Posted: 29th September 2015 | Back to news feed
When equine charities such as World Horse Welfare take in abandoned and neglected horses and ponies the ultimate goal is to find them loving new homes after they have gone through an extensive programme of veterinary checks and rehabilitation.
However, things don’t always work out that way and it is with great sadness that World Horse Welfare has had to make the heartbreaking decision to put Barry to sleep.
Alltech provided financial support for Barry as well as a wardrobe of warm rugs, saddlecloth, headcollar and grooming kit. This support will now be transferred to another horse or pony in World Horse Welfare’s care.
Barry had been making excellent progress with the help of all the staff at World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, but particularly his groom, Mandy Davidson, having been subjected to terrible neglect; he had managed to build up his trust in people and was on the road to recovery.
Unfortunately Barry was becoming increasingly ataxic (meaning he was losing co-ordination and balance), causing him to be very unsteady and likely to fall at any time. After extensive review and on the advice of the vet it was decided, based on his likely prognosis and future quality of life that the kindest course of action was to put him to sleep.
While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of Barry’s ataxia, it highlights that some of the horses that come into World Horse Welfare’s centres cannot be rehomed. However the care and kindness of Mandy and the team at Penny Farm gave Barry the best chance of recovery and a very happy final few months.
Here we talk to Mandy Davidson, to find out what it takes to be a World Horse Welfare groom.
How long have you been a World Horse Welfare groom and what is your equestrian background that led you to this job?
I have worked at World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm for 10 years. When I left school I went to an equine college and did NVQ2 in horse care and management, I have also owned my own horse since the age of 14, competing at local shows and dressage competitions.
For anyone interested in becoming a World Horse Welfare groom, what qualifications do you require?
To become a World Horse Welfare groom you would be required to have your British Horse Society stage 2 or equivalent including experience.
What does your average day involve?
We start work on the yard at 8am; some of the staff muck out the horses that are stabled, while others turn horses out in the field and bring some in for working or handling, and give out any feeds and medication required. They also check all the other horses that live out in the field; it’s a team effort!
If there are horses in the isolation units they also have to be mucked out and fed each morning and afternoon. We have a break at about 10-10:30am. Each groom has a list of horses to look after and this is the time we get to handle, groom, school or hack the horse depending on their stage of training.
At around 12:30pm the horses on the yard are skipped out, lunch is at 1. After lunch we continue working our horses. About 3:30pm the horse are turned back out in the field, and the horses on the yard are skipped out and fed, the yard is swept and then checked before we finish at 4:30pm.
Later in the evening, between 7-9pm a member of staff comes back to do ‘lates’, when we check and water the stabled horses.
What are the most rewarding parts of your job and also the most difficult?
The most rewarding part of the job is when the rehabilitated horses go out to new homes, often a long process of treatment and handling. The most difficult part of the job is when horses have to be euthanased due to health and future welfare reasons, often due to the extent of previous neglect.
Especially in cases like Barry’s where he came into the farm in a very neglected and poorly state, we brought him back to full health and built up a good rapport and bond.
Sadly he became increasingly ataxic and was stumbling which meant he could never be ridden and would be unsafe even as a companion because he had no control over his movement and therefore was at risk of injuring himself and others.
He was a really nice character and had learned to trust me so it was very upsetting when the vet advised that he be put to sleep. With the support of Alltech we gave Barry a second chance and althoughit’s hard to see horses like him go, it is the most responsible action to take and means my time and our resources can be used in the most efficient way.
In your experience as a World Horse Welfare groom what are the most common welfare problems you have to deal with?
The most common welfare problems we see are large groups of unhandled/feral ponies, sometimes up to 60 at a time, and many of these have very overgrown feet causing pain and lameness. It’s challenging to resolve these foot problems as it takes time to gain their trust in order to handle them safely so they can be treated by the farrier.
How do you think horse welfare could be improved in the UK?
Another common welfare problem is over breeding, which leads to significant health problems. More education is needed on breeding better quality horses and grading stallions, horses with poor conformation should be castrated or not selected to breed from.
World Horse Welfare’s ‘Need to Breed?’ campaign sets out to spread the word about the impact that breeding just one foal can have and to help prevent indiscriminate breeding through education.
The Lifeforce Range of all-natural, daily digestive aid supplements from Alltech is designed to benefit horses at every stage of life, from breeding stock to pleasure and performance animals.
For further information visit www.lifeforcehorse.co.ukor telephone 01780 764512
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