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World Horse Welfare Noel

www.worldhorsewelfare.org

All grown up Noel is going home for Christmas

Noel getting ready to go to his new homeThis year, one very lucky youngster will be going home for Christmas as he receives the best gift he could hope for – a new family in a safe new home.

World Horse Welfare Kathy Dunn who manages the rehoming applications says: “Noel loves attention so he lapped it up when he first met his rehomer Annabelle; he was bounding around with his ears full forward. Noel is due to be in his new home just before Christmas as a youngster that can be brought on.”

Annabelle Gage from Norfolk is Noel’s new rehomer: “I first found Noel on World Horse Welfare’s website after hearing really good things about its Rehoming Scheme and so decided to visit the charity’s nearest Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Hall Farm which is close to where I keep my two horses anyway. When I got to the farm I spotted Noel in the field and as my mother, eight-month-old daughter and I went up to him he was so friendly - and when we left he called out to us so we just had to have him.

Noel as a foal back in 2010“One of my horses is getting really old now and I worry that he might not be around for much longer so I wanted to get a companion for my other horse Toby as quick as I could, that way they could start to get used to each other. Plus I wanted a horse that my daughter could potentially ride as she gets older.

“Noel is hopefully due to come home with us this Thursday, we are all really looking forward to him becoming part of our family – and just in time for Christmas.”

Noel wasn’t much more than a twinkle in his mother’s eye when grey mare Thelma came into World Horse Welfare’s Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Hall Farm in Norfolk back in 2010 after a call to the charity’s welfare line.

World Horse Welfare Field Officer, Claire Gordon who was first called out to the case says:
“'I had been alerted to the plight of two ponies that appeared to have been abandoned in a field of lush, poorly fenced pasture without any water. I had been told they were routinely escaping in search of water and found both to be grossly overweight with overgrown feet and I suspected suffering from laminitis.

Noel with mum Thelma safe at Hall Farm“Attempts to locate their owner failed and a vet was called who agreed that they were suffering and needed removing to treat and manage the laminitis. We suspected there was a good chance they were also in foal at the time which further increased the weight burden on their painful feet. Remedial farriery was required before we could transport them into the care and safety of World Horse Welfare to raise their foals.

“I am increasingly seeing more horses abandoned in these tough economic times - the basic needs of providing water, foot care and a safe and secure environment in which to graze were not met in this situation and I can see no other explanation for why this owner failed these ponies in this way. It is hugely rewarding to see Noel go off to a loving home before Christmas.”

When the pair arrived at Hall Farm the staff at World Horse Welfare quickly realised that Thelma was due to give birth very soon with pal Louise due a little later.

World Horse Welfare Groom, Gemma Haynes, at the charity’s Norfolk farm says:
“When we discovered Thelma was definitely pregnant we were excited that a foal was to be born into this world without having to suffer like we so often see, but worried that yet another space would be filled at our Rescue and Rehoming Centre. Thelma needed a great deal of handling when she came into us because she was incredibly nervous around people, but despite her background she produced a perfectly healthy foal.”

NoelJust before Christmas in 2010 Noel the foal was born and just before Christmas this year that foal has found a new home.

“That’s one of the best parts of our jobs,” says World Horse Welfare Groom, Gemma. “When we see happy horses going into safe new homes to start the life they should have had – and this year Noel will have just that.”

World Horse Welfare will always retain ownership of every horse for life, and hopes that every rehomer will keep their horse forever, but as insurance for both the horse and rehomer World Horse Welfare offers a safety net.

World Horse Welfare will always take the horse back into its care if the rehomer can no longer look after him or her – we have had some people return their pony if their son or daughter has outgrown it or some have unfortunately had a change in circumstances - and of course every rehomer will get an invaluable lifetime of support and advice,” says Kathy.

Thelma, Louise and Louise’s foal Puddle have already been successfully rehomed.

At a time where there are 6, 500 horses at risk of abandonment or neglect across the UK as part of the devastating horse crisis – homes for horses are in short supply.

World Horse Welfare Chief Executive, Roly Owers says:
“The outlook for horses this winter is worse than it has been for many, many years and a lot of horses will suffer. Charities are doing everything we can and stories like Noel’s remind us there is hope, as every time a horse goes to a new home, World Horse Welfare can rescue another from a desperate situation. But we are full to bursting and collectively more needs to be done; the public need to think about rehoming rather than buying and the government must act faster to provide the necessary tools to help deal with the current equine crisis.”

In a fight against the doom and gloom of the horse world right now, charities are working hard behind the scenes banging the drum for the thousands of UK horses that need rescuing, and rehabilitating those that have been saved. While so many horses will endure a sad season this year, little Noel is lucky enough to be going to a new home for Christmas and he can’t wait.

You can rehome a horse too and help to make vital space for another that is in a desperate situation: www.worldhorsewelfare.org/rehoming/

For more information please contact World Horse Welfare’s Press Officer Amy Fordham on 01953 497248 and 07824 302640 or email amyfordham@worldhorsewelfare.org

About World Horse Welfare:

Visit our website here: www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Home

World Horse Welfare (Registered charity no: 206658 and SC038384), is an international horse charity that improves the lives of horses in the UK and worldwide through education, campaigning and hands-on care of horses. Since we were founded in 1927, our whole approach has been practical, based on scientific evidence and our extensive experience, and focused on delivering lasting change across the full spectrum of the horse world.

In the UK our dedicated network of Field Officers investigate and resolve welfare problems, and we run four Rescue and Rehoming Centres where horses in need can receive specialist care, undergo rehabilitation and find loving new homes through our rehoming scheme – the largest of its kind in the UK. Our international training programmes alleviate the suffering of thousands of working horses by providing essential knowledge for horse owning communities in the developing world. We also work tirelessly to change legislation and attitudes to horse welfare through campaigns and education, including our founding campaign to end the suffering endured by the tens of thousands of horses transported long-distance across Europe to slaughter each year. We support the responsible use of horses in sport, and are an official welfare arm of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and welfare advisors to the British Horseracing Authority.

Interview sourced from www.worldhorsewelfare.org