Two leading horse charities help Welsh local authority inspectors get to grips with feral ponies

The training was funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Companion Animal Welfare Enhancement Scheme (CAWES) and was facilitated by the Welsh Animal Health and Welfare Panel. The courses, which were organised and run by the equine charities The Horse Trust and Redwings Horse Sanctuary, took place on 16 and 17 March at the Society for Welfare of Horse and Ponies in Monmouth, and on 24 and 25 March at the Bransby Home of Rest for Horses in Stoke Prior.

Redwings is a registered charity (no. 1068911). The charity has over 1100 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in its care in eight centres around the UK. For more information, visit: www.redwings.org.uk

The Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies is a registered charity (no. 266247) based in Monmouth. The charity cares for abused or injured horses and ponies, rehabilitating them and re-homing them in a safe, caring environment. For more information, visit: www.swhp.co.uk   Bransby Home of Rest for Horses is a registered charity (no. 1075601) that runs sanctuaries in Bransby and Stoke Prior. The charity looks after over 100 horses at its Stoke Prior sanctuary and also helps Welsh Mountain ponies, supplying hay during the winter months and providing safe refuge to any animals that require specialist care. For more information, visit www.bransbyhorses.co.uk.

1 The National Equine Welfare Protocol was drawn up in response to the Spindles Farm rescue in 2008. The Protocol, which was developed by various organisations including local and national government, the Police and charities, sets out guidelines for how cases of equine neglect and abuse should be reported and handled, and what organisations can do to reduce the incidence of equine welfare problems. The Protocol has now been merged with the Equine Health and Welfare Strategy for the UK, which is a living document.