We were all shocked by the recent horsemeat
scandal in the UK: many of us were disgusted by the idea of having unknowingly
eaten animals that are considered pets in this country. We are very fond of
ponies and horses and those of us who can afford the time and expense of owning
them find them highly rewarding creatures to care for.
Children love to ride and groom ponies and horses,
which are intelligent and friendly creatures that love interacting with humans.
Unfortunately people do often forget that caring for ponies and horses does not
just entail taking them out for rides or brushing down their coats. Owning a
horse or a pony is a massive responsibility that should not be undertaken
lightly. You must visit them at least twice a day, morning and night, to feed,
groom, exercise and clean them. That may not seem too onerous but in winter, on
weekends and during holidays, it can be very tempting to just stay in bed
instead.
People who buy ponies or horses without
thinking about the long-term commitment of caring for them (remember: horses
live for around twenty to thirty years). If they buy them
mainly as a gift for their child, they may not be prepared to care for the
horse once the child has grown up and moved out – and it is unlikely that a
child who has just left home would be able to afford to care for their pet on
their own.
Sadly many horses and ponies end up in the
care of animal sanctuaries like those run by the RSPCA where they are given any
necessary veterinary care, food, shelter and company until a new home can be
found for them. Some have been handed over by owners unable to continue to care
for them (for financial or social reasons) or whose children have developed
allergies to horsehair. Others have been mistreated, abused or neglected.
There is an awful lot involved in caring
for a horse properly. Their stalls must be kept clean and all wetness and
manure removed daily. Bedding needs to be refreshed and clean water given
daily. Horses
quickly learn when their mealtimes are and become restless and distressed if
food does not appear when they expect it to: this can cause injury to their
legs and illness through stress.
Veterinary care can be very expensive and
owners would need to find a reliable vet who specialises in treating horses in
the local area. Unexpected vet bills can therefore crop up rather more often
than one might expect. Furthermore, ponies’ and horses’ hooves need to be
trimmed every few weeks and may need to be shoed regularly (if they do jumping,
or regularly walk on hard ground, for instance) so a good local farrier is
essential.
Horses and ponies are costly pets that need
a lot of time and attention, and will do so for decades. If you are prepared to
offer this level of care then consider adopting one of the many needing
rehoming from the RSPCA.
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