News. World Horse Welfare. Landmark achievement for Europe's horses. Winter 2015

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1 Winter 2015 World Horse Welfare News Landmark achievement for Europe's horses Award-winning comedian John Bishop joins our family of dedicated rehomers Find out how we fundraise to help the world's most vulnerable horses

2 Welcome In this issue Welcome and News in pictures 4-5 Removing the Blinkers 6-7 At home with rehomers John and Melanie Bishop 8 All new rehoming website 9 Watering guidelines 10 Polo day raises 28, Rescued from the brink International partners Q&A with our Fundraising Officer, Lisa Gedge 16 A wonderful legacy 17 Investing in the future Farm news 20 Supporters 21 Could you CARE? Supporters in action Cover: Comedian John Bishop with World Horse Welfare Mable. Photo credit: Rhian Ap gruffydd from the Chief Executive A very warm welcome to our winter newsletter. Thanks to your support, as the year draws to a close we have much to celebrate on behalf of horses worldwide. I m sure many of you will join me in honouring our former-vice President Sir Peter O Sullevan, who died peacefully in July aged 97. Sir Peter was known by many as The horse s champion and his Trust raised over 4 million for welfare charities, including ours. He was instrumental to the development of our international projects and a long-time supporter of our campaigns, but above all Sir Peter was a uniquely dedicated man whose life was one truly worthy of celebration. This year your support has enabled us to take a significant step forward in improving horse welfare across Europe as we published Removing the Blinkers a report we produced with Eurogroup for Animals that will set the policy agenda for horse welfare in the EU for years to come (pages 4 and 5). We also led a coalition that developed EU guidelines for watering horses during transport (page 9), which clarifies the law and dispels many myths that cause unnecessary suffering. With predictions of a bitter winter ahead we are sadly anticipating the worst for Britain's most vulnerable horses in the coming months (page 11). Our need to place rehabilitated horses into safe homes is more urgent than ever, so we are delighted to welcome John and Melanie Bishop into our family of rehomers. They have given cover star Mable as well as Indie, Dora and Amara a wonderful future (pages 6 and 7). There is so much more to read in this issue, including Dash's story of hope on page 11, but I would also encourage you to turn to pages 14 and 15 to read about how we fundraise for ponies like Dash and our commitment to you, our valuable supporters. Without you, ponies like Dash would simply have no future. Thank You can find our videos on our YouTube channel - and don't forget to find us on Facebook and follow us on 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 press@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) Merchandise: +44 (0) Membership: +44 (0) Calls may be recorded for training purposes. President HRH The Princess Royal Vice Presidents The Hon Gerald Maitland-Carew Christopher Hall Chairman Barry Johnson MRCVS Chief Executive Roly Owers MRCVS Registered charity no: and SC038384

3 1 2 Kit Houghton News in pictures Penny Farm's adoption horse Magpie and his groom Hayley have joined horses across all four centres by signing up to the CARE about Laminitis study. Hayley says: "Magpie has never suffered from laminitis but by taking part in the study we are contributing to vital research into this painful disease." Sign your horse or pony up today at We are delighted to have been chosen as the Official Charity of the Year for Olympia, The London International Horse Show, which runs from December. The team is already working hard on our adrenalin-fuelled display so keep an eye on our social media pages for your chance to win tickets. 3. In September Roly travelled to Brussels to present Commissioner Andriukaitis, Commissioner at DGSante, which oversees the welfare of animals throughout Europe, with the landmark Removing the Blinkers report. Read more on pages 4 and Our sincere thanks go to former Trustee and gold medalwinning Olympian Jane Holderness-Roddam CBE LVO who returned to the saddle after 13 years to raise vital funds for us and The Brooke. She and her horse Tiger s Eye II (Bill) who have a combined age of 87 took part in the BE100 Open at West Wilts raising 8, Our veterinary consultant Josep Subirana worked with Costa Rica Equine Welfare (CREW) and Costa Rica s animal health department SENASA to deliver a two day equine welfare workshop to SENASA s regional directors and vets covering the Five Freedoms, stress in equids, mechanical injuries and prevention, and nutrition. Participants also learnt how to interpret horses behaviour and evaluate health. 6. MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Stuart Donaldson, was lucky enough to meet our very own gentle giant adoption horse Digger when he visited Belwade Farm having learnt about our work at the Aboyne Highland Games

4 A Landmark For Europe s Horses World Horse Welfare presented the European Commission (EC) with a pioneering report this summer showing the scale and scope of Europe s horse industry. Removing the Blinkers: The Health and Welfare of European Equidae in 2015 chronicles how horses are currently used across Member States as well as the welfare problems they face and provides the Commission with a roadmap to improving equine welfare with the aim of creating a stronger, more resilient sector. Roly explains how the report came about: Officials from the European Commission contacted us after attending our annual conference in 2013, wanting to know more about Europe s equine sector and how equidae were impacted by legislation. Together with Eurogroup and the EC an inaugural equine experts meeting was held in early 2014 which helped set the direction of the report. Whilst horses are very versatile, legislation designed for farm animals or pets does not fully take account of the needs of the horse and thankfully there is now recognition that this needs to change. Public Affairs Officer Hannah Tabram, who worked closely with Eurogroup for Animals to author the report, said there was a genuine appetite for a comprehensive document that fully considers the myriad of roles the horse plays across Europe: "This report provides a snapshot of the equine sector there are still gaps to be filled by further research, but it starts an important debate. The main elements that emerge from this report show that high standards of health and welfare are essential for the success of the equine industry. Its outcomes will encourage us to work together to meet those standards. Andrea Gavinelli, Head of Animal Welfare Unit, DG SANTE Case study 1 Why does equine identification matter? In Spain horses are left to graze in wild areas of Galicia wearing large wooden hobbles intended to stop them from roaming freely. The design of the hobbles puts them at risk of injury, but because of a lack of identification their owners cannot be traced. On Bodmin Moor in the UK, ponies - who do not belong to Commoners with formal grazing rights - are left to fend for themselves leading to starvation and sometimes death over the freezing winter months. Again, their owners face no recrimination without a properly functioning system of ID. Recommendations: Legislation must be clear about who is responsible for the health and welfare of semi-feral equidae and systems of equine ID should be radically streamlined. ANDA 4

