RSPCA warns 'worst is yet to come' in Northamptonshire's 'dumped horse crisis'

Animal charities say they could be faced with caring for hundreds of more horses if there is another recession.

The RSPCA is warning that a recession could plunge the country into a second wave of 'the equine crisis' which has already led to thousands of sick horses being dumped by their owners.

In 2019, the charity received reports of more than 4,241 incidents involving horses in the Midlands, 364 of those in Northamptonshire.

By the end of the year it had nearly 900 in its care nationally, leaving its rescue centres full and funding hundreds more in private boarding.

Since lockdown, the RSPCA has received 29 reports about horses in Northamptonshire, but fears much worse is to come if, as expected, the Covid crisis sparks a recession.

It echoes the 'equine crisis' that came after the 2008 financial crash, where owners who could not afford to look at their horses properly would abandon them

The RSPCA is appealing for vital donations to help it prepare for an influx of horses and ponies desperately in need of help.Christine McNeil, the charity’s National Equine Inspectors Co-Ordinator said: “This is a truly worrying time for equine charities - we still haven’t got a handle on the repercussions of the current horse crisis, and it now looks like the worst is yet to come."

It comes after 43 horses were rescued from a flooded field in Wellingborough in February and were found underfed and in severely-ill health.

The landowner was able to seize the horses with the help of the RSPCA under the Control of Horses Act - as it is understood some of the horses had been dumped for unauthorised grazing, though their owners never came forward to claim them.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Jim Lucas, who led the operation, said: “This was a hugely successful operation thanks to the close working relationship with all partner organisations - but it is a clear example of the sort of challenges we have faced, and will continue to face, due to the horse crisis."

The RSPCA has taken in 82 horses during lockdown already*, bringing the total number of horses in the charity’s care to 927.

The charity spends approximately £5200 per year for the care of each horse taken in - that’s over £4.8 million each year.