'Speak out sooner if you're struggling', urge horse charity
A horse charity says it's now full to capacity with rescued horses, as the number of animals they're called to in crisis keeps growing
A West Country horse charity say increasing numbers of owners are struggling to pay to look after their animals, and the cost of living crisis is going to make things worse
Melissa Middleton, BEM, from Devon Equine Crisis Support says higher food and fuel costs mean some owners are going without to try and keep their horses.
Recently they've been helping those affected by Covid who've struggled with the upkeep of their animals.
She said: Prices are going to continue to rise there's no doubt about that.
"It's because the price of fuel, but also because the price of plastics which feeds come in so your haylage, your general day-to-day foods they're all going up in price.
"We have been warned by the feed companies that they're going up.
"It's quite expensive anyway and I think people who really love their horses and want to hold onto their horses are just finding a way and they're going without themselves to make sure that they've got everything that their horses need.
"We've actually come on some cases that by the time that they've been able to reach out to people the horses are already in a neglect situation where they haven't had their medical needs met or their comfort or their one-to-one.
"It would be easier if people reached out earlier and said look we're really struggling here and they can come to us and say look we're really struggling.
"We don't judge, we're non judgemental and we can talk to you, we can help you through it in some way, shape or form."
Last week it was announced that stables, used in Cockington by K&H Carriages, were being donated to the charity after the business had to close following a long-running row over Winter grazing.
You can donate to Devon Equine Crisis Support here