5 FACTS YOU DIDN T KNOW 3ABOUT EUROPE S HORSES Visit our website to read the executive summary or to download the full report: The top three welfare concerns across Europe are: horses kept in an unsuitable environment; a lack of knowledge among owners; and neglect. The EU has around 7 million horses, ponies, donkeys and mules - one for every 80 EU residents. Belgium has the largest per capita population with 535,897 who are mainly used for sport and leisure. The European Equestrian Federation estimates that every horse in Europe s sports industry creates 5 jobs. The UK s equine sector employs 270,000 people and is our second largest rural employer. This is a report every MEP should have in their office - it is a great reference guide. Julie Girling MEP, South West England and Gibraltar Case study 2 The most frequently transported animals? Horses are thought to be the most transported animals in Europe as they frequently move around for competitions, shows, breeding and training, as well as to markets and slaughter. However, it takes two years for official movement figures to be released. This delays the authorities from acting on trends that impact horse welfare, particularly that of the most vulnerable horses such as those travelling long distances to slaughter. Recommendations: The EC should make official data available to the public with far greater urgency. 5 5

6 Have you herd the one about the horses looking for love? 6 Rhian Ap gruffydd

7 Rhian Ap gruffydd All of our horses are treated like super-stars by us but thankfully they don t get star struck since a lovely little herd of four have been rehomed to award-winning comedian John Bishop and his wife Melanie. Dora, Amara, Indie and Mable have settled in perfectly with John and Melanie s menagerie of rescue pets - which includes two English Bull Terriers, Bilko and Tigger,as well as their rehomed pot-bellied pig, Milo. John says: Melanie and I share a love of animals of all shapes and sizes - there are so many animals who have been neglected or abused that rehoming is the only logical option. It makes no sense to us why anyone would breed foals, puppies or even goldfish when there are so many deserving animals who need good homes. Penny Farm Groom Hayley explained why the four were the perfect match for the Bishop family: Melanie and John initially rehomed Dora who came to us extremely underweight and Amara - a beautiful companion mare who had also suffered from terrible neglect. It s likely that Amara spent her early years fighting for the little food available and as a Rhian Ap gruffydd Left: John with Melanie riding light hack Indie. Top: John with Dora, and above: John with Amara. Cover: John with Mable. result she has a very strong personality. Melanie felt that both Dora and Amara would benefit from another couple of horses to change the dynamics. Hayley agreed that Dora - in true celebrity style - could do with a bodyguard, so beautiful piebald mare Indie (who won t be pushed around) was also rehomed to keep Amara s diva tendencies in check. Lovely Mable joined the trio as the perfect playmate for gorgeous Dora. Deputy Chief Executive Tony Tyler says: "As with all of our rehomers we are extremely grateful to the Bishops. Melanie has the perfect balance of patience and experience, which means four of our once-abused horses have a wonderful future ahead of them. It s particularly lovely when we can rehome our horses together, especially to a family who are such strong advocates for rehoming once abused animals. 7

8 Click Clop! Rehoming is one of our most important jobs, since every horse that leaves for a wonderful new home makes a space for a horse in desperate need of our expert care. Over the summer our team has been busy making our online rehoming site easier to use so hopefully we can beat last year's amazing achievement of 303 horses who found safe new homes. How the new-look site makes rehoming one of our wonderful horses even easier... You can search by use and location, as well as for those who have had the fewest applications, or those who have been waiting longest for a home. You can add as many horses to your online stable as you wish and return to them another day to decide which applications you'd like to progress. You can apply for more than one horse at a time. Once you've completed your application form your details are held on the site and can be updated at any time. Our new look site makes it so much easier to find your perfect match - like first pony Spike who is ready to rehome today! Did you know that we rescue and rehome more horses than any other horse charity in the UK something we can only sustain through your donations and gifts in wills? Thank you! You can check how your application is progressing online on your tablet, mobile phone or computer. You will receive friendly s during the application process to keep you up to date. You can spread the word about our wonderful horses thanks to our easy to use social media links. Could you rehome? Could you or someone you know rehome Fizz? Fizz arrived at Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in 2013 as part of a large welfare case. She was very underweight and had been badly neglected. Thankfully, Fizz is now ready to find a new home and is a great example of why rehoming through World Horse Welfare gives you all the information you need. Fizz is only 12hh so many people might think she would be a lovely child's pony, however, our team feel she has a bit too much confidence and is far better suited to a light-weight adult who has the experience to enjoy hacking out or taking part in Pleasure Rides on Fizz. Could her perfect rehomer be you? 8

