Horse Rescue Scotland

Horse Rescue Scotland A Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SCO44484. Please contact us at: [email protected] Exact figures are NOT
available.

Press Release:
Gartcosh, Glasgow 6th January 2014. Horse Rescue Scotland – A Newly Launched Charity
On the 6th December 2013, Horse Rescue Scotland received consent for registration as a charity by the Office of the
Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Formed in response to the growing crisis in equine welfare, with specific reference to Scotland, the aims of Horse
Rescue Scotland are:‐
1: to provid

e for the veterinary care, comfort and adequate welfare of horses, ponies, donkeys and other
equine breeds in situ or in places of sanctuary;
2: to promote knowledge, education and interest in the welfare of horses and ponies in Scotland
3: to promote and advance best practice, skills and knowledge amongst owners;
4: to relieve the suffering and distress, illness and discomfort of horses, ponies, donkeys and other equine
breeds. Background
What is the problem:
A recent survey of England and Wales by World Horse Welfare estimated that 7,000 horses and ponies were
considered welfare risks evidenced by the boom in “fly‐grazing” of horses on roadside verges and public
spaces generally;
The doubling of horses slaughtered in the UK at the three registered slaughter houses to almost 8,000
annually and a massive increase in horse meat exported abroad;
Existing horse sanctuaries are unable to cope with demand;
The estimated cost of keeping a horse or pony is estimated by BETA as being just over £3,500 per annum to
provide very basic care. Princess Anne in a recent speech referred to a “crisis in horse welfare” that might only be alleviated if we started
eating horse meat by elective choice. That if horses have a value in the meat sector when dead then they might be
valued more, cared for better, when alive. The image of horse owners is that of moneyed affluence but the reality is that horses and ponies are the first victims
of the recession and the last to recover. There are too many horses and simply not enough responsible owners with sufficient knowledge and means to keep
them. It is estimated that there are over 1m horses in the UK and some 450,000 owners. Irresponsible breeding has also played a part and this is compounded by the failure of some owners to geld colts due
to rising costs of veterinary care or misconceived notions of the bloodstock value of the horses and ponies they
breed. The market value of horses as a commodity has never been lower. Very often horses and ponies cannot be
given away let alone sold on. The problems have been compounded by the perceived failure of the Westminster AND devolved administrations to
maintain accurate and timely horse ID registers or records of owners and the virtual collapse of the “Horse Passport”
scheme on DEFRA walking away from the project in September 2012 ‐ despite EU legislation demanding that such
schemes exist to prevent contaminated horse meat from entering the human food chain. The Value of the equine community to Scotland
This has been estimated by Horse Rescue Scotland as being between £500m and £700m (GVM basis) per annum
based on extensive research carried out by Deloitte’s for the British horse racing industry and by others on behalf of
the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA). The equine community is an embedded part of the overall rural economy that receives very little in the way of
government support or subsidy whatsoever and precious little recognition. Horse Rescue Scotland – An Overview
Horse Rescue Scotland is an organisation that has been set up by like‐minded individuals to achieve four basic aims
which are enshrined as being our objectives:
We know that there exists in Scotland today a large number of horses and ponies in distress. This may be the result
of wilful neglect, but our experience is that it is almost certainly the result of the failure of one of the following
essentials:‐
• An owner no longer capable of providing care
• An owner ignorant of a horse’s genuine needs
• A horse or pony falling ill or lame or simply old
Horse Rescue Scotland wants to help. Horse Rescue Scotland also wishes to help build a community of interested and like‐minded individuals who want to
be around horses. Comment
Peter MacDonald, Chairman of Horse Rescue Scotland comments: “There has never been a greater need for the
services of a dedicated horse welfare organisation such as Horse Rescue Scotland. Animal welfare is a devolved issue
within a European legal context but an issue lost and overshadowed in the concentration and emphasis upon animal
health generally and the concern over food traceability. Our mission is to bring the issues of horse welfare to the
forefront of discussions at the highest levels and to provide positive and practical assistance to horse owners in
financial distress and a sanctuary for as many horses and ponies as we can.”
Further Notes, Information and References:
Please e‐mail: [email protected]
Please visit Horse Rescue Scotland’s website www.horserescuescotland.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HorseRescueScotland
Twitter https://twitter.com/HorseRescueScot

08/06/2026
07/06/2026

🐴🤣 Maybe the horses are addicted to me… y’all ever think of that?

Everyone’s always asking:

“Why are you so obsessed with your horse?”

But has anyone stopped to consider the alternative?

Maybe the horses see my car pull in and thinks:

✨ YES! My human has arrived!

Maybe he spends all day staring dramatically into the distance waiting for me.

Maybe he neighs because he misses me.

Maybe he follows me round the field because he adores me.

Maybe he nudges my pockets because he just wants to be close to me…

Or...

Maybe I smell vaguely of treats. Maybe I’m the bringer of dinner. Maybe I’m five minutes later than usual and he’s filing an official complaint.

