Shropshire MP makes appeal on abandoned horse problem
A Shropshire MP has called for new laws to tackle the problem of abandoned horses.
The Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard raised the matter with the Leader of the House of Commons, William Hague, at Business Questions.
He said the RSPCA had spoken of a "horse welfare crisis" in England with more than 900 horses being abandoned in 2014 and 3,000 being illegally grazed, which impacted on councils and private landowners.
He urged the Government to consider following the lead of the Welsh Assembly Government and introduce better "traceability and enforcement" of those who abandon horses by introducing similar legislation to the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014.
Mr Pritchard said: "Most owners look after their horses with great care and affection, but far too many horses are being left abandoned or illegally grazed throughout England, including some cases in Shropshire. I hope that more can be done to help reverse this unfortunate trend."
It costs the RSPCA about £2.9 million a year to look after these animals and
is also supporting the Control of Horses Bill, which recently passed committee stage at the Commons.
About 70 per cent of horses taken in by the RSPCA cannot be linked to an owner.