9 Thirsty work Courtesy of The Donkey Sanctuary New guidelines dispel myths around watering horses transported by road We coordinated a coalition of industry bodies, veterinary organisations and welfare groups supported by the European Commission to develop clear, evidence-based guidance outlining best practice on watering when transporting horses by road. Following extensive research and consultation by the stakeholder group - coordinated by us with involvement from transporters and a core group of experts in the fields of veterinary medicine, nutrition, physiology and policy - the guidelines set out recommendations to avoid dehydration and its welfare implications. Campaigns Officer Hannah Westen explains: "Dehydration can result in horses developing further health problems and may also lead to abnormal and problematic behaviour. We have seen this during field research trips when assessing horses transported long-distances across Europe for slaughter, and it is not only distressing, but it's also extremely dangerous." The popular myth that providing water during transport can increase the risk of colic is just one of the misconceptions that these guidelines seek to address What do the guidelines recommend? Good quality forage plays a vital role in helping to safeguard against dehydration Horses should have access to water and forage at least every four and a half hours Prior to travelling, all horses should have unrestricted access to water and forage Upon arriving at their destination immediate unrestricted access to water and forage should again be given to ensure they remain hydrated Roly says: We know that failure to provide fresh, clean water and good quality forage during transport causes unnecessary suffering and whilst EU regulations set out minimum standards for watering horses transported by road, these guidelines take that one step further in providing clear research-based advice to those responsible for horses during transportation." Practical Guidelines on the Watering of Equine Animals Transported by Road Clear and simple to use, the free guidelines are accessible to anyone involved in the horse transportation process regardless of pre-existing equine knowledge or experience. You can download them from our website. 79

10 Polo Day Raises Vital Funds Our third annual polo day, hosted at the prestigious Guards Polo Club and attended by HRH The Princess Royal, this year raised over 28,800 - enough to rehabilitate five rescued horses or run five training modules for horse-owning communities in Haiti. Over 190 of the charity s guests, corporate supporters and Patrons were welcomed to the beautiful surroundings of Smith s Lawn in Windsor Great Park, where they had the opportunity to meet Ollie, the first success story of our pilot programme with the Retraining of Racehorses charity. During HRH The Princess Royal's heartfelt speech about our work she talked sensitively about tackling the horse crisis, and our international work as well as the importance of excellent horse welfare in sport. Live polo action from the semi-final of the Indian Empire Shield was won by Spencer McCarthy s Emlor team. Director of Fundraising, Emma Williams said: We are so grateful to the team at Guards Polo Club and the support of our dedicated volunteers who made sure the event ran smoothly - they even arranged for glorious weather! "The much needed funds raised on the day are instrumental in helping us continue our work to help improve the lives of horses both in the UK and internationally. Photography credit: Luru Wei World Horse Welfare Ollie meets supporters with his groom Emma World Horse Welfare is very grateful to our sponsors and to those who donated to the auction and raffle: Andrew and Jane Black; Ariat Europe Limited; Ascot Flowers; Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials; BOM IT; Bottle Green; Dodson & Horrell Ltd; Dubarry; Guards Polo Club; Hatch Mansfield; Hermes; Hiho Silver; Horse & Hound; HPower; La Martina; Meydan Racecourse; Michelle McCullagh, Mick Duff; Mulberry; Newmarket Racecourse; Photography by Luru Wei, Sicon; Premier Printers; The Jockey Club; The Lord Dear QPM; The Polo Magazine. 10

11 When Emma found little colt Dash he was struggling to survive. She suspects he was weaned far too early and says: "Dash was on a piece of land surrounded by high wire fencing with two other ponies but he stood out as being in far worse condition than his companions. Members of the public had tried to offer them food - whilst the two stronger ponies were happy to take it Dash simply didn't have the confidence." Emma explained that Dash wasn't feral but his behaviour suggested that he had never been shown human kindness. Rescued from A vet assessed all three horses and felt that whilst two of them were coping with their surroundings, Dash should be removed on welfare grounds. the brink In late August Field Officer Emma Swadlo discovered colt Dash thanks to a call to our welfare line. Keep an eye on our social media pages to follow Dash s progress Dash is now safely at Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre and within a week his confidence had grown. Yard Supervisor Lizzie says: "Sadly we don't know much about Dash but think that he's about 13 months old. He's got a heavy worm burden and his general condition is very poor so he's clearly had a very difficult start. He's very timid, but has a sweet and naturally inquisitive nature, so we are confident that with the right care and handling he'll be a delightful pony." Summertime Blues We are sad to report that over the summer months the number of horses coming into our centres has swelled, including a group of 21 in various states of neglect being admitted to Penny Farm. Deputy Chief Executive Tony Tyler is concerned: "We have admitted 70 horses since 1st June, compared to 34 in the same period last year. As well as the large group at Penny Farm, we have taken groups of 8 at Hall Farm and 10 at Belwade. As we head into the winter months many horses across Britain who are not well cared for will be extremely vulnerable. Food becomes scarce and there are predictions of a colder than average winter, with temperatures dipping well below freezing. Our teams are of course poised but rehoming has never been more urgent." 11 7