The truth is, horse relationships are a little bit like long-term marriages.

You spend a fortune on them. You organise your entire life around them. You worry about them constantly. You tell everyone how wonderful they are.

And they mostly just want snacks.

Still… when they choose to stand with us, follow us, trust us, or rest their head on our shoulder, it feels pretty special.

So yes, maybe I’m addicted to my horse…

But I’m fairly certain he’s at least a little bit addicted to me too.

(Or my treat bag. We may never know.) 🐴❤️🤣

06/06/2026

🌱🐴 With the recent increase in rainfall, grass growth is surging, and so is the risk of laminitis!

If you're a horse or pony owner, now is the perfect time to refresh your knowledge and know what signs to look out for.

Laminitis in 3 Steps by Dr Kieran O’Brien provides a practical guide to:
✅ Step 1: Spotting the disease
🔗https://askanimalweb.com/laminitis-in-3-steps-step-1-spotting-the-disease/
✅ Step 2: First Aid for Laminitis
🔗https://askanimalweb.com/laminitis-in-3-steps-step-2-first-aid-for-laminitis/
✅ Step 3: Long-Term Care
🔗https://askanimalweb.com/laminitis-in-3-steps-step-3-long-term-care/

👉Early recognition and prompt action can make all the difference.

04/06/2026

🐴✨ Make a Simple “Sniff Pot” for Your Horse

One of the easiest ways to add a little curiosity and enrichment to your horse’s day is with something we call a Sniff Pot.

It’s simple to make, inexpensive, and surprisingly interesting for many horses.

All you need is:

• A strong plastic container with a lid
• A few small holes drilled into the top
• Something interesting for your horse to smell

That’s it. 😊

Horses naturally explore the world through scent, and many really enjoy investigating new smells when they’re introduced gently and safely.

Some horses become very curious.
Some sniff thoughtfully and quietly.
Some clearly have opinions about which scents they like… and which ones they definitely do not. 😄

It’s a lovely way to encourage calm investigation, curiosity, and thinking.

You may even notice your horse becoming more confident about exploring new things over time.

Here are a few interesting things you can try inside your Sniff Pot:

🌿 Herbs
• Fenugreek (many horses seem to love this one)
• Peppermint
• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Dried mint leaves

🍎 Food scents
• Banana peel
• Cinnamon stick
• Cloves (very small amount)
• Vanilla essence on cotton wool

🌸 Nature smells
• Pine needles
• Eucalyptus leaves
• Flowers such as roses or marigolds
• Safe leaves or bark from horse-safe trees

✨ Essential oils (very tiny amounts only)
Place a drop or two on a cotton ball inside the container.

Some horses enjoy:
• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Frankincense
• Chamomile

The important thing is to let your horse choose.

Some horses will be fascinated by certain smells and completely uninterested in others.

That’s part of the fun.

You’re learning more about what your horse enjoys while also giving them something new and interesting to explore.

And watching your horse carefully investigate a new scent with those soft whiskers twitching will give you a smile. 😊🐴

If you’d like more simple ideas like this to enjoy with your horse, I’ve left a link in the comments below. ✨

03/06/2026

31/05/2026

Horses evolved to eat almost continuously. This is not a training philosophy, a trend, or a management preference. It is how their digestive system evolved to function.

A horse’s stomach produces acid constantly, whether food is present or not. When forage is removed for long periods, that acid has nothing to buffer it. Over time, this increases the risk of gastric irritation, ulcers, and digestive discomfort.

Forage is also regulation. The act of chewing, swallowing, and slow intake supports calm behaviour and nervous system stability. When horses are left without fibre, we often see pacing, fence walking, irritability, wood chewing, or food obsession. Those are not training issues. They are welfare signals.

“My horse needs restricted sugar and calories.”
Absolutely. Here’s how we do that without compromising welfare.

Restricting grass does not mean restricting forage. Horses who need sugar control still require continuous access to fibre. Slow feeder nets, hay pillows, and grazing bags allow intake to be managed while preserving natural foraging behaviour.

Muzzles serve a similar purpose on grass. They allow horses to stay moving, social, and engaged in natural foraging behaviour while protecting metabolic health. Used correctly, they are a management tool, not a punishment.

Regulation comes from a species-appropriate lifestyle. Deprivation does not create regulation.

What is not species appropriate is prolonged periods with nothing to eat. No hay. No grass. No fibre.

Good horse care is about meeting biological needs while managing risk. Continuous access to forage, even when intake must be slowed or restricted, is one of the most basic welfare standards we have.

25/05/2026

FREE POSTER ON HEATWAVE ADVICE

DOWNLOAD HI RES VERSION- drdavidmarlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/DM_HeatwavePoster_A4_high-2.pdf

Address

Eden Leisure Village, Millcroft Road
Glasgow
G674AG

Telephone

+447930630573

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