Rescue and Welfare go hand in hand. There are many more horses than homes and little room at sanctuaries and shelters. So, at CFH, we take a different approach to Welfare.  When our organisation attends upon calls received to our welfare line, we do not pre-judge. We are open to listening to the owners, advising them on where they went wrong (if there is a problem) and on how they can put it right. It is what we do if any horse has faced the consequences of its owner’s lack of knowledge, ability or finance.  It is very few and far between that we encounter anyone who sets out to harm an animal. If however, owners do not want listen or learn about how they can remedy a problem and improve the welfare of their horses, then CFH has zero tolerance and engages with the statutory authorities to ensure that the law is upheld and that the horses do not suffer. 

Stable Environment
Or Is It? 

 

Last month we gave an example of the ongoing work CFH does.  A good outcome produced by listening, guiding and advising. In this month's example, the initial contact also began with our "boots on the ground" approach and getting to know owners and working with them to make real strides in horse welfare.

This case starts with a call from the concerned owner of a lovely 15hh, well-bred section D cob - it ends with 40 horses seeing a real improvement in their lives.

Lisa Lanfear, our Equine Welfare Officer picks up the story:

"The cob's owner contacted me, concerned about severe weight loss that he just could not understand. He asked, if I had time, that may be I could pop by and take a look and perhaps offer advice. 

On arrival at the yard, I was absolutely horrified at the conditions.  The stables appeared to be converted sheds, with tin sheet roofs and water running down the walls. Bales of hay blocked the walkway and there was no running water. There was no natural light or ventilation for the horses at the back of this dark, damp and dingy shed.  I had rarely seen such awful conditions. But the horse owners were readily paying livery for this, glad to have a stable to keep their horses in. They all came together to muck out and support each other. It was a little community. I was an outsider, but there at one owners’ request. So with my best foot forward I smiled, made a fuss of the horses, and greeted the owners. These horses were so sad in these miserable surroundings and I was also unsure of what they were being fed and how often. 

The cob was a really nice horse who appeared to be fed an ample diet and had ad lib hay.  However, he was loosing weight and had a body condition score of just under 2. He was slightly tucked up and showing signs of stress.  We had to find out what was wrong with him. He was box walking, kicking over his water and generally not happy. His owner was happy for me to make suggestions, as he too wanted answers.  I asked for worming information, which was readily provided. I suggested that a further sample was taken and sent away for a faecal worm egg count, just to make sure that the horse had no resistance to worming products. The results came back and showed he had no resistance problems.   

Further visits followed.  Water bucket secured and filled regularly, he was drinking a great deal of water. I persuaded the owner to pay for blood tests, specifically to check his liver and kidney function. Results came back as normal. This was now getting costly. The horse was still losing weight.

I encouraged the owner to provide more enrichment in the stable; to hang up a swede, put an apple in the water, for water bobbing. I also got him to have a discussion with an equine nutritionist, to assess feed levels. This process took several weeks of calling in to check on progress - but the horse was getting no better.  I then addressed the subject of exercise. It turned out that the horse was only being ridden once a week, if the owner had time. He had no turnout and had been left in his stable 7 days a week.

I encouraged the owner to find another yard, but this was not an option for him. Therefore, I insisted that the horse was to be walked out at least once a day (come rain or shine) and that the stable divider was removed so that so that he could have contact with another horse.  

At each step the aim was to support, encourage and direct the owner so as to improve the welfare of what was, in fact, a much loved horse. 

Since my intervention, at the owners request, the horse has slowly gained weight and is now more content and a lot healthier.  For this owner the journey cost money, but understanding the many aspects of what affects a horse's health has been a big learning curve for him.  He has learned that a horse is a herd animal that is designed by nature to walk distance, forage and live with friends.  Putting a horse in a box is not a life, it is imprisonment. 

For this yard, my visits saw the start of huge improvements across the board for all the horses kept there.  Some owners even painted the stables white to bring in the light.  I was blown away by the creativity used to provide ingenious stable enrichment for the horses.  Most importantly, a routine developed to walk all the horses out regularly in social groups.  

My visits not only affected one horse and his owner, but another 39 horses.  I am so pleased that the owners have been willing to take on learning and make long lasting changes for the benefit of their horses.  This is why I do what I do. It really does make a difference."
 

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A little slice of kindness.

At CFH we work hard to maintain established relationships in the communities. When we are needed, we are only a phone call away.  Lisa received a call from a longstanding contact of the charity, distraught and under immense financial pressure (hard hit by the impact of Covid).  She was finding it immensely challenging to maintain her horses, who had been for many years her passion and her lifeline.  At CFH, only in exceptionally dire welfare situations do we take in horses to our care.  We simply do not have the funds to enable us to address the rehabilitation costs. If we have no option, such as with Daisy, we have to come to you to help and support us.  
 
After consideration, discussion and much heartache, this owner requested that CFH find a new home for her beloved horse, Lucky - 6 yrs old and a gentle, kind ride.  Though worth money she desperately needed, she could not bear the thought of Lucky going for sale in an unscrupulous market, where his future would be uncertain.  She wanted for him a forever loving home, where he would be cared for, never be mistreated, go hungry or be afraid. 

We think we have achieved just that for her, as a few months on and Lucky is settled in his new home and making new friends.  We wish him and his lovely new guardian a wonderful life together.  

As an aside to this story, the blood tests that were done as part of the rehoming process showed the presence of strangles antibodies.  This meant that Lucky had recently been in contact with the disease or might, potentially, be a carrier. Further tests showed that Lucky was lucky and was not a strangles carrier.  A reminder to all to test any new horse - as strangles is a nasty and very prevalent disease in the area.  

Lucky in his forever loving home.

We have been gifted some wonderful handmade artisan reversible Christmas Place Mats.  They measure 20 cm diameter. 

£8.00 EACH OR A SET OF 6 FOR JUST £40.00 

Please contact us should you wish to purchase some. 

Thank You.