12 Project Overview: We have been working with HHCU since 2012 and SENEGAL Partner Names: The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Productions and L Ecole Inter-estats des Sciences et Medecine Veterinaries (EISMV) which is a veterinary university in Dakar Team members: Professor Yaghouba Kane - Project Coordinator Dr Bassirou Fall - Director of Equid Development Department Abdoulaye Thaim - Community Coordinator Farriers - Adama Thiam and Ousmane Thiam Everyone is ably supported by Bamba Tall Project Overview: We have been in Senegal, home to 500,000 working horses, since The local shoeing technique is to use reinforced steel and trim the foot to fit the shoe. Harnesses are generally very poor. Professor Kane s interesting fact: Senegal is proud of its traditional use of horses and breeding is commonplace making people very attached to these animals. That's why the horse numbers are still growing and there is a political will to develop the horse industry because of the socio-cultural and economic importance of equids in this country. Currently, World Horse Welfare s project oversees 318 owners with 404 horses used for various activities including urban transport (people, goods, construction materials, garbage, etc.) and agricultural work in rural areas. Project activities cover training, awareness and support for the regulations put in place to protect horse welfare. Challenges: Horse owners, many of whom are dependent on their horses for their entire incomes, are desperately poor with no education. JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Partner Name: Highveld Horse Care Unit (HHCU) Team members: Ishmail Maki, Betty Molapo, Kabelo Nkoane, Solly Motingoe, Samson Phupa and Matthew Mahlalela help to employ six motivated, compassionate and ethical local people to work in townships and rural areas helping the thousands of working horses. Our team educates equine owners in the basic care of their working animals, and teaches the basics in farriery and harness making. Ishmail s interesting fact: We are currently trying to form a Horse Owners Associations in each area in which we operate to build sustainability into our work. Challenges: There are many social, welfare and political problems throughout South Africa and our team have had to work hard to gain the trust of the local community. It is only through our working in these areas that we understand the poverty and hardship faced by the communities in their daily lives. However, Betty says: The highest point of our project has been the eagerness of the community to learn and improve their lives through improving the conditions of the working equines. 12

13 COSTA RICA Partner Name: Costa Rica Equine Welfare (C.R.E.W.) Team members: Debbie Warboys (Regional Coordinator) Tiffany Morse (Project Coordinator), Dr German Cifuentes (Veterinary Coordinator) Gerry Rapp (Farrier Trainer),Chris Martinez (Farrier assistant), Santos De Gracia (Farrier assistant), Griselda De Gracia (School Coordinator). Project Overview: We have been working in the Guaymi / Ngabe Indigenous Reserve since 2013 and the main aim of the project is to see a significant improvement in the health and welfare of the working horses in the Guaymi / Ngabe Indigenous Reserve by developing strong links with owners and working directly with the indigenous communities to provide husbandry and equine care workshops to the horse owners, as well carry out much-needed research and information gathering in the area. The project also delivers theoretical and hands-on training to Costa Rican governmental departments. Debbie s interesting fact: Most of the reserve is impassable to vehicles so horses are used for all forms and transportation mostly as pack animals, since carts are impractical on the rough terrain. Challenges: The challenges faced by the horses in the indigenous areas are similar to those faced by other working horses owners across Central America, such as poor nutrition, saddle injuries and lack of hoof care. We have seen the poverty and lack of essential services that affects the people of these communities as well as the animals and we are already working alongside a Costa Rican University to assess the environmental and nutritional issues and will look to work with humanitarian organisations to help improve the situation for the community as a whole. CAMBODIA Partner Name: Cambodia Pony Welfare Organization (CPWO) Team members: Rinda Nop, CPWO s Project Manager Yuky Chav (Veterinarian), Phara Leng (Veterinarian), Thai Chuon (Administration Officer), Sengly Sen (supporter) Project Overview: Since 2012 the project has worked in rural communities throughout Cambodia to improve the lives of working ponies through community development, education and training. Rinda s interesting fact: With the support of World Horse Welfare, we aim to reach 1,200 ponies this year alone. The best part about working with World Horse Welfare is seeing the improvement to welfare, knowledge and livelihoods. To meet the rest of our partner organisations visit the international pages of our website. Challenges: The biggest problem working ponies face is being overloaded when they are already undernourished. To meet the rest of our partner organisations visit the international pages of our website. 13 7

14 Many of you will have spoken to our Fundraising Officer Lisa Gedge, who has been with the charity for over 15 years. Here Lisa, who is World Horse Welfare Sinbad s rehomer, shares how we raise money to help sick, injured, neglected and suffering horses all over the world. Lisa Gedge How would you describe the culture amongst World Horse Welfare s fundraising team? It s a very close-knit team who are all devoted to horse welfare and have a real empathy with people who choose to support vulnerable horses. Our supporters are the lifeblood of the charity and without them we simply couldn t help the sheer number of horses that we do. How is World Horse Welfare funded? We don t receive any government or National Lottery funding. Many donations come from individuals who are passionate about horse welfare. About half of our donations come from gifts kindly left in supporter s Wills and the remainder come from fundraising events, trusts and businesses. Wilma on arrival Wilma today Above: Wilma was found in a pitiful state, but after rehabilitation at Hall Farm has become a wonderful Pleasure Competition horse and even made an appearance at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in 2014 in a World Horse Welfare display. How do we raise funds from people who care about horses? Many people choose to approach us when they are moved by the plight of a particular horse they have met at one of our centres or some people respond to reports in our newsletter, social media posts or YouTube films. Some supporters will receive appeals highlighting a particular issue that we need to raise funds for urgently. From time-to-time existing supporters may receive a telephone call to talk about our work, but we do not make calls to people unless they are active supporters and are happy to hear from us in this way. We advertise in newspapers or occasionally on television to try to reach people who may not have heard of the important work we do for horses. We also hold raffles, and organise events such as Pleasure Rides and encourage people of all ages that we talk to and meet to fundraise for us, doing anything from a cake sale to a fun run. For every pound we spend on fundraising we raise an additional 3.50 to help even more vulnerable horses here in the UK and around the world. 14 Are there any welfare cases that particularly stand out in your memory? I will never forget the Amersham case - the very sick horses that arrived that day stays with us all and Field Officer Nick White s film on our YouTube channel captures how shocking the case was. It was January so it was freezing cold and the nights drew in very early. Because of the risk of disease spreading, the staff from head office couldn't help to care for the horses so instead we took care of the grooms by bringing tea, coffee and hot chocolate and offering them a shoulder when the raw emotion of what they were coping with simply became too much. Speaking to our kind and compassionate supporters who were making the effort to call and donate what they could for horses they had never even met, when the remorseless owners couldn t have cared whether these defenceless, neglected and broken horses lived or died, was just amazing. All I could do was to reassure those kind-hearted people who called that the horses were now safe. Watch Lisa s film at Over one hundred horses were removed on welfare grounds as part of the Amersham case.

