Horse group hits out over charity's criticism (From Bucks Free Press)

Horse group hits out over charity's criticism

4:18pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in Search

A GROUP which help owners “save” French horses from the meat trade has hit back after being criticised by a Buckinghamshire charity.

Equine Section spoke out after The Horse Trust said the horses could have medical and behavioural problems and were fuelling France’s meat trade.

It said people were aware of behavioural issues and denied the animals had serious medical problems – and said people should be allowed to trade freely.

The Horse Trust, which cares for horses, urged people to re-home a UK horse, particularly as more were being given up in the recession.

Chief executive Paul Jepson said: “By buying these horses people are encouraging the horse-meat trade.

“You may be saving one horse, but your money will fund the breeding of many more horses for the horse-meat trade.”

He said: “Most of the slaughter horses that are rescued only have basic vet checks and may have minor issues such as lice or ticks, or more serious issues, such as an infectious disease.

“It could have behavioural issues and be too much to handle, or it could be permanently lame.

“If people feel they have the time, money and long-term commitment to look after a horse, we would advise them to contact their local equine rehoming centre.”

An outbreak of Equine Infectious Anaemia virus could be brought to the UK with the horses, he warned.

Yet Debbie Hughes, who runs Equine Section, a website which the Speen-based Horse Trust urged people not to use, hit back.

She said: “Anyone who purchases an equine from our site is fully aware that any animal may have soundness or behavioral issues before they purchase.

“This is clearly displayed before joining site.”

She said none of the horses advertised by the not for profit organisation had a “communicable or notifiable disease or infection”. Equine Section campaigns for horse welfare, she said.

Mrs Hughes said: “We have 424 members,and over 300 horses and donkeys living happily in UK at the moment.”

And she said: “To say we are fuelling that trade, is similar to saying that anyone who purchases an animal from market in the UK, out bidding the meat man, is also involved in the trade.”

Mrs Hughes said: “There is free trade within Europe and we live in a free society. We would wish to be allowed to continue to do so without further attack.”

Carlisle resident Heather McLean, who took 11 horses via the website, also hit out.

Mrs McLean, director of the The National Equine (and Smaller Animals) Defence League, said it had done “sterling work” raising awareness about long journeys for slaughter.

The website makes it “very clear that some of the horses may not have been handled and may have health issues”.

Adding “compassion is not a crime” Mrs McLean said demand from horse lovers could give farmers an “alternative” to the meat trade.

She said she took 11 equines, of which three were “a bit timid” at first.