EQUINE charities across the UK are appealing to horse owners across Worcestershire to lobby parliament to introduce tougher laws about horse welfare.

The British Horse Society (BHS) says it needs the public to support a landmark report that warns of an impending crisis in England and Wales which could leave 6,000 horses at risk.

The charity is appealing to people to lobby their MP and secretary of state Owen Paterson to introduce tough new legislation.

The report, ‘On the Verge: the approaching Equine Crisis in England and Wales’, also predicts that another harsh winter will leave animal charities physically unable to cope and asks what will happen to the increasing numbers of horses being abandoned or suffering from welfare concerns.

Lee Hackett, senior director of welfare for the BHS, said: “The number of horses being abandoned has increased in the recession as people struggle to feed their pets.”

Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare, said organisations were already at breaking point with a severe shortage of available places.

“We are aware of an additional 6,000 horses which could be at risk over the winter,” he said.

“Charities are asking the public to rehome more horses, for horse owners to take responsibility for their animals and not pass the problem onto local authorities, charities and landowners, and for the Government and other agencies to meet us half-way and help rein in this problem before another winter of misery for hundreds of horses and ponies.

“These are all groups of horses that are on the edge of becoming welfare concerns, either because their owners are struggling to look after them or because they are not getting the care they need and ownership is unclear.

“We could not cope if even a fraction of this number needed to be rescued. We are urging members of the public who can offer a horse a home to please do so now.”

Nicolas de Brauwere, head of welfare at Redwings Horse Sanctuary and chairman of the National Equine Welfare Council, said: “It is an extremely serious state of affairs. In February this year, for example, we had a situation where a group of more than 60 horses and ponies that had been left to fend for themselves in Wales were facing euthanasia by the local authority which had found itself in an impossible situation through the irresponsible actions of a callous owner.

“On that occasion, several charities stepped up at the last moment and offered them a home, but we had to stretch ourselves and our teams to the limit to do so.

“Another case like that may be the final straw, which is why we urgently need the help and support of both the public and the government as this winter approaches.

“Absolutely no one wants to see horses put to sleep but local authorities may be faced with some very difficult decisions if the situation does not improve.”