15 We have created this easy-to-follow graphic to help show you how and why we fundraise to help the world's most vulnerable horses. What if someone would prefer to change the way they help the charity? We try hard to tailor our fundraising activity, so please do call me on as I m always keen to help anyone who has a question or concern. It s lovely to talk to our supporters and find out why they choose to support us and we listen carefully to their call and try to ensure that people are only giving what they can afford. If someone is unable to support us financially anymore, we always thank them for their support and let them know about the other ways they can help horses, such as volunteering or campaigning, so please just get in touch so we can help you find ways to help horses that are right for you. How is the information supporters share with the charity managed? We value our supporters and would never sell their data to anyone, including another charity. We also will never give your data to other organisations mailing lists. The only correspondence you will ever receive will be from or on behalf of World Horse Welfare. Any new data that comes into World Horse Welfare, such as from one of our events, is checked against our current database so that people hopefully don t receive information more than once; or if they have asked us not to be contacted then this is always respected. We also proactively pass on the details of the Mail Preference Service ( ) and the Telephone Preference Service ( ) to make sure that people are well informed about how to remove their mailing address and telephone number from databases that other businesses and charities might share. Just four months after they were found and what a difference contented, healthy and safe horses from the Amersham case grazed together at Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre. Our supporters give around 8 million to World Horse Welfare each year. How do we use these vital donations, how does this help horses, how do we go about our fundraising and how can you help? 27p in every 1 is spent on raising funds. For every 1 spent, we raise a further 3.50 to help vunerable horses. More than 300 horses are undergoing rehabilitation at our four UK Rescue and Rehoming centres. 2p per 1 is spent on governance. 27p 2p 71p 165,000(2001) to 54,000(2012) 71p in every 1 donated directly helps horses. 2,000 Almost cases are investigated by our 16 Field Officers each year. 80% Over of these cases are resolved through education and advice, but We are committed to ending the long-distance transportation of horses to slaughter in Europe. Donations fund our campaign, which to date has helped reduce the numbers of horses suffering this ordeal from We never cold call. We offer free expert equine advice over the phone, online and via information packs. There are lots of ways to join our family of 50,000+ World Horse Welfare supporters... DONATING CAMPAIGNING SPREADING THE WORD GIFTS IN WILLS MEMBERSHIP CORPORATE SUPPORT VOLUNTEERING SOCIAL SHARING ADOPTING A HORSE TRIBUTE FUNDS 300 more than abused, neglected and abandoned horses have to be rescued into our care. We do not knock on doors or approach people on the street to sign up for a monthly donation. REHOMING RAFFLE EVENTS It costs on average 5,000 to rehabilitate a horse. Our rehoming scheme finds safe new homes for more than horses each year. 300 Around 15,000 working horses are directly helped by our 12 international projects which host nearly 9,500 community sessions educating close to 23,500 horse owners. We have positively impacted 50 pieces of legislation affecting horses. Every donation is valuable. By adding Gift Aid we are able to help even more horses at no extra cost to you. Privacy is paramount. We NEVER sell the data of our supporters. We enjoy speaking to our supporters and value your feedback so we can provide information and fundraising opportunities to you in the way that suits you best. Registered charity / SC

16 A Wonderful Legacy Very sadly in December 2013, long-time supporter of the charity, Olga Drysdale, passed away at the grand age of 83. Olga and her husband Eric were devoted animal lovers and over the years had collected a menagerie of beloved rescue pets, including a little black Shetland pony they called Dusty. Sadly, following Eric's death in 2006, Olga faced the difficult prospect of leaving their much-loved home. Thankfully her local Field Officer David Boyd was there to help Olga find a safe new home for Dusty, where he could live out the rest of his life with all the care that he needed. Olga and Eric were passionate about the subject of fly-grazing, having seen so many horses around their home- town of Grimsby left to fend for themselves on unsuitable and unsafe land and so we were touched to receive a letter from their close friends Mr and Mrs Marshall saying how delighted they were with our progress on the Control of Horses Act earlier this year and how they were sure that both Olga and Eric would have been similarly pleased with this landmark achievement. During Olga's lifetime she wasn't always able to give regular donations but chose, at the end of her life, to remember the horses that World Horse Welfare helps by leaving a gift in her Will. Her generous legacy will change the fortunes of horses here in the UK and overseas, giving them a brighter future - just like she and Eric were able to give to Dusty. If you would like to find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to remember the horses that World Horse Welfare is here to help then please contact Dawn Witney on or by dawnwitney@worldhorsewelfare.org How would you like to be remembered? Creating a tribute fund is a wonderful way to remember a loved one, a beloved horse or a much missed pet. Bringing together some shared memories for others to enjoy is a very positive way to celebrate a life. 16

