World Horse Welfare launches The Great British Horse Survey 2010
World Horse Welfare launches The Great British Horse Survey 2010 |
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Leading international equine charity World Horse Welfare today launches the Great British Horse Survey 2010. The charity is asking everyone with an interest in horses to take part, making it the biggest survey of its kind ever undertaken.
With questions on a range of issues, including practical problems facing those looking after horses and general perceptions of welfare standards, the aim is to create the most complete picture of the equine community ever held in Britain.
Elite eventing star and trustee of World Horse Welfare, Pippa Funnell MBE, is lending her support to the survey. She is urging all those involved in the equine community, in any capacity, to go online and have their say at www.horsesurvey.co.uk
Pippa said: "People often do not realise the scale of equine abuse which still exists in the UK. Britain certainly has a reputation as a nation of horse lovers, but with an increasing number of abuse cases, it seems we are in danger of tarnishing it. This survey is a great opportunity for those people who love and enjoy horses to offer their views about what they think are the most pressing issues facing the equine community."
World Horse Welfare investigates nearly 2,000 welfare concerns annually, and last year its field officers carried out 10 per cent more visits than the year before. The charity aims to stamp out suffering by tackling the root causes of mistreatment and neglect. It does this by campaigning for improved treatment and tighter legislation, rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing horses in need, and educating owners on how to provide better care. It wants to see an end to cases like Amersham where 125 horses, ponies and donkeys were found in a state of severe neglect.
Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, said: "Despite the 2006 Animal Welfare Act which makes owners accountable for the welfare of their animals, we are still dealing with an unacceptably high number of equine cruelty cases. This shows there is a lot still to be done to eliminate horse suffering in the UK.
"The Great British Horse Survey will enable us to gain an in-depth insight into the overall state and perceptions of horse welfare issues in the UK today, and complement the tireless work our field officers carry out on the ground every day. Ultimately it is about supporting our commitment to tackle the root causes of welfare abuse in the UK, and to achieve this we need to galvanise everyone who has an interest in horses to complete this important survey."
Go online at http://www.horsesurvey.co.uk to fill out the survey before 30th November 2010 and be entered into a draw to win a place on the 2011 Canadian Wilderness Challenge Ride.
World Horse Welfare's Great British Horse Survey 2010
Q&As
1. Why is World Horse Welfare carrying out The Great British Horse Survey?
Despite the UK's reputation as a nation of horse lovers, equine welfare cases in the UK are actually on the rise. World Horse Welfare's own data indicates a 57 per cent rise in the number of call out visits made by its field officers between 2004 and 2009.
The Great British Horse Survey will enable us to gain an in-depth insight into the overall state and perceptions of horse welfare issues in the UK today - supporting our commitment to tackle the root causes of welfare abuse.
2. What kind of topics will be covered in The Great British Horse Survey?
We want this survey to provide us with as wide ranging a picture of horse welfare in the UK as possible.
We will be asking for the equine community's views on a range of topics from overweight horses, regulation in equine sports industries, vaccinations, opinions on horse welfare issues, to simply where people find information on how to care for their horse.
3. Who is The Great British Horse Survey aimed at?
We want everyone with an interest in horses to have their say - the more people who complete the survey the better picture we will have of perceptions of horse welfare issues in the UK today.
We are encouraging people to help us make this the biggest survey of its kind and spread the word among their friends, family and colleagues who have a vested interest in horse welfare.
4. How many people do you expect to reach with the survey?
We want to reach as many people as possible and make The Great British Horse Survey 2010 the biggest of its kind.
We have set a target of 30,000 responses which should provide us with a comprehensive picture of the state of horse welfare and people's perceptions of horse welfare issues in the UK today. We really need your help to achieve this.
Every voice counts in The Great British Horse Survey and we are asking people to make use of their social networks on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word.
5. How will the results be used by World Horse Welfare?
We are expecting The Great British Horse Survey to throw the spotlight on some new issues and identify areas that perhaps still need work, helping us at World Horse Welfare to shape our work and ensure resources are concentrated in the right areas.
This is an extremely useful exercise to ensure that World Horse Welfare has aligned itself with the concerns and needs of the equine community, to ensure that moving forwards we speak with one voice.
6. Will you be repeating The Great British Horse Survey in the future?
Research projects like these are an important way to supplement World Horse Welfare's day to day work on the ground, and depending on the success of this survey, we would be keen to replicate something similar in the future.
7. When will The Great British Survey take place?
The survey will go live on the 3rd September 2010 and will be online at www.horsesurvey.co.uk until 30th November 2010.
Added on: 02/09/10.
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