Amersham Horse Goes From Horrific Conditions To Loving New Home

Amersham horse Wilma who had a terrible start in life is now excelling in her new home thanks to World Horse Welfare’s ‘Rehome a Horse’ month last year. Due the positive feedback and success of last year’s campaign, we have decided to dedicate the month of March as ‘Rehome a Horse’ month for 2012. Wilma was part of the high profile Amersham case where over 100 horses were living in appalling conditions. She arrived at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Snetterton, Norfolk in 2008 in an emaciated condition, covered in lice and suffering from strangles. However, the eight year-old 14.0hh black Cob was backed last year and successfully rehomed to Jan Cooper who lives in Filby, Norfolk in August. Jan decided to visit Hall Farm after hearing about our rehoming campaign last summer: “I did a google search and up popped World Horse Welfare Rehome a Horse month so I thought this seems a bit too good to be true! I was looking for something around 14.0hh and Wilma was there; it seemed a bit like fate really. On the website it gave her age and height, but it did also state on there that she was part of the high profile Amersham rescue. When I actually went into the centre I asked if I could see the pictures from when she first came into the centre. To see what World Horse Welfare has done in the first place to bring her to this point makes you think that it would be really, really nice to be lucky enough to rehome her and give her a lovely life for the rest of her life.” Jan has worked wonders with Wilma and has now started to take part in showing classes and dressage competitions, and explains why other people should consider rehoming a horse during this month’s ‘Rehome a Horse’ month initiative: “To feel like you can to make a difference to these horses is a real big bonus for me. It’s a real buzz point, something to talk about all the time. It’s a real feel good factor, whether it was from an Amersham case or anywhere, I think rehoming a horse from World Horse Welfare is definitely the way to go.” Deputy Chief Executive at World Horse Welfare, Tony Tyler said: “The case of Wilma just goes to show how we can give a horse who has suffered greatly a second chance in life. Seeing those horses being unloaded from the lorry after being collected from Spindles Farm in Amersham back in 2008, you perhaps wouldn’t have believed how much of a transformation they could make. “Wilma is just one example of how we can turn around the life of a horse through the expertise and knowledge of our farm staff. It’s really rewarding to know that they are both giving each other so much pleasure, and I would therefore urge people to consider rehoming a horse or pony from World Horse Welfare.” There are many benefits of rehoming one of our horses compared to buying, which include:

• You know exactly what you are getting - All of our horses are fully MOT’d and come with health records, microchip and passport. You also get a frank and fair assessment of the ability and temperament of the horse.
• Rehoming one horse helps another – When you take in a rescue horse, you help other horses by making space at our Rescue and Rehoming Centres.
• Feel-good factor of transforming the life of a horse – Rehoming one of our horses is an immensely rewarding experience.
• Our horses come with a safety net – We rehome a horse for life but in uncertain times it is reassuring to know that you can return the horse to us if your circumstances change or if your child outgrows it.
• A lifetime of advice and support – When you rehome one of our horses you have the full breadth of our 85 years of horse experience at your disposal.

Wilma was rehomed from World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming in Snetterton, Norfolk. Hall Farm’s opening hours are 10am-4pm every Wednesday, weekend and Bank Holiday. For more information please call 01953 499100. To find out more about all of our horses ready to be rehomed at all four of our UK Rescue and Rehoming Centres, please visit www.worldhorsewelfare.org/rehoming

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