. Changes to the Tripartite Agreement between France, the UK and Ireland to protect horses and prevent disease spread. A central equine database in the UK to hold certain information on all horses in an easily accessible way that will help protect their welfare and prevent disease spread. Scan the symbol or visit horsecharity to watch our transport campaign video. CAMPAIGNS 5

6 The importance of horses in society today For thousands of years horses have been mankind's other best friend. We have relied on them to help build civilisations, fuel economies, win wars, move populations, and facilitate trade and agriculture. Today in developed economies horses are increasingly regarded solely as leisure and sport animals - and an industry has been created around them. But outside of this horses are still playing just as vital a role around the world - and in the UK - as they did 100 years ago. They are the trucks and tractors of many developing economies and rural communities. They serve in the military and in police forces. And they play an important role in the travelling communities within Britain. "The Importance of Horses in Society Today" was the theme of our annual conference, held on November 15th at the Royal Geographical Society, London, and kindly sponsored by Betfair. Addressing an audience of more than 250 guests from across the horse world including the charity s President HRH The Princess Royal, high profile speakers explored the different roles horses play in society today, highlighting a wide range of perceptions of horses and how they should be treated. In addition to the presentations, a discussion panel debated the most topical welfare issues of the day. It was chaired by equestrian event maestro Simon Brooks-Ward and comprised of Lucy Higginson, editor of Horse & Hound magazine; Baroness Mallalieu, Labour Peer and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group of the Horse; Paul Bittar, chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority; and Will Connell, World Class Performance Director of the British Equestrian Federation. Here are just a few headlines from what went on, but you can watch videos of all the presentations and the panel discussions by going to or scanning the symbol below with your smart phone. Scan this symbol to watch our conference playlist, including the discussion panel and presentations. Horses in developing economies HRH The Princess Royal spoke knowledgably about the importance of horses as transport in the world s poorest communities and encouraged international development organisations and horse welfare charities to collaborate more to improve livelihoods. 6 "We start with the welfare of the horse as the key, but we must not be too blinkered in our own approach to that if we want long term improvement we have to understand how those animals relate to the people, the society, that they live in."

7 Horses in the police service Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Maxine de Brunner is a horse owner and rider and oversees the Mounted Branch among her many other duties. She spoke of the unique ability of horses to engage the public while controlling crowds and quelling public disturbances, and the expert training and care they receive. "Horses naturally are flight animals, but I need them to fight in certain situations, I need them to be brave. Being in a public order situation is completely against the instinct of the horse." Horses in the travelling community Raised as a Traveller, RSPCA Chief Inspector John Grant gave the audience an insight into the culture and values of the Travelling community, and particularly their relationship to horses towards which Travellers have a mystical fascination. The overbreeding and welfare problems among horses in these communities as a result of their attitudes were explored, as well as suggestions for reducing these problems. "Gypsies have a mystical presence about horses. We just seem to have to have a horse From the days in the late 70 s early 80 s when I looked after horses and I had horses and my family had horses, there was more area to tether them and to use. There s not much area left which is why I think some of the problems are occurring now. They still want to keep horses but the places are not available." Horses in sport Renowned broadcaster and journalist Brough Scott MBE gave a thought-provoking presentation on horse and rider as a centaur, and explored the huge responsibility the top half of the centaur (the rider) has to its lower half (the horse). He warned against anthropomorphism and emphasised how euthanasing a horse with no viable future was a justified way of showing responsibility of ownership and care. "The idea that man and horse should be as one remains to me an abiding image when I ve seen the great riders in action the real live centaurs. They ve done things on horses that can be so close to perfection that sometimes you can think almost that their destinies are intertwined The question is how much should the top half of the centaur share the same fate as the bottom, particularly when things don t work out." 7

8 The growing threat of disease Equine Infectious Anaemia There were two confirmed cases of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) in the UK in October, one in Cornwall and one in Northumberland. These cases followed on from two cases of EIA which were confirmed in January last year in Wiltshire, in horses which had been transported across Europe from Romania. EIA is a viral disease that affects horses, donkeys and their hybrids, and is most commonly spread by biting insects such as horse flies. There is no treatment and horses do not recover from the disease, which can be fatal. The last cases of EIA previously reported in the UK occurred in 2010 and were the first since Roly, our Chief Executive, said: With more and more horses moving across Europe, including the significant trade in low value animals, not just slaughter animals, we re facing an increasing threat from the spread of disease. World Horse Welfare advises owners to undertake rigorous checks when buying a horse from abroad and is discouraging anyone from importing Romanian horses. Owners should also ensure that any horse they buy or that comes on to their yard has a passport, is checked for a microchip and that isolation and biosecurity measures are strictly followed for any new entry onto the yard. WELFARE NEWS We offer a free Keep Your Horse Healthy pack, which you can use to ensure you give your horse the best chance of remaining fit and healthy. You can request copies through our website at org/disease or by calling the Campaigns Team on Hear our conference discussion panel debate how to protect against the growing threat of disease at horsecharity If we have a serious outbreak of contagious disease like African Horse Sickness the entire horse industry could come to a halt: this means lost jobs and the loss of billions from the Government purse. We need an effective central database and we need it NOW. I don t believe that I am scaremongering when I say that the fate of the economy depends on it. Chief Executive Roly Owers speaking at our annual conference 8

