| Veteran Horse Welfare |
Horses looking for a new home Urgent home required >>> 14.2hh & Under >>> 14.3hh - 15.3hh >>> 16hh and Over >>> E-mail us to find out your nearest field officer Application Forms: - Rehoming >>> - Carer >>> - Field Officer >>> Once completed please send forms to the address below: Re-homing Department Veteran Horse Welfare Hendre Fawr Farm St Dogmaels Cardigan SA43 3LZ |
| Re-Homing Advice Veteran Horse Welfare is able to help you to find an aproved Carer for your veteran. You can advertise on this site to find a suitable home for your horse. Potential homes will be home-checked by a Veteran Horse Welfare Field Officer on your behalf. Due to the current financial climate, we have halved the price ofthis service to £35 including life-long registration of your horse to the Veteran Horse Welfare Society. Please return the completed 'Re-homing Application' form to us along with 2 recent photogaphs, your horses passport for overstamping and a letter from a vet verifying that the veteran is fit to travel. If you are interested in becoming an Aproved Carer for any of the horses looking for homes on our website, please return your completed 'Carers Application' form to us. VHW is a non-profit making organization, dedicated to the welfare of all horses and ponies over the age of 15. We address issues on behalf of the veteran and their owner and carer and feel that we give an honest and personal service. So by addressing problems in the first instance, we have learnt that honesty is the best policy and therefore offer open and non-prejudice advice in all cases. Within this site we make people aware of issues that can face both VHW carers and owners, when loaning a horse or pony. It is not meant to shock or offend any individual, but to make aware that not all are as honest as they seem. Veteran Horse Welfare does its utmost to ensure that the re-homing runs as comfortably and smoothly for both horse, carer and owner. VHW is now able to offer placement for your veteran at the rehabilitation centre whilst we are looking for a new home. Staff are on hand to speak to new carers on a daily basis. We can also make a full independent assessment of your veteran. If you would like further information on this rehabilitation please contact a member of staff at head office. More and more people are now loaning out horses rather than selling them. This is perhaps due to the thought that they still remain their property, and cannot be sold on again. Unfortunately, there are some so called ‘horse lovers’ who will advertise that they require a companion or light hack for loan. Very occasionally this happens and people sell them on to the meat man, to make some quick money. In some cases it has been reported that the animal is put on loan and is totally over- used and abused by the carer – this is why you should always make sure that the legal bound documents are exchanged, so you don’t find yourself in an accusing and upsetting situation; an example of this is enclosed. ALWAYS ENSURE A LEGAL DOCUMENT IS SIGNED AND AGREED. PREPERATION TIPS TO LOOK FOR. Facilities Well managed fields. Grazing depends on the individual horse’s needs and requirements. However, the grass should be well managed and not overgrazed, with regular and monitored field rotation. Ragwort should be carefully monitored and when found it should be dug up and burnt, (always wear protective gloves while doing this). Salt is to then be placed down the remaining hole before filling. Your local council should be informed immediately. Ragwort can even be fatal to your horse when fed in hay form, so be aware of your hay supplier and the field it is being grown. Where possible, avoid keeping your horse or pony on boggy and high risk flooding areas. Being near these areas has more of an impact with flies during the summer months, and will have an effect on the overall health of your veteran. Fencing should be in good order avoiding barbed wire. Water should be kept fresh, clean, and no sharp edges on the water troughs. These should be easily accessed in the driest part of the field. E.g. not by the gate or under trees. Shelter should be available during all months, either natural cover or field shelter. Some trees, however, can cause health problems (e.g. oak dropping acorns and Chestnut dropping conkers during the autumn), so be aware of what is going on. Check all hedges for any poisonous plants and that all hedges are solid. If you need detailed information on such plants please contact the Welfare Department at VHW Head Office. Stabling. Stables need to be an appropriate size for your horses needs. It should be well ventilated, draught proof with no risk of obvious flooding. A non-smooth concrete base should be used, that has a slight slope towards the rear of the stable with appropriate drainage. Stabling and grazing should both be available 24 hours all year round. Horses and ponies with breathing problems should not be stabled in an enclosed area where a variety of sporous bedding (i.e. straw and dry hay) is used or stored. Companion/light hack If you require your veteran to be re-homed as a companion, it is advisable to have this in writing within any legal documentation. If you are looking to lightly hack, check hacking, bridle ways and arenas available. Always state clearly, what is expected and NOT expected of your horse/ pony and make sure it is in writing within any legal documentation. Veterinary care The vet, dental surgeon and farrier’s name and details should be given within any legal documentation. On agreement of loaning/giving over ownership of your veteran, any change to the above bodies should be given in writing to the VHW immediately. Visiting your veteran This can be the hardest part, but in all cases to date owners and carers are extremely happy with the homes VHW have provided. Do keep in touch with the new carer or owner. This will keep both parties minds at rest knowing your veteran is doing well. However, like humans, the veteran does need time to adjust to his or her new owner and therefore give at least 2 months for the settling in period. AT NO POINT DURING, BEFORE OR AFTER REHOMING CAN VETERAN HORSE WELFARE, TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ANIMAL. UNLESS IT IS WRITTEN AND AGREED BY A DIRECTOR OF THE VHS. |
