the national pony society
Welfare

Welfare And Education Committee News

Prevent return of Amersham horses prior to animal cruelty trial  

In early January 2008 the RSPCA, assisted by other equine welfare organisations, removed over 100 horses, ponies and donkeys from Spindles Farm, Amersham and charges of animal cruelty were brought against the Gray family. Most of the animals required extensive veterinary treatment and nursing care to start them on the road to good health and some will need continued care for many months to come.

The farm's owner, James Gray, made a formal application to Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday, 4th April 2008 to have the animals returned. The Deputy District Judge ruled to return 29 of these animals into the care of the family, deemed to be family pets, and to send another 82 to public auction. This decision has been greeted with outrage and dismay by the welfare agencies caring for the animals as the case against the Gray family for offences under section 4 and section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act (2006) is yet to be heard.

An online petition has now been set up in order that members of the public may add their support to the request that the Judge's ruling last week in Oxford be overturned and the horses, ponies and donkeys be left with the welfare agencies and not either returned to the family or be sold at public auction until after the 12 counts of animal cruelty have been dealt with at trial.
 
Click here to sign the Petition online or print off a Petition for you and your friends to sign here.
 
****************************************************************** 
 
This year has seen the release of the Equine Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain , and the Animal Welfare Act, which came into force on the 6th April. These both  have the potential to affect members of the National Pony Society. For details of the Act please see the link to the DEFRA website which is a Resource at the foot of this page.

While many of us feel we already adhere to good equine practise the new law allows for greater scrutiny of our husbandry. In particular the duty of care we have to show to our animals to ensure they have the 5 freedoms:

A suitable environment

A suitable diet

To be able to behave normally

To be housed with or apart from other animals (whatever is best for that particular animal )

To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

This means that welfare organisations have greater facility to tackle cruelty and abuse.

Articles  

The NPS Welfare & Education web pages feature a number of articles on topical health issues. These articles are available to download. If members have topics they would like featured or researched for the website please do contact the office. 

Education

Education is another area in which the NPS intends to focus on its charitable aim and with this in mind greater training opportunities are being developed for 2008 and beyond. It is hoped to include a fun but educational training programme for our younger members.

What next

All members are invited to contact us with suggestions for projects, concerns and topics that they feel the Welfare and Education Committee should be addressing.

On a final note would all show organisers and competitors please read the welfare recommendations in the NPS Rules Book as additions and amendments have been made for 2008.

ELIZABETH J. LAUNDER


Resources

DEFRA Website