21 horses arrive needing veterinary help
As many of our supporters and animal lovers alike will be aware, yesterday Redwings was involved in a large rescue of horses from Buckingham.
Having been inundated with messages of support from members of the public, we would like to offer an update on our situation. This was an RSPCA-led case involving local Police and other charities including the ILPH, the Horse Trust and the Blue Cross. All organisations concerned worked yesterday as a team, and Redwings was pleased to involve 30 of its staff and 8 horseboxes.
We are experienced in sending veterinary and horse handling staff, and vehicles, to operations involving rescues but this has been the largest, and saddest, that we have witnessed. Yesterday was understandably difficult for all our staff.
Our role was partly that of transportation, and we assisted in moving some of the horses to a ‘holding centre’, the location of which we cannot disclose. During the evening 21 horses, ponies and donkeys came into our care as they were assessed as needing veterinary care on arrival, and having a horse hospital and a team of veterinary staff, this we can provide.
We cannot say at this point if some of the equines at the holding centre will come to us, but it is possible. The equines had a comfortable journey in the safe and experienced hands of our welfare staff. Our amazing head vet, Nic de Brauwere who was on scene all day yesterday and oversaw operations with senior staff from other organisations, travelled back last night with his charges and is today starting treatment.
During the media coverage of the rescue from Buckinghamshire, we had a huge volume of calls and emails, with over 250 web donations coming in overnight. All offered practical help such as rugs or equipment, some gave donations and other offered invaluable words of support. A huge thank you to everyone for this.
As the UK’s largest horse charity, we have unique experience in transporting and handling large numbers of unpredictable equines following a number of large rescues. Redwings Horse Sanctuary has travelled to rescues on many occasions and provided a home from and / or transportation from the place of rescue but rarely sees cruelty so far advanced that equines are seemingly forgotten and literally left to die. All organisations involved in this rescue were deeply concerned about the welfare of the remaining and surviving horses, ponies and donkeys.
The people that work for Redwings are, like many of the public, animal lovers as well, and yesterday was a traumatic and difficult day for everyone but today is a new start for many of these equines and as always our priority is their care and recovery. Thank you to everyone who has offered their support and also donations; our work is only possible thanks to the goodwill of the public and we are proud to have shown everyone yesterday what we can do when the need arises.
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