A horse sanctuary in Sandiacre is asking for help after it was forced to turn animals away because it is too full.
The Moo-Haven Sanctuary has room for eight horses, but is currently over capacity with fourteen being cared for.
And around another 60 animals helped by the centre are in temporary stables across the county, awaiting more permanent homes.
This week staff rescued two one-year-old horses that had travelled more than 200 miles from Wales to avoid being shot.
We can’t physically take any more in
The centre struggles with funding, and says each new rescued horse costs around £125 in micro-chipping and de-lousing.
Linda Hughes, who runs the rescue centre, said: “We’re getting to a stage now where we can’t physically take any more in, but there are emergencies all over the country and we’re finding ourselves in quite a sorry state at the moment.”
The sanctuary recently took a phone call about an emaciated pony and were shocked to see the condition of the horse.
The pony was nearly put to sleep, but a vet was able to remove his eye and he is now on the road to recovery – after a £1,500 vet bill.
The centre currently has 23 horses on its waiting list, and says that marriage break ups, job loses and children losing interest in their ponies are the most common reasons horses end up being abandoned.
Linda added: “Unfortunately children want ponies, the parents do the homework and the pony suffers – it’s been happening for years and years, but now that ponies are more affordable it’s happening on a bigger scale.”
Over the past week the sanctuary has had to turn down five ponies, simply because they were being neglected by owners who couldn’t be bothered to care for them.
Linda said she wants people to think more carefully before buying horses, and advises people who want to ride horses to go to a riding school.
She said: “It’s not a hobby, it’s a way of life. It’s 365 days a year, and people don’t realise that. We’ve taken ponies out of people’s back gardens, and it’s heartbreaking and frustrating.”
You can make a donation to Moo-Haven on their website.
