Horse
facts and statistics
TOGETHER WE CAN IMPROVE...HORSE WELFARE
This short briefing provides the key facts and statistics about the horse crisis over the six years (20092014).
The public’s concerns
● Calls from the public about the number of horses feared to have been abandoned has decreased
between 2009-2014 by 1% although in 2014 this was still 1,425 (which works out at just under 4
per day).
● Calls from the public about the number of horses feared to be suffering from cruelty and neglect
has risen by 9% between 2009-2014. In 2014 this was 75,610 (which works out at over 200 per
day).
● Between 2009-2014 the RSPCA has received calls from just short of 500,000 people concerned
about either neglected or abandoned horses.
On the ground
● The number of horses being collected by our inspectors has doubled over the past six years - a
108% increase.
● Our inspectors have collected 7,018 equines - on average three a day. In 2009 it was almost two
a day and has risen to just over four a day in 2014.
● The number of neglected equines our inspectors are collecting has almost doubled between
2009-2014 - a 178% increase.
● The number of abandoned equines our inspectors are collecting is up 154%.
● The number of equines removed by our inspectors and taken straight to the vets has increased
by 94%, from 54 in 2009 to 105 in 2014.
● The RSPCA has a 16-strong team of specialist equine inspectors, who come from a variety of
backgrounds including farriery, racing, show jumping, dressage and eventing.
In our care
● The RSPCA has places for 113 horses and ponies and 30 donkeys in our three specialist equine
centres and two animal centres equipped to take equines.
● The number of equines rescued by our inspectors and taken into our centres, boarding, foster
homes or other charities has risen by 391% between 2009-2014.
● At the end of 2014 the RSPCA had 679 equines in our care. 13% of these have places at our
centres, 13% are being looked after by foster carers and the remainder in private boarding (60%)
because we simply do not have enough room at a our centres.
● For every equine being cared for in an RSPCA centre seven more are waiting in private boarding
or foster care waiting for a place.
● It cost the RSPCA an estimated £2.95 million to care for ponies, horses and donkeys last year, not
including expensive veterinary or prosecution costs. (Figure based on an estimate cost of £10 a
day per equine in boarding or at an RSPCA centre).
● It costs about £3,650 a year to care for a horse in RSPCA - before any expensive veterinary or
legal costs (based on a cost of £10 per day).
Picking up the pieces
● The number of horses, ponies and donkeys rehomed by the RSPCA has more than doubled over
the past six years - from 145 in 2009 to 378 in 2014 and a further 242 on probation with potential
LAST UPDATED: 07.05.15
PAGE 1
PRODUCED BY: D. Bowles, C. Robinson
new owners.
● Nearly 1,200 equines have been rehomed by the RSPCA over the past six years (from 2009 2014). This is the highest ever and is responsible for the fall in horses under RSPCA care.
● On average an equine will be in our care for 197 days before being rehomed.
● The number of RSPCA convictions relating to equines has increased by 73%.
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Total
% increase
2009-2014
% change
2013-2014
Equines collected by
inspectors
722
679
1,039
1,275
1,797
1,506
7,018
108%
-16%
Collected as result
of abandonment
41
15
36
60
77
104
333
154%
35%
Collected as a result
of neglect
334
371
681
792
1,302
930
4,410
178%
-29%
Taken for vet
treatment
54
105
178
107
227
105
776
94%
-54%
Taken into RSPCA
care (boarding,
centre or other
charity)
250
218
400
569
853
1,227
3,517
391%
144%
Number of horses
complained about to
the RSPCA
72,562
92,065
84,306
91,745
93,620
82,886
587,184
14%
-11%
Number of horses
reported to the
RSPCA as being
abandoned
1,532
1,502
1,648
1,978
2,553
1,425
10,638
-1%
-44%
Number of horses
reported to the
RSPCA as being
neglected
68,859
87,684
79,360
83,776
86,846
75,610
482,135
9%
-12%
Equines rehomed by
the RSPCA (includes
those on probation)
145
156
244
305
324
378
1,174
161%
16%
(159)
(242)
(401)
Number of
convictions relating
to equines
212
585
367
2,069
73%
-37%
LAST UPDATED: 07.05.15
175
230
500
PAGE 2
PRODUCED BY: D. Bowles, C. Robinson