This SKY NEWS article is a must read for anyone who breeds indiscriminately, or passes on older or lame horses – Turner’s Abattoir, Cheshire is where many of these horses end up.

The answer is not no slaughterhouses, but more that are regularly and diligently policed by welfare bodies. This is happening because these abattoirs are inundated with more unwanted animals than they can process properly.

Indeed, it’s come to our attention that this Cheshire abattoir even exports abroad horses sent to their plant that were thought to be slaughtered in the UK.

The film raises so many questions, not least the worry that amongst other illegal practices, horses were possibly subjected to Halal slaughter.

The UK needs to wake up, and face the fact that the disgusting and appalling treatment those horses received at the end of their lives will go on until breeding becomes stringently regulated, and export and import laws are tightened up, and ultimately, people take responsibility for their horses once they are no longer useful.

http://news.sky.com/story/1040057/horse-abattoir-film-reveals-welfare-breaches

The film is not pleasant, but don’t turn away. Watch and be outraged and DO something about it.

Please sign the WHW petition below – it’s not a solution, but it is a start.

http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1749&ea.campaign.id=18423

This is the link from the Italian Horse Protection Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/ihp-italian-horse-protection-association/parma-cavalli-tenuti-in-pessime-condizioni-intervento-di-ihp-e-striscia-la-notiz/530579993636934 – the rough translation is below.

It has to be the classic situation where ignorance in the end becomes ill treatment:  there is no other explanation as to why a 70+ man would have 32 horses (possibly there are even more) most of which are kept in completely unacceptable conditions, chained up or loose in dangerously ill-maintained paddocks.  Stallions and mares continually breeding, thin horses, hooves showing clear signs of laminitis. Many of these horses also without water or food available.

And all of them, absolutely all of them with passports showing they are destined for the food chain, in other words to be sent to slaughter for meat.  Yet another sign that the local authorities  (the ASL) is fully aware of this crazy situation, which people have been reporting in vain for many years.  With no stop whatsoever put to this unchecked breeding farm.

Because in Italy this is how it is, with horses: anyone can invent themselves as a breeder, without the slightest heed to the laws and regulations and with no respect for the welfare of the animals.

There is even a missing filly, to date there is no news of her: she was three months old when, on 4 October, her skeleton of a mother was euthanized because she had been unable to get to her feet for three days due to chronic laminitis.  At that point the filly was handed over to ‘someone’.

The Italian Horse Protection, following up numerous reports, organised a first visit on 12 October, and immediately thereafter sent a detailed report to the Ministry of Health, together with videos and photos.   In spite of the animal welfare task force going immediately into action by notifying the police, no response was received.

So, after a few days, we returned together with a team from Striscia La Notizia (a very popular daily TV news show here in Italy).  The reportage was broadcast yesterday evening and can be viewed here:

http://www.striscialanotizia.mediaset.it/video/videoextra.shtml?16027

(wait until the video is fully loaded)

The  IHP Italian Horse Protection association are currently consulting with their legal advisers on the best way to proceed, which course of legal action to take, including filing action of the most serious kind, in order to act on behalf of these horses.

Yvelines is situated on the Western boundary of the Parisien region Ile -de-France. There have been three new outbreaks of EHV-1. The pin marks the centre of Yveslines, not the outbreak location.

The copy on this page is from the AHT link below.

http://www.aht.org.uk/icc/Interim_Report16_october12.html

Interim Report – October 2012 #16 (26.10.12)

France
Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) – Outbreak Update

Following the confirmation of three outbreaks of equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) since 8th October 2012 in Yvelines, Réseau d’Epidémio-Surveillance en Pathologie Equine (RESPE)  have provided an update on the situation.

To date, the outbreaks have affected horses used for sport and leisure activities which are located within a ​​fifty kilometre radius of the centre of Yvelines. There are no other suspected outbreaks to date. Affected horses have shown neurological signs (ataxia), respiratory signs such as a clear nasal discharge and swelling of the limbs.

On 8th October the first outbreak was reported at an equestrian centre and one horse tested positive. The affected horse was vaccinated, showed neurological signs and was euthanized. Movement restrictions and precautionary measures have been applied and no horses have entered or left the premises for several weeks.

The second outbreak was reported on 15th October and two horses tested positive to EHV-1. One of the horses was unvaccinated and showed low grade neurological signs. The second horse was vaccinated and asymptomatic. Movement restrictions have been applied since the first horse showed clinical signs of the disease and a competition due to be held on the premises was cancelled. Precautionary measures have also been applied.
On 24th October the third outbreak was confirmed and two vaccinated horses were affected. One horse showed respiratory signs and the second horse was asymptomatic. Further samples have been taken and diagnostic testing is in progress. Movement restrictions and precautionary measures have been applied to the premises.

