Petition on welfare of Wellingborough horses presented in Parliament

A petition about the welfare of horses in Wellingborough has been presented in Parliament.

The petition by Help for Wellingborough Horses was presented in Parliament by Kettering MP Philip Hollobone on behalf of the MP for Wellingborough and Rushden Peter Bone.

Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Mr Hollobone said: "I rise to present a petition at the request of my hon. Friend Mr Bone on behalf of his constituents, as he cannot be here to present it himself as he is shielding.

"His petition is about how we protect vulnerable horses who are mistreated by their owners, particularly those horses on the Embankment in Wellingborough.

"He has asked that the petition be read by the Clerk at the Table."

The Clerk at the Table read the petition out, saying: "That the Petitioners believe that laws regarding the welfare of horses should be reformed and enforced to protect vulnerable horses who are mistreated by their owners on the grounds that the current laws leave the ‘codes of practice’ open to debate and opinion, resulting in horses being neglected by their owners as the law is open to interpretation.

"In particular, the horses who reside by the Embankment in Wellingborough are neglected food, water and shelter, resulting in these animals having a poor-quality life.

"Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House urges the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to introduce reforms to laws regarding the welfare of horses and to work with The Borough Council of Wellingborough and the RSPCA to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to protect the welfare of the horses on the embankment in Wellingborough."

Tweeting afterwards, Mr Bone said: "Looking forward to the response from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs."

The plight of horses in Wellingborough has been a concern for many people for many years, with members of the public regularly raising it with the borough council, the police, their MP, numerous animal organisations including the RSPCA and the Northants Telegraph.

Back in February, a large multi-agency operation took place with 43 horses rescued from flooded fields near Wellingborough's Embankment.

For more information about how some of the horses are getting on now, click here.

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