Horses being smuggled out of Dover highlight sickening threat to vulnerable animals

A consignment of horses abandoned at a Kent holding yard when authorities discovered they were being smuggled out of the UK has been rescued by World Horse Welfare. The mixed load of 26 frightened and vulnerable animals had been crammed onto a transporter to be exported, possibly from Ireland, through Britain and on to Europe, but only 19 of them had the necessary paperwork for the journey and many had health issues making them unfit to travel. At a time when the UK Government’s Animal Welfare (Live Exports) Bill is progressing through the House of Lords, the case highlights the illegal trade in horses and why secondary legislation and robust enforcement and equine traceability are vital to protect British horses and ponies from an unknown fate.

Shortly after their arrival at our Norfolk Rescue and Rehoming Centre, the group were found to be carrying Equine Influenza, a highly contagious disease affecting horses. Despite the Dover 26 being quarantined when they first arrived, the outbreak forced the farm to go into lockdown whilst the horses were treated to minimise the chances of further spread across the farm: a logistical and financial challenge for the charity.

Multiple infringements of transport regulations were also apparent – both when the horses were first discovered and subsequently when the horses were processed in Norfolk. These included horses not healthy or fit enough for their intended journey, inappropriate space allowance for the number of horses being travelled, travelling unhandled horses, horses being travelled without passports, and excessive journey time.

At least five of the mares are pregnant, with a couple heavily pregnant where the risk to the mare and foal is high, and one of which is suffering badly from laminitis. Sadly, an elderly mare with severe arthritis was in such a poor condition that she had to be put to sleep. Amongst those rescued are a number of young, unhandled colts who were visibly terrified by their ordeal and smuggled on board as they were most likely surplus to a breeder’s requirements.

We have long been campaigning for a ban on the live export of horses for slaughter from Britain, and whilst the forthcoming Animal Welfare (Live Exports) Bill is welcomed by the charity, the case of the Dover 26 demonstrates the need for secondary legislation that will introduce measures to help ensure the ban can be enforced.