9 Grand National review World Horse Welfare has welcomed Aintree's decision to implement new flexible cores to the Grand National fences, but we remain disappointed that they have not chosen to reduce the number of runners in the 2013 race from a maximum of 40. Roly says: "the new more flexible fences should be more forgiving to the horses and we hope to see fewer falls and injuries as a result." We are aware that there is no way to ensure any race is made completely safe, but feel that where there is a way to minimise the risks involved, it is the duty of the sport to do so. Roly says: The public accepts there are risks in racing, but that does not mean we need to accept fatalities and chalk them up to bad luck. When we involve horses in sport - and especially in a challenging race like the National - racing has a responsibility to learn from accidents of the past and make sensible changes to try to prevent them from happening again. The chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Paul Bittar, acknowledged that there have been concerns about the format of the Grand National. He said at our conference: We take note, and we take seriously our relationships with what I d call credible welfare bodies and would certainly include World Horse Welfare and the RSPCA in that group. Bittar also observed that the Grand National is a global event, watched by 600 million viewers worldwide, and said: It s a huge challenge for us to get it right and the challenge for us is about protecting its iconic status but at the same time having a priority for welfare, and that s both human and equine. Though we are very pleased that Aintree is taking the welfare issues seriously, we are however disappointed that there is still no agreement yet to reduce the maximum of 40 runners. Roly says: "We believe that the number of fallers, unseated riders and horses being brought down by other horses in the National is too high (50% in 2012). We believe the single most effective way of reducing the faller rate is to trial a reduction in the field size - say for three years. We do not believe that this would alter the spectacle or character of the race. Recent data demonstrates that there are more instances of horses falling, unseating their riders or being brought down by other horses in the first third of the race. There are fewer occurrences of this in the middle and last thirds of the race, when there are fewer horses running. Though there are as yet no plans to reduce the humber of horses running in the National, World Horse Welfare will continue to press for a smaller field size. Bursary projects Saddle research to help horses We are very pleased to be helping to fund research into saddle slip by the Animal Health Trust (AHT), which does pioneering work to improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention to ensure animals across the UK lead healthier, happier lives. Saddle slip is something which the vast majority of riders will have experienced at some point and it can undoubtedly have a dramatic impact on a horse s comfort and performance. We hope this research will be extremely useful in informing future developments and look forward to updating you on the results. If you would like to take part, please fill in the questionnaire at: Last year we awarded an undergraduate bursary to veterinary student Natalie Sim for her project, A Study of the Awareness and Attitude of the Equine Industry Towards an Unwanted Horse Population in the UK. Natalie s study aimed to gather data about the perceptions of organisations with an interest in horse welfare to identify common factors leading to poor welfare within the horse population of the UK. She also sought to identify any recurring opinions which could explain the rising numbers of horses. Natalie had a very good response to her survey and found that people were keen to give their opinions and details of their own experiences with unwanted horses. She identified three main areas which could help to alleviate the current horse crisis, to which overbreeding has contributed. The results indicated that educational initiatives for people wishing to become horse owners, further regulation of indiscriminate breeding practices and an accurate passport system with a single, accessible database would all help to improve the situation of overpopulation of horses in the UK. We have been calling for improvements to the current passport system and a central database with records of all horses in the UK and their owners for some time. Natalie s study has provided some fascinating and very useful results, which support our call for improvements to be made. Find out more about undergraduate bursary scheme at: WELFARE NEWS 9

10 Weathering the "perfect storm" of a growing horse crisis EQUINE CRISIS 10 Britain s major welfare charities have come together to call for government and public help in what they warn is a growing horse crisis. World Horse Welfare, the RSPCA, Redwings, Blue Cross, HorseWorld, and the British Horse Society have come together to publish a landmark report: Left On the Verge: the approaching Equine Crisis in England and Wales. The report, which you can read on our website, identifies 6,000 horses at risk of needing to be rescued or given new homes in England and Wales - even a fraction of these would overwhelm charities. The drop in horse sales prices combined with indiscriminate overbreeding has led to greater numbers of horses not getting the care they need. The report asks, with charity spaces full almost to capacity, what will happen to the rising number of horses being abandoned or suffering from welfare concerns? Horses are still being bred on a large scale and continue to be imported from Ireland and the continent. This has led to the market becoming saturated, with animals being sold at some markets for as little as 5. To make matters worse, horses can cost up to 100 per week to look after and in the current financial climate, people try to cut back on vet costs, hoof care and feed. This inevitably leads to welfare problems. The organisations are already at breaking point, with a severe shortage of available places. Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare Nico collapsed and nearly died two days after arrival at Hall Farm because he was in such poor condition. Now he is a happy, healthy pony who is looking for a loving new home World Horse Welfare s centres have seen the number of horses taken in rise by 50% since 2006, and we ve therefore had to restrict admissions to the most severe cases. We re not alone: all the organisations involved in the report have seen increases, such as Redwings, which has seen a 28% increase in equines being taken in from 2006 to 2011, and a rise in abandonments. The RSPCA took in more than twice the number of horses between April 2011 and March 2012 than it did during the previous year. We have a perfect storm of horses continuing to be bred and imported to the UK adding to a rising population and people, suffering under the economic climate, cutting back on animal care bills. People need to start realising that there is very little financial reward in breeding horses and ponies, especially where there is poor husbandry or the animals have genetic problems. You won t make your fortune, all you will have is lots of horses and animals on your hands which need feeding, shelter and care and which you will not be able to sell. RSPCA head of public affairs, David Bowles