An epidemiological investigation is ongoing, and links between the three affected premises have not been made. The movement of horses at the second and third affected premises may have resulted disease transmission. The outbreak at the premises which was first affected appears to be due to viral reactivation of the infection.

The three confirmed outbreaks of EHV-1 highlight that the virus is circulating in Yvelines. Horse owners and riders, particularly those involved in competition, have been asked to be vigilant in the forthcoming weeks.  

Regards
International Collating Centre

Mimi is the luckiest little mule in France – after viewing her fig tree antics, Wanda (who has the gorgeous Knaven) finally succumbed to Mimi’s charms and decided she would adopt her!

We at ERF couldn’t be happier! Mimi is a very special person, and needs someone with a lot of experience who will understand and enjoy her little quirks. Wanda and Vanessa fit the bill perfectly, and we can’t wait to see her progress.

As ever with Mimi, nothing is straightforward, and the loading process was a bit of a nightmare. Here’s the blog extract -

I am writing with a fair amount of sadness to say that Mimi left here earlier today. She has found the most wonderful home with Wanda and Vanessa who also have Knaven, our beautiful black Clydesdale.
It would however be fair to say that the sadness was temporarily alleviated during the loading process. All will become clear ……
So, back to the arrival and the initial encounter. We all went into the barn, and Mimi was quite polite and interested in the two new people, despite us waking her up. She was engrossed by people with dresses on, and though the feet below may be fair game for a bit of teeth closing. When that didn’t work out quite to her satisfaction she wandered off, and I heard the words striking horror into my heart ‘ Is she lame on that hindleg?’
Astounded, I looked at her, and she was displaying mild symptoms of locking patella. I couldn’t believe my eyes, as I’ve NEVER seen her do it, and she is so incredibly sound! Luckily, after moving around a couple of times, it stopped. By this time she was quite grumpy with excess attention, so we went in for lunch. Where I desperately tried to reassure the new people that she had never shown me signs of this before. :-/ Thankfully, they are horse people and understood. On reflection, she had been sleeping when we went in, so it is probably related to the fact that equines lock joints to sleep.
With lunch over, my last dealings with Mimi were about to commence. Out to the field to collect her in her gorgeous new headcollar and rope, feeling a bit emotional.
Mimi was fully aware that something was up, but she didn’t know what. An apple and a swift ‘neck grab with rope’ manoeuvre got a hold of her, but as chance would have it, she was under taon attack, and was bucking and kicking as I was trying to secure the headcollar. All done, she was so good, walking happily up the field and round to the lorry. I thought as I walked in that it seemed very spacious. With a bit of persuasion Mimi came up the ramp and into the box. I walked her into position and turned to wait for Vanessa to shut the gates, when I realised there were no gates. Probably at the same time the identical thought struck Mimi. She barged round like lightning, giving me no chance to get a braking hold of her and off she went. Treading on her new rope, the ungrateful madam!
After several circuits of the yard, she took herself off down the drive, and onto the road. Followed by myself and Vanessa. Then panic struck as she went across the main road. All sorts of scary thoughts of cars travelling at speed and mullering her were flashing through my mind. I went back to get the car to follow her, but as I got to the crossroads she’d changed her mind and was on the way back. She trotted past me, so I turned the car around, and immediately both of them had disappeared. Mimi had elected to jump into the huge hayfield across the road, and was spinning round it showing just how sound she was. Poor Vanessa had to keep sprinting to head her off every circuit that took her back to the main road, with the poppers on the front of her dress pinging open with the speed she was running at!
Eventually she went into the next field, down the chemin to the road, crossed it and then down the chemin running alongside my land, turned into my hayfield, and I managed to catch her at the top of the hill by the gateway.
Phew. Never have I been so relieved to get a grip of an equine.
With Mimi firmly ensconced in a stable I went to sort the partition on the lorry to find it lying on the ground – there’d been a bit of problem moving it, apparently, and it had come unhinged. A bit like me by that point.
Finally we got the partition sorted so it would enclose her as soon as she went in.
This attempt had her sporting a chifney and being bribed with alfalfa to prevent any ideas she may had entertained about being so rude again, and with huge sighs of relief all round we got her loaded.
In the lorry I told her she was going to have lots of fun in her new home, with lovely people and lots of things to do, then gave her a big soppy kiss which she thanked me for by dropping the haynet on my head.
I then waved them off quickly before they could change their minds!
I really will miss her, but this is the best future for her.

All’s well that ends well, and she arrived in her new home safely, even though she was treated like a racehorse and led with two handlers!

