Equine retirement plan
How secure is your pony's future
Have you considered what will happen to your horse or pony when he needs to retire?
Every year the RSPCA and other equine rescue and rehabilitation charities receive hundreds of enquiries from members of the public asking for help in finding homes for unwanted equines of all ages.
The problem is made worse as many equine owners do not consider taking on a horse, pony or donkey to be a lifetime commitment. Once the animals can no longer do the job they were acquired for, sadly many become unwanted. This affects young and old, big and small, glossy racehorse and workaday cob alike.
Many equine owners wrongly assume that when they no longer want an equine due to its age and/or health, or for other personal reasons, there will be lots of places the animal can go to enjoy a happy, secure retirement.
The reality of the situation is that there are very few equine sanctuaries in England and Wales. And charities such as the RSPCA, along with other National Equine Welfare Council members, which take in equines for rehabilitation and rehoming, are unable to cope with the volume of requests for help that they receive.
It's all about responsible horse ownership
RSPCA equine rehoming officer, Sally Learoyd, said: "While there are many responsible caring equine owners who plan for their animals' future, other people see horses simply as commodities that have no value and hold no interest once the animal cannot do the job it was bought to do.
"Responsible ownership is about ensuring an animal does not face an uncertain future. This is why it is vital that people have a retirement plan for every equine they take on.
"Part of that plan should be a pension element - considering the costs of caring for an animal for the remainder of its life. If you are in any doubt as to whether you can afford to do so, you should not take a horse or pony on in the first place.
"A seasoned horse owner knows that the care an animal needs in winter varies from its requirements in spring and summer. In the same way, equines need special attention in the winter of their lives, as they get older or have special needs due to injury or illness.”
Seasoned owners also recognise how engaging and fulfilling companion equines can be and that just because a horse, pony or donkey cannot be ridden or worked, it can still have a worthwhile and enjoyable life."
Will you be able to say Goodbye?
Meeting the welfare needs of elderly equines often involves specialist care to ensure that they remain comfortable through progressive diseases and ailments that can affect them in their later years.
At some stage it may be necessary to make the difficult decision to say goodbye. It is worthwhile preparing for this in advance so that you know who you can turn to for advice and assistance. Having a plan for this, helps to make what can be a very difficult time, slightly easier. Further information and advice on this topic is offered by the British Horse Society’s Friends at the End scheme.