Welsh fly-grazing at 'crisis point'
Image - SWHP
The routine abandonment of horses on private land, dubbed fly-grazing, has become a major problem in Wales. The trade in horses has been affected severely by the economic climate and unscrupulous owners have responded by simply abandoning their animals without regard for their welfare or public safety. South Wales Police have revealed that they received 497 calls related to abandoned horses in Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan last month and the RSPCA have investigated almost 2000 welfare complaints in the past year. The abandonment is often accompanied by trespassing and forcible entry to private property, and there have been allegations of intimidation and threats of physical violence.
Such abandonment has dangerous implications for the horses' welfare. The Redwings Sanctuary of Norfolk recently had to rescue 23 horses which were left to fly-graze near Cardiff Airport and three had to be euthanised on medical grounds. "Sadly three of them were succumbing to respiratory conditions and the only humane thing to do was to put them to sleep." explained vet Nick De Brauwere.
Some countermeasures have been put in place. South Wales Police have activated a dedicated Task Force which will be working in conjunction with local authorities to tackle the problem. Superintendent Paul James, who is in command of the Task Force, outlined the legal response to fly-grazing: "If they're on the highway, we will take them off you: if we take them off you and you want them back it'll cost you £200." Cardiff Council has also appointed a dedicated Horse Warden. However, the confiscation strategy has already run into problems after a group of stray horses which were being held in a secure compound were recently stolen from the compound under cover of darkness.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
