Rehoming charities were “delighted” with H&H readers’ responses to our Give a Horse a Home feature (24 May).
Twelve of the 23 horses from charities across the UK offered for loan have been rehomed and another has a potential new carer.
One of the rehomed horses is the 15hh part-bred cob Wellington, who travelled from the Redwings charity’s centre in Norfolk to his new rider, 18-year-old Kellie White who lives in Essex, on 22 August.
Nicola Markwell of Redwings said: “We are delighted that Wellington has found such a lovely home, as he is quite sensitive and nervous.”
Wellington was one of four horses running loose on a disused railway line when he was rescued by Redwings in July 2007 as a two-year-old colt.
Kellie’s mother Kim told H&H: “We lost our loan horse earlier this year, so were looking for something for Kellie to ride.
“She saw the headline [promoting the feature] on Horse & Hound’s front cover and thought we’d have a look. It reassured us to know exactly what we were getting with him, as Redwings had assessed and vetted him.”
She said Wellington, now seven, has settled in well and is already a much-loved member of the family.
Another success story comes from HAPPA (Horse and Pony Protection Association).
HAPPA asked us to publicise six horses and, of those, five have been rehomed and the other, the Primitive Rising daughter Spring, will stay with the charity as a schoolmistress.
Carla Holgate of HAPPA said: “We really appreciate the support from Horse & Hound. Being able to advertise our special equines on such a huge scale created excitement at both our rescue and rehabilitation centres.”
And Tony Tyler of World Horse Welfare said: “We had a lot of readers apply for the two horses that we included.
“They have both gone on to find homes and we are certain that it will have encouraged more people to consider rehoming and take a look at the fantastic horses and ponies that are available.”
H&H deputy editor Jaki Bell added: “For more than half of the horses featured now to have new, loving homes is a real achievement.”
Five horses and ponies are still available.
These are the 14-year-old New Forest Duncan (Horse Rescue Fund, tel: 01502 679191) and Blue Cross Georgie – a three-year-old New Forest looking for a home for 12 months until he can be backed (www.bluecross.org.uk).
HEROS still has the 13-year-old ex-racer Proud Protector (tel: 01488 638820); Percy’s Pearl, a 10-year-old thoroughbred, is available from Bransby (www.bransbyhorses.co.uk), and former racehorse Spirit is at the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre (tel: 01524 812649.).
This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (6 September 2012)