11 We are asking the public to rehome more horses from charities; for horse owners to take responsibility for their animals and not pass the problem onto local authorities, charities and landowners; and for the Government and other agencies to meet us halfway and help rein in this problem before another year of misery for hundreds of horses and ponies. The report was presented to Westminster in November, and you can download it in full on our website. Here are some of the key steps it calls for: The introduction of criminal legislation targeting fly grazing punishing offenders with fines and seizure of horses. The introduction of legislation or mechanisms to better link horses to owners to tackle irresponsible ownership. Increased intelligence-led enforcement of horse imports and exports. A review of the Tripartite agreement, which allows the import and export of vulnerable horses and ponies into and out of Britain from Ireland and France. The encouragement of responsible breeding through guidance and education. More assistance for local authorities, including provision of places to keep horses on a temporary basis. Improved enforcement and cooperation between enforcement agencies and charities. For the horse owning public to play an important part by rehoming horses and ponies from charities, and keeping on top of their own situations. For horse owners that need help to contact the charities for advice before their situation escalates into a welfare problem. Reggie Ellie May s thick coat hid how terribly thin she was when she arrived. She was part of the same case as Nico, and their owner was banned from keeping animals for five years. Reggie was a young foal who was found on a Bristol housing estate last August. He had been bought and sold several times in just a few days and was in a very thin and weak state, and suffering from infected feet due to untreated foot abscesses. Without intervention, his condition would have deteriorated and it s likely he would have died suffering, so he was brought to our Glenda Spooner Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Somerset, for urgent care. The soles of Reggie's feet were full of pus and he was in a lot of pain, with a high temperature and a compromised immune system as well as being anaemic. Our grooms, the vet, a farrier and a physiotherapist immediately set to helping Reggie and, against the odds, he began to improve. Claire Phillips, Centre Manager at Glenda Spooner Farm, says: Reggie is a normal, bright and bubbly youngster now and his character is really starting to shine through. We have finally managed to clear up the infection in his feet, although this took a very long time due to the extent of the damage. Unfortunately, the severity of the pain and infection at such a young age have left him with some developmental problems in his hind legs. We are hopeful that this can all be corrected with treatment from our specialist team, but what Reggie really needs now is time. He has a special remedial shoe on one hind foot to give his very weak limb some extra support, and he is turned out with another young horse to encourage him to exercise and play so that he can develop some strength. Reggie has come such a long way from the very sick foal he was when he arrived, but still has a very long road ahead of him to correct the damage done by his neglect. We are still hopeful that he will eventually make a full recovery and be able to be rehomed and enjoy the life and love he deserves. EQUINE CRISIS 11

12 "It is an extremely serious state of affairs. In February (last year), for example, we had a situation where a group of more than 60 horses and ponies that had been left to fend for themselves in Wales were facing euthanasia by the local authority which had found itself in an impossible situation through the irresponsible actions of a callous owner. On that occasion several charities stepped up at the last moment and offered them a home, but we had to stretch ourselves and our teams to the limit to do so. Another case like that may be the final straw. Nicolas de Brauwere, Head of Welfare at Redwings Horse Sanctuary and Chairman of the National Equine Welfare Council Dollar was emaciated and louse-ridden when she came into our care early last year. She is recovering well at Hall Farm with the rest of her group. The story of Joseph and his companions is all too familiar... In spring 2011 we took a group of ten horses into our Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, after their owner was banned from keeping animals for life. The horses were being kept in unsuitable surroundings and were in poor condition with bad feet and really unkempt coats that were riddled with lice. Sadly, a stallion called Scrappy had to be put to sleep due to severe liver damage, which we suspect was due to eating ragwort before he came to us. We also had to put to sleep a mare called Thelma, as it became apparent during her rehabilitation that she was irreparably lame in several legs, and euthanasia was the fairest option. Thanks though to the effort of the team at Penny Farm, including grooms, vets and the physio, the rest of the horses from this case have thrived. Here are some of their stories: Joseph Joseph, Penny Farm s new adoption horse, arrived as a foal at foot to his dam Salario. She was extremely thin and heavily in foal again. Because Joseph was still suckling his condition was not as poor as hers, but he was scrawny and subdued. Joseph had to be weaned quickly to give his mother the best possible chance of recovery. He was unhandled and frightened, but eventually he began to learn to trust people. His groom Mandy says: EQUINE CRISIS 12 Adopt me! Visit our website or call to adopt Joseph today Joseph today! The first few days he was petrified of me, but then he did start to learn how to trust me, and he did start to come over quite quickly. We had to gradually go in and try and get him used to coming over and eating firstly from a bucket, and then out of our hands. I did a lot of leading him out of the sand paddocks and he did eventually grasp that we weren t going to hurt him and we were his friends. Joseph before coming into our care Joseph has since transformed into a happy, healthy, handsome young horse. His mother Salario has already been rehomed, as has her second foal Olive. Joseph's rehabilitation is progressing well and Penny Farm is hoping that one day in the future he can be rehomed as a ridden pony. We are sure he will be a very popular adoption horse, and we look forward to updating his adopters about his progress!

