Horse Rescue Centres near to Staffordshire?

Sammyantha

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hethmar

None that near you, but travelling a distance may be worthwhile to get the right horse and back up?

Try ILPH, Norfolk - they have 4 rehabilitation centres round the country that you can "loan" a horse from: they always retain ownership although in effect the horse becomes yours

http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/help-today/horse-loan-scheme

They have dozens of horses looking for homes, you can go here and click on the type you are looking for to bring up results:
http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/help-today/horse-loan-scheme-search

I think the nearest centre for you would be Blackpool? But dont discount the further centres.

hethmar

I love Rex, the grey cob in Norfolk

orlao

From a MSE point of view it would be cheaper to go to your nearest sale/market and pick up one of the horses that are destined for the meat market.

It would still be a rescue as it is the lucky ones that go straight to the abattoir - many hoick from sale to sale for months on end.
The only caveats that I will give is that a pony/horse from somewhere like that MUST be quarantined for a minimum of 2 weeks
Don't buy with just your heart - no point in getting a little native that will get laminitis if your mare is a poor doer that needs plenty of grass or a unhandled youngster if you don't have the time/skills to work with it.

The other thing to remember is that youngsters often don't cope with been left behind while you ride!

Would it be worth placing an ad asking for a free/cheap unridden companion? I know plenty that the owners would let go to the right home, in fact they'd bite your hand off!

hethmar

Decades ago, I came home from work and found a pony being taken into our paddock (we lived in the country then). OH had seen this poor little pony waiting outside an abbatoir, paid the owners more than they expected to get for the pony and then had it delivered to us. Brilliant brilliant boy, learnt his name, he thought he was a dog, used to run round with our dalmatians, even tried running up a haystack with them. Of course, finding him mooching in the kitchen was a bit panicky, but oh I so loved that boy. Of course we had to have him gelded (only time Ive seen OH faint - luckily the vet and me were there to tend to him as well as the pony - erm, not the same way though) and we spent a lot to get him healthy but it was so worth it.

He would call to me when I called his name when I walked down the lane.

A few years later we were moving into the town we had to part with him and an old chap with several grandchildren had him. But it still broke my heart and I often feel so guilty about letting him go and hope he had a happy life.

Sammyantha

Yes I thought of sales but I will end up with a few because I wont be able to leave them behind!

Ziggy18

I would always want to have at least three or four in a field together! If you only have two then the companion pony/ horse will be left on their own too! There is also the cost/ time factor of another horse which is made easier if you have your own land! I'm guessing you must have your own land if you are looking for a companion! How about advertising for someone to share the field with you? You could ask for some cash or let them have livery for free in exchange for sharing chores! Would be a much cheaper/ easier option and then you would have someone to ride with etc!

Sammyantha

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