17 Investing in the Future of Horse Welfare Our Undergraduate Bursary Scheme has given dozens of veterinary students the opportunity to work on the front line of horse welfare. Here we meet four of our deserving 2015 scholars. Final year veterinary student Edwina worked at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México alongside our in-country team. Edwina told us: The level of poverty affecting local communities was so severe and few horses had ever had their mouths looked at. Consequently some were in a horrendous state with ulcers and calluses, which explained their initial reluctance to be touched - an obvious response to the pain. Edwina's data will inform our work with local communities to improve welfare. Name: Edwina Lawson Undergraduate of: University of Nottingham Country visited: Mexico Studying: Dental pain and discomfort of working horses Name: Kirsten Anderson Undergraduate of: University of Glasgow Country visited: Honduras Studying: Awareness of working horse owners in regards to infectious equine diseases Fourth-year veterinary student Kirsten spent 4 weeks with our team in Honduras. Kirsten says: It is really promising that many horses have received vaccinations for rabies, tetanus and encephalitis from World Horse Welfare working with SENASA (Honduran Animal Health). Most owners are very keen to take action to prevent disease but lack of money and knowledge make that challenging. However, World Horse Welfare was regularly named as the main source of information for horse-owning communities so it is clear that the charity's programme has the influence to educate." Veterinary student Charis worked in Cambodia with our partner organisation Cambodia Pony Welfare Organisation (CPWO) gathering faecal egg count samples during their community visits. Charis says: I was impressed by the number of ponies being presented for check-ups and treatments and by the commitment to improving welfare in the area. Each day we travelled to local provinces to carry out routine health checks. We also carried out faecal worm egg counts, which also gave us the opportunity to educate owners about prevention, signs and treatment of colic and diarrhoea." The results of Charis study will be examined by us and CPWO in order to inform future parasite treatment programmes. Name: Charis Holmes Undergraduate of: Royal Veterinary College Country visited: Cambodia Studying: Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in working equids Name: Stephanie Fitzgerald Undergraduate of: University College Dublin Country visited: Ireland Studying: The relationship between monetary value and welfare status of equines in Ireland The aim of Stephanie's project was to assess the welfare status of a number of horses with varied occupations and to examine whether monetary value or a strong emotional connection are indicators of good welfare. Stephanie told us: Understanding what is relevant to horse welfare will allow us to develop targeted education methods of promoting good welfare based on the aspect most likely to apply to different groups of horses. It would also assist veterinary practitioners to assess the motivation for people requesting certain clinical procedures. To apply for a 2016 bursary visit

18 Our Open Day raised 8,000 Belwade Farm Penny Farm Blackpool, Lancashire. Open every Wednesday, weekend and Bank Holiday from 11am to 4pm. Thank you to everyone who came along to our fantastic Open Day. It was a huge success thanks to our wonderful volunteers, sponsors and supporters. The sun shone, the horses performed brilliantly and we raised an incredible 8,000 to help even more horses. Sherron Kitchen on Facebook summed it up: " Brilliant day - well worth the 155 mile round trip from north Wales. The stars were all your fantastic horses and ponies". Thanks Sherron! If you know a pony-mad child with a birthday on the horizon then think Penny Farm. We can do parties for children, teenagers or even older horse enthusiasts and we'll work with you to make it unique and special. We also have a delicious afternoon tea menu and all the proceeds of your visit come directly to the charity. Dates for your diary: our Hallowe'en Spooktacular takes place on Wednesday 29th October, which will include lots of goulish fun for the whole family. On Sunday 6th December we're holding a Festive Fun Day, which will be a much-needed excuse to avoid the Christmas shopping chaos! World Horse Welfare Bren Find our farm on Facebook! Give someone an unforgettable birthday at Penny Farm Glenda Spooner Farm Somerton, Somerset. Open all year on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm until 4pm. Do come along to our second hand rug and tack sale and Hallowe en fun afternoon from 2pm until 4pm on Sat 31st October where you are sure to pick up a bargain, whilst helping horses in need. It will be a great opportunity to meet some of our horses and ponies ready for rehoming including gorgeous Bren. Lynbrie Brenhins (Bren) came into Glenda Spooner Farm with several other ponies last spring incredibly underweight, riddled with lice and virtually unhandled. With the right care and lots of love she has been transformed into a wonderful companion, who in the right hands could go on to do horse agility. Visit the rehoming section of our website to meet Bren and many other horses waiting to find their perfect home. An Evening with Alec Lochore. Penny Farm Glenda Spooner Farm Hall Farm Find our farm on Facebook! Barney at Glenda Spooner Farm. Bren on arrival at Glenda Spooner Farm 18

