British equine charities World Horse Welfare and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) are urging owners to do their research if considering loaning or giving away their horse to a sanctuary, rehoming and/or rehabilitation organization or individual to ensure the animal’s long-term welfare is safeguarded.

“We’ve seen a number of cases over recent years of sanctuaries, not-for-profit organizations and individuals taking in unwanted horses from a range of backgrounds which have resulted in welfare problems for a variety of reasons,” said Tony Tyler, deputy chief executive of World Horse Welfare. “Some have simply become overwhelmed by the huge time and financial commitments required in caring for these animals, whilst we’ve seen examples of others selling on horses to the open market or masking injuries in an attempt to lure in lucrative private buyers.

“If anyone is looking to find a new home for their horse, we’d urge them to carefully consider the various options available,” he continued. “Acting in the best interests of the horse in question should be the main priority whether it be a formerly-raced Thoroughbred or child’s show pony—doing everything possible to safeguard its future welfare is essential.”

Di Arbuthnot, chief executive of RoR, added, "Finding the right home for a horse is so important, but not always that easy. RoR, together with help from World Horse Welfare, has worked hard to promote the adaptability and versatility of thoroughbreds and we are seeing more and more former racehorses thriving in a second career, so there are an increasing number of options now for such horses and less of a role or need for sanctuaries