Rescued equines settle into new home as experts call for awareness over neglect and abandonment
15 March 2013
Four ponies and a horse have settled into a new life at NTU's Brackenhurst campus after staff responded to an urgent plea to rehome unwanted equines.
The new arrivals, named Rooney, Drummer Boy, Romeo, Puzzle and Paddy have prompted experts at the University to try to raise awareness of the abandonment and neglect of equines, which they say is worsening and happening on a 'frightening' scale.
The animals, which have come from rescue charity HorseWorld, are the latest in a line of horses, ponies and donkeys rescued by the University's School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences. The University is a member of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) and equine welfare is a key topic within all of its equine-related courses.
Dr Carol Hall, the research co-ordinator in the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: "The time to act is now as there are untold numbers of forgotten, neglected and abandoned equines out there. The UK considers itself to be a country of animal lovers, but cases of neglect and abandonment of equines still occurs on a frightening scale. There is a general lack of awareness of the size of this problem and it is only likely to get worse given the current economic crisis.
"Since arriving at Brackenhurst the rescued equines have become part of our community. They are being cared for by staff and students and we hope that working with such a range of different and rewarding animals will lead to the development of more horse-friendly techniques."