A foal has been taken in by World Horse Welfare after being abandoned on a rubbish tip in Suffolk.
The foal was the first rescue case using the new Control of Horses Act, which came into force in May.
The skewbald foal has since been named Huckleberry. He was initially found tethered in the Red Lodge area of Suffolk along with another horse.
The two horses appeared to have been abandoned and were causing problems in the local area, with Huckleberry only a few months old and far too young to be tethered.
However, before action could be taken, the horses disappeared and by the time they were found again they were on the site of an old rubbish tip.
The other horse had died and was decaying nearby.
Thanks to the new rulings, land owners are now able to take action in four days, rather than the previous two weeks.
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After four days Huckleberry’s owner had not come forward so the owner of the land on which he was found signed ownership over to the charity. Huckleberry was brought in on 17 September and is now beginning his rehabilitation.
“Huckleberry’s case is an important demonstration of how effective the Control of Horses Act can be in helping quickly remove vulnerable horses to a safe and secure place where they can be given the care they need,” said World Horse Welfare field officer, Jacko Jackson.
“Given the tragic fate of his companion, Huckleberry was clearly at risk and the Control of Horses Act gave the landowner the necessary power to take swift action, which would have been a significantly longer process without the act in place.
“Huckleberry can now undergo rehabilitation and join World Horse Welfare’s rehoming scheme once he is ready, giving him a bright future despite his difficult start in life.”
His owners are still being traced.