If you like what we do, please help us by donating.
Everything we do costs money, from rehabilitating to sending out letters. Every donation is important, and helps us fund helping the equines.

Yesterday, we received some photos of one of our superstars, Goliath, who has been in his home with Wanda for a few years now. I asked Wanda to write a little bit for us, and she very kindly obliged immediately, and sent us back this piece.

Hello all,

Please if anyone can adopt a horse from ERF, do so as they doing a great job and remember that animals are a life time responsibility!!

Wanda does some wonderful work with these horses, please take a look at her fascinating website; 
http://www.vivreapleintemps.com/uk/horses.html (where you can also see more pictures of the gorgeous Knaven!)

Ebony’s laminitis is well under control, there has been no sign of an attack, or any problems whatsoever with her feet since she arrived in January. The farrier is very happy with her progress. She has had a wolf tooth removed so is now ready to have a bit her mouth to be started for riding. Ruby will be started at the same time.

They are both still looking for their forever homes. They don’t need to be together, both are quite happy to be independent of each other. Indeed, Ruby has a penchant for my two horses, my gelding in particular! She’s much rather leave Ebony with Mimi, and play with the big people!

If you’d like to offer either of these little ladies a home, please contact admin@equinerescuefrance.org

Both ponies will go out under contract to ERF, and a donation will be required.

Unfortunately, yet again our gorgeous Shetlands are in need of a new home. There has been a change in their guardian’s circumstances, and they’re now in short term foster care with one of the ERF team.

These adorable, loving and very gentle natured ponies deserve to be in a “forever” loving home where they can live out the rest of their lives peaceful and happily.

Merlin (on the left with the wall eye) just loves to follow you around, he’s so inquisitive and Molly, just goes with the flow, she is so relaxed. They are just looking for someone to give them lots of love and they would make ideal pony/horse companions.

If you can help, please contact

Tel: 06 84 06 75 16

Or email : admin@equinerescuefrance.org

There will be a donation fee required for the ponies, and they must go as a pair.

Due to a change of circumstances and relocation abroad for their previous guardians, Ruby and Ebony have come back to the Dordogne for a short while.

They have their own little paddock and barn, next door to my horses and Mimi. Madge is totally besotted by them, she’s gone all moon-eyed, and is desperate to be their friend.

Ossie, although initially indifferent, is now furious at her betrayal, and is exhausting himself trying to act as a physical barrier between them whilst Mimi chunters about in the background looking alternately piqued and pleased that she’s no longer the new kid on the block!

They are looking somewhat portly as they’ve had a few years of idle living since they were last here! I’ll start to do some work with them shortly if they haven’t been rehomed in the interim. They are both fit and well, and if you think you could offer one or both of these gorgeous girls a forever home, please get in touch!

An adoption fee will be payable, all future homes will be checked, and both will go out on loan under contract.

Mimi is still looking for a new permanent home, but in the meantime her education will continue here.

As she came off the lorry, both my horses – who have never seen a mule before – were astonished at her. Especially when she talked, as she sounds like nothing they (or I) had heard before – eyes on stalks all round at the big-eared girl with the voice of a hoarse dog!

She arrived late afternoon, so due to fading light she was kept in a stable overnight to allow the meeting with the others to take place under supervision. She was quite taken with the shavings bed, and seems to have spent most of the night ensuring she wore a covering of them at all times. Mucking out is going to be deeply joyous!

Out into a temporarily fenced off separate paddock, and away she went showing off her flash trot whilst trying to find a way to escape – I can see this is going to be fun!

Next step a chat with horses, the look on their faces was priceless!

Especially this one –

I’ve never dealt with a mule before, and already the differences between mules and horses are obvious. She is highly inquistive and very brave – the minute I turned the tap on in the barn to fill the trough she came charging in to see what the noise was, whereas a horse would have been far warier about entering an enclosed space. She’s wary and defensive at human contact, so that will need addressing, but is keen for attention although on her terms at the moment. She will have a week or two to settle in before any work starts.

All seems quiet and settled now, so hopefully in a day or so I’ll be able take down the temporary fencing to turn her out with the horses.

Watch this space for those pics!

Our gorgeous Shetlands, have moved to pastures new.

Unfortunately we had to take them back from their previous guardian as he had not fulfilled the necessary health care for the ponies.

It never ceases to amaze us that people will happily accept the conditions of a contract, sign it, and then blatantly ignore their obligations. Luckily our contract ensures we can take any equine back if the conditions are breached, and that is exactly what we have done.

Their new guardian, Shirley Ann, is diligently reporting every action to us, and the ponies are much happier now. I’m sure they’ve finally found their horsey heaven!