Safe Haven for Horses

Horse World - www.horseworld.org.uk

HorseWorld is the leading UK charity caring primarily for horses, ponies and donkeys.

They rescue, rehabilitate and re-home animals who have been abandoned, neglected or ill-treated.

HorseWorld was set up in 1952 as "The Friends of Bristol Horses Society" in a campaign to save the lives of working horses who were rapidly being replaced by motorised vehicles in industry. 

Under the banner of “Retirement Not Slaughter” - for many were destined for the abattoir - it offered a safe haven in Bristol for the big-hearted horses, ponies and donkeys that had worked all of their lives on the railways, in the dockyards, the coal mines, the armed forces and on the roads.

It works closely with partner organisations and equine welfare charities to rescue equines-in-need, putting together a tailored programme of rehabilitation before seeking, wherever possible, to re-home every horse with experienced & loving loaners.

HorseWorld retains legal ownership of every horse, pony or donkey to ensure their continued welfare after they have been re-homed and the Team are always on hand to provide any advice and support to the Loaner.

Rescued horses and ponies have often suffered neglect or abuse and many show signs of psychological or physical trauma. Because of this, each animal needs an individual programme of rehabilitation which often includes veterinary care, dentistry and farriery, as well as handling and training, to improve their chances of eventually being rehomed.

HorseWorld also works with:

• Probation Service to provide hundreds of placements for adults carrying out community service orders. 
• Groups of youth offenders regularly helping out at the charity’s equine yard. 
• South Bristol CAF team in using a course in equine care to help teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds and those excluded from school. 

Discovery Courses at HorseWorld

The horse is a unique, ideal tool to promote emotional growth and learning in young people. Bringing horses together with young people can have staggering results. The experience of Discovery Course tutors working with young people shows:

• Those who struggle to communicate can find working with horses helps them learn about themselves, enabling them to interact more positively with others
• Those who find it hard to concentrate or to control their impulses can focus on a horse for long periods while grooming or leading the animal
• Withdrawn students often begin to express themselves, developing words or gestures they haven’t previously used.

The positive influence gained through contact with the horses is recognised by the many different organisations and referral schemes seeking to place individual clients with HorseWorld - clients with a range of special needs, learning difficulties, mental health problems and those recovering from addiction.