Rescue stories
Ponies rescued from Cumbria
Our supporters may have noticed that the national press has recently carried articles about a joint welfare operation in North Cumbria involving many ponies living on common land. Some articles have criticised the decisions of the RSPCA and other charities involved, moreso as the ponies’ owner passed away shortly after.
We confirm that on Wednesday July 21st 2010, Redwings Horse Sanctuary worked alongside other equine charities to assist the RSPCA (and Cumbria Constabulary) to carry out this rescue.
Redwings was happy to provide 12 staff, including two welfare vets, as well as four horse lorries. We currently have 22 of the horses and ponies and are providing them with appropriate and individually-decided care and treatment.
The ponies were removed from common land where they were visible and well-known among the local community but also from a private address where several horses and ponies had been kept inside a barn and stable area.
All the charities involved have issued the following joint statement:
“The British Horse Society, HorseWorld Trust, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, RSPCA and World Horse Welfare were extremely concerned about ponies and horses on Caldbeck and Uldale Common, and at a nearby stables owned by Mr. Alan Brough.
“As a result, all these organisations supported and took part in a joint operation on 21 and 22 July to examine and remove the animals and provide, in some cases, urgent veterinary care.
“Many of the horses and ponies were thin, had badly overgrown hooves, leg and hoof deformities causing them pain and discomfort, lice and worms or painful and diseased teeth.
“Some had noticeable deformities of the skeleton which left them in pain or unable to keep up with the group and get enough grazing and water.
“The joint operation was carried out under National Welfare Equine Council agreement, introduced following the Amersham horses case, to help our organisations work closely together on situations involving large numbers of equines.
“All the organisations involved were saddened to hear about Mr Brough’s death, and have expressed our deepest condolences to his family.”
As there has been criticism of the decision to remove the ponies, it is our wish to update our loyal and committed supporters directly. We are an independently-run and independently-minded charity so we always consider whether or not we take part in rescues very carefully and we do this with all the facts laid bare before us. We would only take part if we feel that there were horses with welfare issues and/or horses at risk. We are entirely funded by public generosity and as such we always consider what our supporters would want us to do: if we feel that you would not want a situation to continue, then we act.
Thank you, as always, for your continued interest and support.
Some of the ponies rescued from Cumbria in July were in a very poorly state
Report a welfare concern
If you want to report a horse, pony or donkey that you are concerned about, please see our get in touch section.
