People urged to give up one luxury to help equine victims

HORSE-lovers in the south-east horrified by the plight of equines at Spindles Farm in Hyde Heath, Buckinghamshire, have launched Operation Esther to help care for the animals that survived.

A total of 31 equines were found dead on the site, which was owned by a horse trader. Three more were destroyed because they were too ill to be moved or rehabilitated.

A rescue operation was launched to save 84 horses, ponies and donkeys from a field where more of the animals had already died. The RSPCA, Thames Valley Police, the International League for the Protection of Horses and Redwings Horse Sanctuary were involved in the rescued.

The online community of the Horse and Hound Open Forum started Operation Esther, named after the two-month-old donkey foal rescued from this equine 'concentration camp'.

It is asking people to support the horse charities involved, especially with financial donations or gifts of rugs, blankets, equipment or veterinary supplies.

For full story see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette January 23