19 Belwade Farm Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. Open all year Wednesday to Sunday, from 11am to 4pm. It's our 25th anniversary year and we would love to hear your memories of Belwade over the last quarter-century. Please get in touch via our Facebook page or your anecdotes to On Friday 30th October we are hosting equine therapist Pauline Kidd to talk about the Biomechanics of Riding and how it affects the ridden horse. It promises to be an interesting evening for riders of all levels. On Friday 20th November we have a very special event for you as we are delighted to be hosting An Evening with Alec Lochore. As well as hearing stories from his wonderful career, including as Event Director for Blair Athol Horse Trials and the London Olympics, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about his role as Technical Delegate for Rio Tickets cost 50 and include a three course dinner with Alec. Hall Farm Snetterton, Norfolk. Open all year on weekends and Bank Holidays, from 11am to 4pm. Find our farm on Facebook! Thanks to everyone who joined us for Hall Farm's Horse and Country Fayre in July. The event raised over 7,000 for vulnerable horses and we couldn't have done it without our wonderful volunteers who remained cheerful despite the pouring rain! One of the Fayre's superstars - driven pony Sapphire - is now working hard with Centre Manager Sue Hodgkins to prepare for their adrenaline-fuelled display in the main arena at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, where we will be Charity of the Year (16th-22nd December). So do come along and support lovely Sapphire, Sue and the rest of the team! If you're looking for a fun day out for your children or grandchildren during the half term holiday then our spooky Hallowe'en Wacky Wednesday on 28th October is a must. There will be tractor trailer rides, pony grooming as well as craft activities. Our Festive Fun Dog Show on 6th December has fun classes for all the family with rosettes to 6th place. It's only 2 per entry and all are welcome, whatever their level of experience. Finally, don't forget that we have dressage competitions every first Saturday of the month and clear round jumping with an instructor every second Saturday of the month. We promise a friendly, informal atmosphere that will help both horse and rider build up their confidence and experience. Find our farm on Facebook! Are you, or someone you know, looking for a second pony? 13hh Welsh Section B Pinkie could be the pony for you. Following her fantastic performance at July's Horse and Country Fayre, preparations are already underway for Sapphire's debut at Olympia. Our Festive Fun Dog Show on 6th December is open to everyone, whatever their level of experience. To see upcoming events and to find out more about visiting your nearest Rescue and Rehoming Centre please visit

20 Life-changing donations for horses like Harry Potter Thanks to individual donations from you and other generous supporters we are able to help many thousands of vulnerable horses in the UK and overseas each year. We also work with businesses such as animal pharmaceutical company Merial Animal Health, who have developed a scheme that enables them to help horses in need. Our Director of Fundraising Emma Williams explains how it works: "Merial Animal Health runs Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for veterinary professionals. Each attendee is given the opportunity to make a donation of 50 to World Horse Welfare. To date this has raised over 4,650 towards our important work." Merial Animal Health's Equine Marketing and Technical Manager Louise Radford is keen to continue supporting our work: "We are now embarking on our second year supporting World Horse Welfare as we share the charity's realistic yet compassionate values and believe that the money we donate is spent wisely, benefiting the most vulnerable horses. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the charity." World Horse Welfare would like to thank everyone who makes a donation, including Merial Animal Health and their veterinary delegates. Generous donations help horses like Harry Potter who, after rehabilitation at our Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming centre, has a bright future as a competition horse. A glorious Generous donations help horses like Harry Potter, who after rehabilitation at our Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre has a bright future as a competition horse.. day in May To find out about future Pleasure Rides or to organise your own visit our website or francesplume@worldhorsewelfare.org. The Northern Group of our Scottish volunteers hosted a unique and memorable event in May - our hugely successful ride around Her Majesty The Queen's private Balmoral Estate. Particular thanks must go to Mervyn Drever, Virginia and Richard Fyffe, Adele Middler and Judith Tocher, who, along with the 70 riders, were instrumental in making the day such a success. Our sincere thanks must also go to sponsors Ardene House, Premier Arenas and Logwise Scotland Ltd. The ride raised over 5,500 for vulnerable horses and is one that we would be delighted to hold again in the future. Supporter Caroline Gilchrist attended the event and wrote to say: "I travelled a round trip of 300 miles for this event and, to misquote The Proclaimers, I would travel 300 more just to be the one to do it again! The success of this ride was due entirely to the organisers and their posse of volunteers. Congratulations on a truly memorable ride." 20

21 "Thoroughbreds aren't vulnerable to laminitis!" In fact any horse or pony can suffer from laminitis, which is why we've joined forces with the Animal Health Trust to try and tackle this widespread welfare problem. The CARE study could have profound implications for future horse health and welfare by finding out what puts a horse at risk of laminitis. Our Chairman and former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Barry Johnson says that there are still many misconceptions surrounding laminitis: "Many horse owners still think that laminitis is the preserve of over-fed ponies but this simply isn't the case. Every horse - irrespective of its size, breed, diet or health history - is vulnerable to contracting laminitis so it's essential that we find out precisely what the contributing risk factors are." Thoroughbred cross World Horse Welfare Kit has joined Magpie, Storm and over 20 other horses across our four centres who are already registered, as Roly explains: "None of the horses that we have enrolled in the CARE study are currently suffering from laminitis and thankfully, some never have and never will. However, the study needs data from horses of all breeds, ages and uses, irrespective of their current health status. This research promises to be an important legacy for future generations of horses so I would urge our rehomers and indeed all horse owners to take part." It takes around 40 minutes to register and then just a few minutes to provide quarterly updates. Sign up today at: Download your copy of our fact-filled leaflet from our website or call us to order a copy More than 20 horses at our Centres, including adoption horse Magpie, are signed up RoR Pilot Success The first horse to successfully come through our Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) pilot project, Ollie, has found his ideal new home. Ollie was the first of six horses to arrive at Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre earlier this year as part of a partnership with British Horseracing s official charity. Tony Tyler says: We are delighted to have been able to use our expertise at retraining horses with great potential and to have found Ollie a home where he can build on his dressage success." Freddie (pictured above) is also part of the RoR pilot and is now on the rehoming section of our website as a Pleasure Competition horse. 21 7

