Charities combine strength for the benefit of horse welfare

Staff at two of our Rescue and Rehoming Centres welcomed groups of new RSPCA Inspectorate recruits for training to prepare them for assessing and handling any horses they may come across when attending welfare concerns around the country.

We have pooled our expertise with RSPCA for the first time to train the latest intake of Animal Rescue Officers with both theory learning and practical hands-on experience. Twelve recruits got to grips with horses at Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Norfolk and another group of eleven were hosted by Penny Farm, our centre near Blackpool. Each group of Animal Rescue Officer recruits spent two days at one of the farms. The RSPCA deals with many different types of animals and whilst a number of officers are already experienced horsewomen and men, some of the new recruits may have had little or no experience of horses.

On the first day of each course the groups learned how to approach horses in the field and in stables, how to hold and examine them safely and how to lead them. Dealing with difficult horses was covered as well as finding out what to look for when assessing the horse’s condition. These practicals were interspersed with classroom sessions on such diverse topics as euthanasia and trespass laws.

On the second day the rounding up and loading of horses onto horse transport was practiced and a final practical mock case brought everything the group had learned into action.