Welfare charity offers lifeline for horse and pony owners who may struggle with winter expenses

With the Covid-19 pandemic already causing difficulties for owners and putting a huge strain on welfare charities, Blue Cross, which works across the country, is offering its Home Direct service where horses move directly to a new home from their current stables.

“We understand the struggles that many horse owners may be going through as the pandemic continues and we want to encourage them to approach us whilst their horses are still healthy rather than risk them being passed from pillar to post, potentially ending up in a welfare compromised situation,” said Vicki Alford, horse rehoming centre manager at Blue Cross in Burford in Oxfordshire.

“Home Direct is a practical and efficient rehoming scheme to help us support even more horses during this unprecedented, difficult time,” she added.

Welfare charities have already predicted that this winter may be “catastrophic” for horse owners as job losses continue and finances are squeezed. And with a number of equine charities already reporting they are full and unable to take in any more unwanted horses and ponies, Home Direct aims to help take the pressure off struggling centres so they can focus on welfare emergencies.

Ms Alford said the charity was not there to judge but to “listen and help”.

“With Home Direct we can help people as much as we are helping horses,” she said.

Every horse is assessed thoroughly by a member of the Blue Cross horse unit team as part of Home Direct and then advertised on the charity’s website.

Once a potential new owner has been found Blue Cross will arrange and oversee initial visits. If it is a good match, the horse will then be rehomed directly from the old home to the new one.

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