A Lincolnshire horse welfare charity has reported a steep increase in calls
It's as some people struggle with the cost of living crisis
Last updated 19th Apr 2022
A Lincolnshire horse welfare charity has reported a steep increase in calls from owners struggling to afford the upkeep of their animals.
It’s with the rising cost of living,
Bransby horses near Saxilby says they’ve received the same number of rescue requests in first three months of 2022 as they did in the whole of last year.
We spoke to their welfare manager Rachel Jenkinson.
She told us: "We've had an increase in calls with people not necessarily been able to continue to look after their horses for various reasons but 50 per cent of that has been because of financial concerns".
"We've seen an increase in abandonments where we've taken these horses in with no owner present".
She told us there was a rise in demand for horses and ponies during the pandemic:
"People had a lot more time and some people were furloughed so financially there were probably feeling quite secure."
"Go forward 12 months and we're in a very different financial situation so we are beginning to see that already in the first three months of this year."
She also told us that anyone thinking of keeping a horse should check information from DEFRA.
"That will give you a really good insight of what you'll require, what size land you'll need, what sort of stabling the horse might need, what you're average costs might be".
"We would say do your homework because buying the horse is easy, looking after it and paying for that financially is an ongoing cost and one that has massively increased alongside the other cost of living increases."