A new cost-of-living survey from the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) reveals growing concern among horse owners and keepers across the UK. The survey, which gathered responses from over 6,000 equine owners, paints a troubling picture of the financial strain the ongoing economic crisis and climate change are placing on equine care.
Key Findings:
- 81% of respondents are deeply concerned about rising costs.
- 39% report a medium to high impact on their ability to afford basic equine care, forcing many to make personal sacrifices.
- Veterinary fees, farrier services, and insurance premiums have all increased dramatically.
- 20% of owners have taken on additional jobs or increased work hours to cover the costs of care.
- Alarmingly, 2% are considering relinquishing their animals to charities, while 5% are weighing euthanasia due to financial hardship.
One respondent shared the heartbreaking reality: “I can’t afford to call vets out of hours anymore… I can’t afford the farrier regularly anymore.”
Despite these pressures, equine ownership remains crucial to some owners’ mental health, with several going without basic needs such as food and heating to prioritize their horses’ care. Climate change has also emerged as a growing concern, with many owners reporting challenges with grazing and turnout due to extreme weather patterns.
What Horse Owners Should Know: While the outlook appears bleak, the report also highlights some positive trends. Many owners are moving toward more sustainable care practices, including forage-based diets and testing-led worm control methods, which benefit both their horses’ physical and mental well-being. The shift towards longer turnout times is also yielding positive welfare outcomes.
Rebecca Boulert, Education Officer at World Horse Welfare, noted, “This year’s survey shows that these problems are just not going away. Owners’ main concerns for the coming year are how they are going to afford essential items like vet costs, emergency care, feed, and forage.”
The findings, aimed at informing policymakers, reveal a critical need for financial support and intervention as equine welfare organizations, too, struggle with rising costs and declining donations.
What’s Next: The full results of the NEWC survey will be shared with the UK Government and local authorities to highlight the urgent need for policy changes and potential financial support for those most affected.
For more details on the report, and the work from NEWC Here.
