Memorandum submitted by the Veteran Horse
Society
Whilst I appreciate that there are many improvements
to this, I feel that I can only give my opinion to that of the
older horse and pony.
SECTION 1. CRUELTY
1(7) c. relation to substance—this
would cover plants such as ragwort.
1(8) relation to substance—this would
cover plants such as ragwort.
(4) For the purposes of this section, an
animal's welfare shall be taken to consist of the meeting of its
needs in an appropriate manner, and those needs shall be taken
into account.
I feel it would be appropriate to include an
age related comment to this, such as:
In relation to the age of the horse, veteran
horses (15 years and over) may require specialist care with access
to dry shelter all year and appropriate turnout conditions.
ANNEX E
Inspections of Sanctuaries would be more appropriate
every 12 months if not six months as horses can drop a vast amount
of weight during the winter. Inspections therefore are needed
on a yearly basis ideally February and March of each year.
I would welcome a licensing fee, although we
are not classed as a sanctuary but a rehabilitation centre and
would welcome a 6/12 monthly inspection. We are governed by NEWC
National Equine Welfare Council.
I would welcome an appropriate paragraph to
include. Each horse must have access to a clean, draft proof,
stable with adequate room in relation to size and breed.
Veteran Horses (15 years and over) need to have
access to individual stabling and shelter in all weathers.
ANNEX F
Livery yards again the same policy and feel
that in the horses welfare a 6/12 montly inspection is vital.
Licensing is ideal for monitoring, as a paid
business the revenue from horse owners should cover this.
I would propose that a paragraph is set within
the licence to state that horses over the age of 30 should have
appropriate turnout and exercise and that all horses should have
access to daily turnout.
The VHS will be introducing an approval scheme
for livery yards housing veteran horses.
ANNEX L
Inspection of Riding Schools
Inspections should be 6 monthly with an increase
license fee to cover inspection costs.
We would welcome horses being retired from riding
school work at the age of 25.
A horse should spend no more than 2 years in
a riding school enviroment at any one time.
Each horse should show their passport to the
Welfare inspector at each inspection.
The age and condition of the horse to be noted.
An offence to work a horse more than four hours
per day.
All horses must have a rest day every seven
days.
The VHS are introducing an approval scheme for
veteran horses only.
23 August 2004
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