13 EQUINE WELFARE CRISIS Toby Rehome me! Toby, an 18 year old 14.2hh gelding, was one of three stallions that came in with the group. After rehabilitation this very curious and active pony has been broken in to ride and is now ready to rehome as a hack. Toby before coming into our care Hear our conference discussion panel debate how to reduce the overbreeding of horses in the UK at horsecharity 13

14 Tro Tro was another stallion in the group. He is 16 years old but after castration and rehabilitation he has also been broken to ride and at the time of printing was ready to rehome! Rehome me! Tro before coming into our care Tro at Penny Farm Daphney Daphney is a 15 year old 14.3 bay mare. She was pregnant when she arrived at the farm and gave birth to a filly named Frankie who was rehomed in December. She has recently been broken and the farm hope to rehome her as a ridden pony in the future. Daphney enjoying her rehabilitation at Penny Farm Daphney when she first arrived into our care EQUINE CRISIS 14 This case is just one example of the growing challenges that we and other charities face, and their ongoing care shows the long-term implications of irresponsible ownership and breeding on charities. More and more horses like these need our help! your MP Please your MP and ask them to support charities in dealing with this crisis. By contacting Ministers, MPs can use their influence to call for government support - but we need you, their constituents, to ask them to do so: Rehome Rehoming a horse like Tro, Toby or the many others in our care frees up space for us to take in more horses in need. See just some of the horses looking for homes on the next page, or go to:

15 Farm round up Glenda Spooner Farm, Somerset Glenda Spooner Farm was very glad to see the back of the floodwaters after far too long resembling a flood plain. The arrival of a shiny new Mule (four-wheel drive buggy) to replace the broken one has caused much excitement and the new one even has a roof to keep the seemingly never-ending rain out! The farm staff are also very pleased to have replaced two aged Land Rovers with a Toyota Hilux, which is far better suited to the needs of the farm. These essential vehicles were kindly funded by the Mrs DM France-Hayhurst Charitable Trust, who last year supported our work at Penny Farm. Assistance from Charitable Trusts is so vital to funding our work. Rehoming has got off to a really good start at Glenda Spooner Farm, with five horses rehomed in January and one who has found a loving new home soon to be collected. Gypsy is a beautiful five year old 11.1hh Welsh mare who is looking for a rehomer with the experience to continue her education and break her to ride or drive. Penny Farm, Lancashire Penny Farm held a Christmas Fun Day on the 2nd December, with plenty of activities for all the family. The children loved the festively-dressed donkeys and the visit from Santa Claus was a great hit. Overall, the Christmas fair raised over 1,500, which is a fantastic sum so thank you very much to all who got involved in this fun family day out. Penny Farm will be holding a series of courses to improve the equine knowledge of local authority staff who are involved in animal welfare issues. Education is one of World Horse Welfare s key priorities and Penny Farm is always pleased to welcome visits from school parties and college students. We offer a curriculum-based school visit programme please contact Zoe for more details on There are a range of fun events planned during the school holidays, so do get in touch to find out more. Hall Farm, Norfolk Hall Farm held a fantastic candlelit Carol Service on 10th December. Donkeys Alice, Eden and Eliza were the stars of the show and behaved very well in a packed out church, which had been beautifully decorated especially for the event. After the service, there was mulled wine and mince pies at the Visitor Centre. Adoption Horse Zeam, dressed up as an elf, and his friend Stan, who was dressed as Santa Claus, were a great hit with the children and gave out presents all round. At the time of going to press, we were looking forward to a lecture demo by Olympic champion rider Lucinda Fredericks which is being held at Hall Farm on the 23rd February - just one of the exciting events this year. Saffey is a pretty little 12.3hh chestnut Welsh Sec C mare who is looking for a home as a lead-rein pony. Belwade Farm, Aberdeenshire Belwade Farm s biggest resident is back: Digger the Clydesdale was suffering from some health issues which were impeding his training with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and it was agreed he should return to Belwade for full assessment. Digger seems very content to be back and has made a great new friend in fellow Clydesdale Prince. Belwade Farm hosted a very special opera on 3rd November. Bolted was performed in the stables by two singers/actors and a cellist and directed by one of Scotland s leading theatre directors, Ben Harrison. One of Belwade Farm s horses also had a starring part: Linda was led back and forth past the stable so that the sound of her hooves could establish the atmosphere!. Belwade s café has been going from strength to strength and the horsy opera certainly illustrated its popularity. Our open day on May 26th is just one of a number of exciting events at Belwade this year. Please contact Kirsten for more details and sponsorship opportunities on Toby is looking for a new home as a hack. He is a lovely natured pony with lots of love to give. See pg 13 to read his story. Solo is a twelve year old 13.1hh gelding who is looking for a home as a companion after a sorry start in life. These ponies were available at the time of going to print, but may possibly have found loving new homes by the time you enquire. To find out more about horses currently available for rehoming, upcoming events or visiting your nearest farm, please visit our website! WELFARE FARMS 15 11