22 Supporters in ACTION Carolina Gomez-Alcala (pictured third from the left) raised a terrific 80 for us at her 6th birthday pony party. 2 Lorraine Moon (pictured far right) donated 754 to us following her Hillbilly Hoedown - yeeha! 3 Debbie Marshall raised taking part in the Great North Swim after she was inspired by the sad story of Rhoswyn, which appeared in the last issue of World Horse Welfare News. It was the thought of that poor little mare that kept her going when she found this incredibly challenging swim tough. 4 Rehoming Officer Jessie Hancy and Hall Farm Groom Donna Wilkins show off their much-deserved medals after the London 10K, which they ran to raise money for us year old Daphne Wright presented World Horse Welfare India and Visitor Centre Officer Maxine Langley with she and her friend raised doing a sponsored walk. 6 Talented artist Susie Griffin (pictured here with Campaigns Officer Hannah Tabram) held an equestrian art exhibition at Bury St Edmunds Cathedral raising Bev Buckley raised 110 by holding a Fabrica-brac stall in her local community centre. 8 Janet Breed raised for us at her WWI Centenary Ride. She said: It was a great success despite the weather conditions, which were more like November than July! Some paths turned into rivers and some horses and riders were wearing winter clothes!. Well done and thanks to everyone, including Stacey and Vicky pictured, who took part. 9 Nadine Geary raised by doing a 200mph standing mile on her bike. She said: My old pony who I ve had since he was 5 months old is now 31 and was quite 'amused' by the visiting 200 horsepower bike! 10 Lily Higgins raised 30 in the Manchester Junior Run and created this fantastic banner to promote our work. Thanks Lily! 11 Loyal supporter Sue Cross rasied 500 by taking part in The Great North Run and at the time of going to press was preparing for the South London Tough Mudder. Amazing! Our thanks also go to June and Gerry Fairbrass from Southport who generously requested donations, shared between us and Anthony Nolan, in lieu of gifts at their golden wedding anniversary party. They raised 240 and Mrs Fairbrass was adamant that they are so lucky not to need anything that it was lovely to be able to give something back and do some good. Our supporters not only provide the kind donations that allow us to continue our work, they also inspire us! Here are some photos you have kindly shared with us. 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 francesplume@worldhorsewelfare.org and your horse updates to rehoming@worldhorsewelfare.org Please remember to send your photo in as large a format as possible, as many files are simply too small to feature here - thank you! 22

23 The Long Trot is Grant Nicolle's diary charting his epic fundraising journey with faithful steed Marv. In 2007 the pair - armed with Grant's King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery training - embarked on a trip exploring the byways, tracks and country lanes through rural Scotland and England from John O'Groats to Land's End, raising just over 5,000 for World Horse Welfare. Supporter Fundraising Officer Fran Plume says: "We are all in awe of this remarkable achivement. However, if you're not quite up to something on the scale of Grant and Marv's once-in-a-lifetime adventure to help vulnerable horses then why not try a coffee morning or a garage sale." Grant's penultimate entry reads: "I [was] very happy we had delivered the boy safely home after a monster trip. We could now rest easy and relax, Marv was back." Long Trot is available to buy from priced The 2016 Hunks and Horses calendar, which last year raised over 13,000 for World Horse Welfare and Testicular Cancer Research UK, is available to buy now at Sunday 6th September saw glorious weather as a team of rehomed horses and ponies took part in a unique sponsored ride along the famous four-star Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials cross country course. Hall Farm Grooms Emily Purnell, Amy Gedge, Pip Fromm and Lorraine Holmes represented the charity brilliantly on World Horse Welfare rehomed horses (pictured left to right) Flossie, Sinbad, Ruby and McCloud. Amy says We all had a really memorable day but more importantly the event offered the chance to really show off the quality and variety of horses that are available to rehome through the charity. If you're looking for a way to help World Horse Welfare over the Christmas period then look no further than Vet Vouchers. Vet Vouchers are a practical, but heartfelt, gift that will be valued by anyone who has a much-loved pet and 10% of the company's net profits comes directly to us to help vulnerable horses. Whether routine healthcare, an unexpected accident or a long term condition, vet bills need to be paid and even when our pets are insured there is often an excess to cover. By giving Vet Vouchers you can contribute to a loved one's vet bill, which could help to take the worry out of pet ownership. Director of Vet Vouchers Tammie O Leary says: "Vet Vouchers believes that World Horse Welfare provides an outstanding and important service to horses and is proud to support them." Buy your gifts online at

24 Where will you ride in 2016? Sierra Nevada August 2016 Iceland September 2016 In the Sierra Nevada mountain range, you will ride through one of the most beautiful regions of Spain in an area far from the well-trodden tourist routes. You will ride beautiful Andalucian horses through olive groves and mountain villages unchanged for centuries, experiencing the tranquility of the awe-inspiring mountains. Based in northern Iceland our ride takes you into the highlands to round-up livestock as they return to the safety of the farms before the harsh winter sets in. You will participate in this most Icelandic of traditions, riding at the tölt, off-track, on experienced native ponies over extreme landscapes. A huge herd of animals streaming down the mountainside like a raging river is a sight and sound that will remain with you forever! There is a festival atmosphere at the end of the round-up giving you the very best of Icelandic hospitality. Both rides are suitable only for riders of an intermediate or above standard and you must be fit and able to walk and lead your horse over some of the more challenging terrain. Both itineraries are unique to World Horse Welfare. Challenge yourself or give someone you love a once-in-alifetime Christmas gift... If you are interested in taking part in one of our Challenge Rides or Pleasure Rides please contact Fran Plume on or francesplume@worldhorsewelfare.org