RSPCA dealt with 41 horse incidents in Bedfordshire during Covid crisis

During the height of lockdown, the RSPCA dealt with 41 incidents involving horses in the county - and the charity fears despite microchipping becoming compulsory this month, it won't be enough to prevent an impending welfare catastrophe.

As the charity launches its month-long rehoming drive, Adoptober, it reveals that nationally the number of horses in its care is already three times what it was at the start of the last recession in 2009 - and it's braced for huge numbers of abandoned and neglected horses as the country plunges into a deeper financial downturn.

During the lockdown period of March 23 to September 8 alone, the RSPCA dealt with 4,479 incidents involving horses - including 41 in Bedfordshire

At the time of the last recession, the RSPCA had 250 horses in its care in 2009, but following that downturn, numbers peaked at nearly 1,200 in 2013.

Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA, said: “Equine charities fear that autumn will create the perfect storm as grazing decreases, the end of furlough and the deepening recession will see more owners struggling with costs of care leading to neglect and abandonment, yet people have been continuing to breed horses despite Covid.

“We are calling on the Government to step in with financial support as they have for other charities affected by the pandemic and recognise that the vital services provided by the animal welfare sector are under huge strain.”

The RSPCA is also urging people who are looking to take on a horse to think about adopting one from the charity as part of its campaign Adoptober.

New legislation demanding compulsory microchipping of all horses irrespective of age is also set to come into effect in England this month - currently 70 per cent of the horses the RSPCA rescue are not microchipped.

Chris said: “When it came in for dogs, the number of strays reduced by 20 per cent in four years, but unfortunately we just don’t think that’s going to happen for horses. Without rigorous enforcement and tough financial penalties, there is little to stop irresponsible horse owners continuing to breed and dump their animals.”

For more details about Adoptober, visit here