16 Supporter in focus: An interview with Lee McKenzie Our work relies entirely on the kind support of members of the public. From regular donors, dedicated volunteers and hardy fundraisers to our wonderful rehomers and our online following who share our campaigns and appeals far and wide we quite simply couldn t do it without you! We spoke to one high profile supporter, broadcaster Lee McKenzie, best known as the face of Formula 1 on the BBC, to find out what being a World Horse Welfare supporter means to her: INTERVIEW 16 Q: Why do you think it s important for someone in the public eye like yourself to lend your support to the charity? Well to be in the public eye is an odd thing to begin with, so if we can do any good for any charity then I think it s important. You get asked to support a lot of charities but actually this is a charity that I approached. I ve got a huge interest in horses and if I can draw some attention to World Horse Welfare, even from doing the simplest things like retweeting some of the projects that they do so well, or through word of mouth - I can t necessarily rehome all the horses that I would love to be able to! - but if I can draw a little bit more attention and therefore some more funds to World Horse Welfare, that makes me happy and hopefully it makes some horses happy too! Q: So you have an interest in horses? Yes, I grew up going to riding lessons, begging my mum to get me a pony! My first pony was called Woody, a 13.2hh Welsh Section B that my brother and I shared. We both went on and competed at different levels he s much better than I am! He still events now, to this day, and competes all over the country; I m more his groom now, which is the natural transition. I absolutely love horses, I ride whenever I can. Through working in Formula 1 and different sports, I can t keep a horse at the moment because that just wouldn t be fair to it but I do ride whenever I can, at least a couple of times a month and it s something which I absolutely love. When I m not riding I really miss it, so if I can do any good for a horse charity, even through voicing over some of World Horse Welfare s campaigns, doing some filming, anything like that, I always try to get involved when I can. Q: How did you first get involved with the charity and what kind of things have you done? I actually started when I was filming for a program called Landward in Scotland for the BBC. I spent a week at Belwade Farm and got involved in many of the different projects there, and this culminated in me riding out at the Dallas case. This was a situation where a gentleman had an awful lot of horses I think there were over 100 and World Horse Welfare and a group of people, including a charity for ex-armed Forces called Horseback UK, worked to corral and round up all these wild horses. Because there were so many in the fields it was very difficult to do even just a basic health check. They were just growing and growing in population. It was a huge problem, and to be part of a scheme and a project like that for World Horse Welfare was fantastic. It s unusual for there to be a charity which takes an interest in preventing things from happening and doesn t just react to a situation. Q: You mention you have been retweeting some of our projects. Do you think that helps? On Twitter it seems to grow by the day. It s quite a daunting experience I think I ve got almost 200,000 followers at the moment. A lot of them are more motorsport fans but even when I went to Michael Schumacher s ranch I ended up taking part in the European Championships for reining and Western riding, so even in my Formula 1 programs I m always trying to get horses involved somehow! I ll always retweet the good work of World Horse Welfare. I think it s such a basic tool; it really touches so many different people, as does a lot of social media. Social media sometimes gets a bad press but there are so many good things you can do with it. Q: So is that something other people can get involved with as well? Yes, I would certainly encourage people to use social media from a charitable point of view. You don t necessarily have to say what you had for your dinner, what the temperature is and what you re doing. If you can do good, it s like anything in life: if you can turn it into a positive thing you can get people behind you. You don t have to be on television, to be having a supposed glamorous life on Formula 1 - although it s not always very glamorous! - all you have to do is the very basic thing: get the message out there to as many people as you can, and that can only be good for the charity. Q: Do you have a message for anyone considering supporting World Horse Welfare? I would encourage anyone to get involved with World Horse Welfare. There are so many different things you can do: you can retweet a message, you can have a look on Facebook. You don t have to rehome a horse, although if you can rehome a horse that is obviously fantastic! But you can come along to these fantastic centres and these facilities and see the horses, see the work World Horse Welfare does. It s such a great charity and would love anyone s support. It s not just about horses in different countries around the world, it s here in the UK too. I think this would shock a lot of people but there are are increasing numbers of horses needing help in the UK. This is a problem that can be solved if people like you just get behind World Horse Welfare and do what you can. Lee is the voice of our new film from our exciting Cambodia project. To watch it just scan this symbol or go to:

