Equine welfare charity welcomes Government’s Action Plan, citing opportunity to support real improvements to welfare of all equines.

NORFOLK, UK / AGILITYPR.NEWS / May 14, 2021 / Equine welfare charity welcomes Government’s Action Plan, citing opportunity to support real improvements to welfare of all equines.

World Horse Welfare welcomes the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare published this week and urges Government to use this once in a generation opportunity to bring in changes that truly protect horse welfare.

Roly Owers, Chief Executive said: “We commend Government for putting animal welfare firmly on its agenda for the new Parliamentary session. Horses often fall through the welfare legislative cracks between the categories of companion animals and livestock, but now we have an opportunity to make changes in a number of areas concurrently that can support real improvements to the welfare of all equines.”

World Horse Welfare is delighted that it will now be enshrined in UK law that animals are sentient beings and also welcomes the introduction of new tools allowing fines to be given for animal cruelty, although it stresses that these penalty notices will need to be simple to use to be truly effective.

Several significant parts of the Action Plan relate to issues World Horse Welfare has long campaigned around, including a ban on the export of live animals for slaughter, improved welfare at slaughter and the licensing of animal welfare establishments.

To be truly effective, however, many of these laws will require linking a horse to an owner, so a fully digitised, frictionless and enforced equine ID system will be essential. For instance, to prevent horses circumventing the ban on export to slaughter by being moved under the guise of other reasons, each needs to be uniquely and easily identifiable and traceable.

World Horse Welfare also welcomes the new powers for police to respond to cases of animal worrying, but would like to see it extended to all equines and more widely than just on agricultural land, to help tackle the problem of ridden horses and those at grass being attacked by dogs.

ENDS

Note to editors

For more information please call Su Delve on 01953 497248, 07826 871682 or email sudelve@worldhorsewelfare.org

About World Horse Welfare: Visit our website here: www.worldhorsewelfare.org

World Horse Welfare (Registered charity no: 206658 and SC038384), is an international horse charity that improves the lives of horses in the UK and worldwide through education, campaigning and hands-on care of horses. Since we were founded in 1927, our whole approach has been practical, based on scientific evidence and our extensive experience, and focused on delivering lasting change across the full spectrum of the horse world.

In the UK our dedicated network of Field Officers investigate and resolve welfare problems, and we run four Rescue and Rehoming Centres where horses in need can receive specialist care, undergo rehabilitation and find loving new homes through our rehoming scheme – the largest of its kind in the UK. Our international programmes alleviate the suffering of thousands of working horses by providing essential knowledge for horse owning communities in the developing world. We also work tirelessly to change legislation and attitudes to horse welfare through campaigns and education, including our founding campaign to end the suffering endured by the tens of thousands of horses transported long-distance across Europe to slaughter each year. We support the responsible use of horses in sport, and are independent welfare advisers to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

World Horse Welfare relies on voluntary donations. Our supporters are our lifeblood and we always aim to fundraise in a caring and responsible way. Our fundraising activity is governed by the Fundraising Regulator but we also go much further to ensure our supporters feel valued and protected. Find out more at: http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/our-pledge-to-supporters