'A pet is for life, not just for Christmas'
It's an old saying, but at this time of year, it's particularly important to remember. There is nothing quite as special as the first time the horse of your dreams comes into your life, especially on such a special day as Christmas Day itself. But as any horse owner will tell you, the reward of making this special connection comes with a lot of hard work.
We don't need to tell you that it's worth it, but there is sadly a growing trend for treating animals as if they're disposable gifts, with many new owners who were once enamoured by the idea of spoiling a loved one with a wonderful Christmas gesture soon feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility and maintenance that comes with caring for a new pet, especially a horse.
The BHS (British Horse Society) is currently trying to raise awareness of the problem, warning against any company that is encouraging people to buy a horse for Christmas.
As the BHS states: Horses need and deserve skilled care from knowledgeable people. In this market, they may be inexpensive to buy, but they can be costly to keep.
The company, Horsemart, recently sent out an email advertising: 'Horses under £500 make great Christmas presents.'
BHS Senior Welfare Executive Lee Hackett said: “We were so disappointed to see such an irresponsible email coming from Horsemart. A horse is for life, not just for Christmas.
Particularly reprehensible is that the horses shown in the email are all young animals designed to pull at the emotions of unsuspecting buyers. These horses would need careful handling from experienced people to develop and prepare for their future. They are most certainly not to be exploited for Christmas.”
The British Horse Society and we here at The Equestrian Blogger encourage anyone with the ability to properly care for a new horse to contact any reputable local Horse Rescue Centre, where you will find plenty of wonderful horses in need of a safe and reliable home.