17 New approaches overseas Basic horse care knowledge is often taken for granted in the UK. Owners benefit from a wealth of advice - at their yard, in publications, on the internet, from charities like us - and access to highly trained specialists such as vets and farriers is just a phone call away. This is not the case elsewhere. There are around 100 million working horses, donkeys and mules in the developing world, fuelling the economies of countries in Africa, Central America, Asia and elsewhere. These horses lead demanding, exhausting lives made worse by their owner s lack of horse care skills, and a lack of trained service providers such as farriers and saddlers for communities to turn to. We believe that it is important to use expertise to improve the care and lives of these horses. Since our foundation in 1927 we have helped thousands of working horses in over 30 countries, and our current programmes are changing the way horses are cared for in Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras, Lesotho, Mexico, Nicaragua, Senegal and South Africa. Here we take a look back at the successful legacy of a recent programme in Gambia, and forward to how our evolving approach is providing unique solutions for unique challenges in the countries where we work today. Country: Gambia Duration of programme: 2004 to 2008 World Horse Welfare saddlery trainer Stuart Russell visited Gambia early this year to follow up on the impact of our five-year programme in the country, which concluded in 2008, and to see how the former students were getting along. One student in particular, Gaye Bah, is making a real difference long after his training was completed, as Stuart explains: Gaye enrolled as a saddlery student in the first year of our Gambia project, and has remained involved with World Horse Welfare ever since. After his first year of training we asked him to return as a Regional Training Advisor, and he has been assisting courses since then, moving to neighbouring Senegal where we launched a programme in Here Gaye was asked to be the main Saddler Assistant, and as well as this valuable role, Gaye also gave essential translation help in Wolof, the prominent local language in the region. After the Gambia programme ended in 2008 the demand for good saddlery and harness from the working horse and donkey owners in the area remained high. Gaye and many other students are still using the skills that they acquired from their training with us. One thing that they were having trouble with though was keeping up with demand, so we recently decided to look at purchasing a heavy duty sewing machine to help with production. These machines are available in Senegal but not so much in Gambia, so obtaining one was not an easy feat and we decided to step in to help. Gaye was offered the machine for his own work, but he wanted all of the past saddlery students to have access to it. To this end he has built a new workshop to house the machine and keep it secure. It also doubles up as a training centre where he can give advice to horse owners in his local area. It was a privilege to re-visit Gaye s village again and be able to help someone who has shown so much devotion to what World Horse Welfare is trying to do in West Africa. Gaye is thoroughly respected by his community and they are very proud of what he has achieved over nearly ten years of helping the horses and donkeys that are essential to life in this region. The new machine in use. INTERNATIONAL 17

18 It is fantastic to see the ongoing benefits of our programme in Gambia. We want to continually build upon the historical experience and knowledge our work has established around the world. In past programmes like this one we focussed our efforts heavily on training farriers and saddlers - and we believe it is vital that working horse owners have access to their expertise. However just as the benefit of one sewing machine to Gaye and the other former students shows, it is sometimes the smallest niche solution which provides the biggest gain to horse welfare. We are now evolving our projects from a fixed model of training farriers and saddlers, to a flexible approach that addresses the unique challenges posed by the areas we are working in. This includes a stronger focus on researching what is most needed, sourcing local tools and materials, and working widely with owners and community groups rather than just the students we train. Here are just two examples: Water points in Nicaragua When we were preparing the programme in Nicaragua we discovered that one of the problems facing working horses was the periodic lack of drinking water in a large portion of the project area. Added to low-calorie feed intake, long working hours under intense heat, and the big distances covered during the average workday, this was a clear welfare issue. Dehydration in horses is a serious problem that plays a role in the development of disease, is a leading cause of heat stress, and may contribute to fatigue. It could also affect a horse's ability to work safely, having been linked to a potential increase in tripping. A watering point in action! We responded to this need by financing four watering points positioned along key routes used by the horses during their working day. Complete with storage tanks, and placed directly on the side of the road in the property of community members we are working with, the water points maintain a good supply of clean and fresh drinking water for the more than 1,300 working horses in the area of our programme. As some of this region is still rural, an added benefit is that these water points also provide water to the communities' goats, sheep and cattle. Cart reflectors and high-vis in use Road safety equipment in Senegal INTERNATIONAL 18 Senegal is home to more than 500,000 horses, many of which are used to transport locals, tourists, goods and materials through the busy streets. Horsepower still makes up an essential part of daily life, but sharing the space with vehicles carries grave risks. After visiting many communities and holding talks with horse owners, we realised that road safety should be high on the list of priorities. In the areas we work in, there is a constant daily struggle where horses and vehicles compete for space on the roads. The danger for horses on the roads, especially at night is very prevalent. This was brought home when, while looking for a farrier, we came across the horse and donkey scrapheap of Dakar. There were many horses and donkeys with a variety of ailments but many had injuries caused by traffic accidents. We have been working to combat these injuries by providing road awareness training to the people who use working horses, and issuing simple low cost hi-vis equipment and reflectors to attach to carts. These steps are enabling us to address the dangers that equines face on a daily basis on the roads of Senegal.

