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HorseMates!
- A National database to improve the quality of life for all
horses and ponies (www.horsemates.com) |
HorseMates!
Has been formed in order to create a National database of horse
and pony details, primarily to help stop abuse of horses and ponies
by unscrupulous individuals, but also to allow people to find
out what happened to horses and ponies that have moved on to pastures
new.
There
have been many stories of horses or ponies being sold to people
because they look as though they would be suited to a particular
task, when in truth there are medical or psychological reasons
why the animal can not perform the task. A friend of ours purchased
a young, healthy looking thoroughbred horse from a respectable
individual, with a view to doing a little jumping when the horse
and rider became better acquainted. After only a little light
exercise, the poor horse was really showing signs of distress.
The vet was called and upon further investigation the horse was
diagnosed with a serious heart condition and a much shortened
life expectancy. Our friend decided to keep the horse as a companion
for their old pony, however, not all horses or ponies are that
lucky! You could say that our friend should have used a vet before
the purchase, but people don't always do the right thing when
they are buying a horse or pony, especially if the seller seems
to be a genuine person.
As
a less dramatic, yet more common example, a lady came to us who
had adopted a young horse from a local sanctuary. He seemed to
have some discomfort and was continually shaking his head. She
had the dentist check him out and discovered that the horse had
a mis-aligned palate. This meant that a tooth was pressing on
the bit and causing pain. The dentist floated the tooth in question
so that it was not long enough to press on the bit and cause pain.
The lady has documented this information against her horse in
HorseMates! Now, if for any reason, the horse has to go to a new
owner, he won't have to suffer while the new owner discovers the
problem. They can find out everything about him from HorseMates!
Vetting
a horse is a little like an MOT on your car, it is only good on
the day it was performed. Even a vet can't always diagnose habits
or behaviours, or like and dislikes or maybe reactions to abuse
from a former owner that could end up placing a new owner in a
dangerous situation or the horse or pony in a situation that could
range from unpleasant to dangerous. We all love our horses and
ponies, and if they have to be re-housed, we want to make sure
that everything goes as well for them as it can.
Often,
a horse or a pony will not be owned by person for life. Many things
can occur during the lifetime of a horse that will cause the need
for the animal to be re-housed. Children coming along, changes
in financial situation, changes in domestic situations seem to
be the main culprits. Some people like to work with animals, maybe
youngsters, maybe rescue animals, to prepare them for a better
life with new owners. Sometimes horses or ponies are bought and
sold by people that are more interested in the money they can
make rather than the well-being of the horse. Fortunately, these
people are not so common as they used to be.
HorseMates!
received strong support from the WEO (World Equine Organisation
www.weo.org) as this remarkable equine charity believed that this
database will make a big difference to the quality of life for
our equine friends.
Mary
King, the top UK 3 Day Eventer said " I believe that the
HorseMates! database is a really good way to help provide protection
for horses and ponies, and it's free! I would encourage all owners
to enter the details of their horses or ponies into the HorseMates!
database."
It
only takes five minutes to enter your horse details in HorseMates!,
surely your horse is worth it? Why not visit www.horsemates.com
and enter the details of your horse or pony?
www.horsemates.com
the equine register dedicated to the protection and well-being
of your horses and ponies
.