19 Regional workshop an invaluable success! A working horse in Veracruz benefitting from knowledge sharing at the regional workshop In November last year World Horse Welfare s first regional training workshop brought together farriers and saddlers we have trained from across the Central American region. It was a great opportunity for over twenty of our International team to come together and learn from each other s experiences in the different regions where they work, and to demonstrate the different ways of working with local skills and utilising local tools and resources. During the workshop, farriers and saddlers previously trained in Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico were able to acquire new skills using local tools and methodologies, while working with horse owning communities in Veracruz. At the same time, for those responsible for coordinating and managing the respective project countries the workshop provided an excellent platform for regional planning and information sharing invaluable to everyone involved! For horses in Senegal, just one hour s training can mean the difference between life and death... We hope you can support our ongoing work by making a donation to our Senegal Appeal. Every day in the country thousands of working horses are facing mistreatment and suffering because their owners do not have access to the skills and understanding to care for them properly. Six one-hour workshops run by World Horse Welfare could equip one owner with all of the fundamental skills needed to properly care for a horse: horse handling, grooming and daily checks, equine first aid, equine nutrition, harness care and fitting and footcare and shoeing principles. Ballagaye, a horse in the area where we work, developed this terrible leg injury at the hands of his owner, who simply didn t know how to care for him properly... It costs 24 to provide a complete training course for one owner, covering all six of these vital areas. Each hour costs just 4. Please call or go to to make a donation today. Thank you!...but since his owner took part in our training workshops, Ballagaye s life has been transformed. INTERNATIONAL 19

20 Legacies Making a donation in memory of a loved one or companion Making a donation in memory of a loved one is a way of letting their memory live on through the help you give to horses and ponies in need. At World Horse Welfare we recognise the poignancy of such donations which is why we will always write to thank you personally for your kindness and generosity. Miss Vera Dixon has been supporting our work for over fifty years. Following the death of her sweetheart Albert in 1977, she kindly chooses to remember his birthday and the anniversary of his death by making donations towards our work. We are very grateful to Vera and many others like her, who are helping to improve the lives of horses and ponies both in the UK and overseas. If you would like to make a donation in memory of a loved one or companion, please contact Dawn on or by ing her at dawnwitney@worldhorsewelfare.org. Legacy from abroad Safeguard the future of your horses Every week we are contacted by horse owners anxious to know if we would care for their beloved horses should they pre-decease them. Often they have a partner who is concerned about being the one left to make the arrangements for the horses. By contacting World Horse Welfare to register your horses and leaving them to us in your Will you are not only safeguarding their future but will be giving yourself and your partner the peace of mind of knowing that should the unthinkable happen, our Field Officers will oversee the arrangements you wish to make for your horses and to take them into our care. They will remain in our care for the rest of their lives and you can rest assured that we will always put their welfare first. If you would like details of how to ensure the future care of your horses and leave your partner with one less thing to worry about, please contact Dawn on or her at dawnwitney@worldhorsewelfare.org. Further details are also available on our website at: Rossie Grose-McFadden of Topanga, California and Vancouver, Canada to 2011 Rossie Grose-McFadden very kindly made arrangements during her very active life-time for funds to be received by World Horse Welfare, after her death, to carry on the work that she so passionately supported. Unfortunately, Rossie succumbed to cancer in June In her sister Jane's words, "From her first horse-ride at age five, Rossie's great passion became horses - their companionship, their care and safety. It never wavered. She passed on her love to so many others in both Canada and the USA". Rossie will be sadly missed but through our work her name will live on. "From her first horse-ride at age five, Rossie's great passion became horses - their companionship, their care and safety. It never wavered." LEGACIES Rossie took her long-time love of horses into the equine industry whilst working for Horse Television on American TV and also during her work at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky in She was also on-call for horse rescue assistance whenever fire threatened Topanga Canyon. Rossie's favourite job was introducing young riders, wherever she lived, to the experience and magic of riding and the mysteries of the horse - that will be her greatest legacy! It will be our pleasure to put the funds towards our work to improve the lives of horses in the UK and around the world. As a tribute to our very generous overseas supporter, a note of the magnificent $17,250 US Dollars ( 9,593.38) that we received for Rossie's legacy will be entered into the Legacy Book, which is kept at Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Norfolk. Find out more about leaving World Horse Welfare a gift in your will at 20

21 New Memberships available for World Horse Welfare Supporters By becoming a World Horse Welfare Member today you will be helping to stamp out cruelty and raise horse welfare standards in the UK and around the world. Becoming a member is easy. All you need to do is choose the membership that suits you best. ChampionPlus M E M B E R S H I P for just 52 a year As a ChampionPlus Member the benefits are more rewarding You ll receive all the regular benefits of a Champion Member, plus: Public Liability Insurance up to 10 million*. For any horses you own or look after and ride, regardless of age. Personal Accident Insurance up to 15,000*. Discounts on SEIB insurance policies for horseboxes and trailers. Second Family ChampionPlus Member for only 34 All the benefits of a Champion Plus Membership but for a second family member. Third and subsequent Family ChampionPlus Member for just 30 All the benefits of a Champion Plus Membership but for a third and subsequent family member. You can add up to two adults (spouse / permanent companion) and any dependant children up to the age of 18 years old (or up to 25 years old if in full time education) at inception of the insurance, all living at the same address in the UK. Junior ChampionPlus Membership All the benefits of a ChampionPlus Membership for any child under 21 years was 52 Now only 40 per year Already insured? Then a Champion Membership could be just right for you. You ll receive all the benefits ChampionPlus Members do but not the insurance. Your membership will help horses lead happier and healthier lives worldwide all for just 3 a month. Champion Plus M E MBE RSH I P FROM LESS THAN 15p A DAY Sign up today, together we can give horses better lives and the care they deserve call one of our friendly team on or visit worldhorsewelfare.org/membership *Recreational horse riding excluding any business activities see Terms and Conditions on the website Underwritten by International Insurance of Hanover Ltd and Millstream Underwriting Ltd. Terms, Conditions and Territorial Limits apply. Please see for full details. World Horse Welfare is an Appointed Representative of South Essex Insurance Brokers Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Supporters in action... Joyce Smith with family visiting Penny Farm after raising 395 from 80th birthday donations. Peers Clough Farm and their Fell ponies raised 800 by riding the Mary Towneley Loop. Our supporters not only provide the kind donations that allow us to continue our work, they also inspire us! Here are just a few of their photos - sorry we're not able to feature you all. We love to hear about your fundraising efforts, innovative ways you are spreading the word about our campaigns, or how you are getting on with your rehomed World Horse Welfare horse or pony! Send your fundraising news to jenniefewell@ worldhorsewelfare.org and your horse updates to rehoming@worldhorsewelfare.org - thank you! Ayshia Guy and Emma Ingram raised 200 in the Junior Great North Run. SUPPORTERS 21

22 Ceri Jayes and friends with a model horse kindly lent by Cornwall Farmers. Their collection at Tesco s in Kingsbridge raised 283. We are the chosen charity of The Riding Club London this year, and paralympian Natasha Baker MBE was guest of honour at their 'Riders Party last November. The event raised almost 5,000. Sue sent us this photo of her rehomed horse World Horse Welfare Pickwick, also known as Charlie. She says I m no good at extolling my virtues, but Pickwick has done me proud. We don t always get into the ribbons but always enjoy ourselves, and have quite a Fan Club up here. From what my friend tells me...we get quite a lot of commentary whilst competing, and this can only be good for World Horse Welfare. Louise Bourhill sent us this lovely picture of her rehomed horse World Horse Welfare Foxtrot. She says he is still as active as ever at 19! It is an honour to have such a lovely big lad. SUPPORTERS Nicky Smith raised 442 by doing a tandem skydive. Beverly Buckley raised 100 on her Fabric-a-brac stall at the Glyn Cieriog Autumn Fair. Suzi Kilka and Norma Thompson, with horses Puzzle and Kira, raised 205 riding the Mary Towneley Loop. 22

23 Emma Woods and pony Syd. Emma and her mum Lynda are regular fundraisers at the East Stirlingshire branch of the Pony Club. Michelle Hill-Perkins raised over 840 by taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Supporters taking part in a fun ride organised by Ceri Jayes, who also held a Horseman s Quiz, with the two events raising a total of 680. Pip sent us her picture of a smart looking World Horse Welfare Ruby, rehomed from Hall Farm. Sue Hare of Ufton Green Farm Livery Yard organised a horse show raising 665. Derek and Amanda taking part in a Christmas Hack organised by Matthew Winder, raising 56. Monty, aged four, riding World Horse Welfare Buttons, also aged four with mum Penny and grandmother Anne, who rehomed Buttons as a youngster. University of Central Lancashire Equestrian Club presenting a cheque for 100 to Hayley and Winne the pony at Penny Farm. SUPPORTERS 23

24 Make 2013 your year to put the FUN in fundraising! We have lots of great fundraising opportunities coming up in 2013 and would love to hear from you - or why not organise an event of your own? Go to for inspiration, downloads and more! Take part in a challenge of a lifetime This year we are running two Challenge rides across the Scottish Highlands, and a ride in the beautiful Moolmanshoek Game Reserve, South Africa. Go to to find out more or contact Fran on francesplume@worldhorsewelfare.org or call Get on your running shoes! British 10k London Run Held on Sunday 14th July this is a really fun event which takes place right in the centre of London, passing lots of the capital's most iconic landmarks. The Royal Parks Half Marathon One of the most scenic and popular city runs is held on Sunday 6th October. Runners enjoy a beautiful autumnal route through four of London s magnificent Royal Parks. Places on our running teams are offered on a first come first served basis, and a minimum fundraising target will be required. Contact Fran on francesplume@worldhorsewelfare.org or call Join our Norfolk Pleasure Ride This spring enjoy new fantastic off road routes from five to 15 miles in glorious parkland. Canter or meander along tracks and through meadows! There will be a photographer, refreshments and toilets on site. Date to be confirmed, more information will be published on our website soon! Enjoy a day at the polo! We are holding our first charity polo day at the Beaufort Polo Club on 19th July in the presence of our President, HRH The Princess Royal. The day will include lunch, top-class action and an exciting auction and raffle. To find out more details and to buy tickets please call Lara on