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‘Smuggled’ pregnant mare gives birth after being rescued
The mare and foal have been named after the founder of World Horse Welfare.
The horse was one of 26 animals found in Dover. 

The last of five pregnant mares rescued after they were discovered by authorities in Dover, Kent, has given birth to a healthy foal.

The mare was one of 26 horses and ponies, dubbed the Dover 26, who were abandoned at a holding yard. It is believed that the horses were being smuggled and may have ended up in a European slaughterhouse.

Only 19 of the animals had the necessary paperwork and many of them had health issues which made them unfit to travel. One of them was in such a poor state it had to be euthanised.

Since the rescue, the animals have been looked after by the charity World Horse Welfare at Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Snetterton, Norfolk. The mare has been named Ada and the filly foal Cole, after Ada Cole, the founder of World Horse Welfare.

The charity has created a #StopHorseSmuggling pledge for supporters to sign to urge decision makers to crack down on the illegal trade.

Megan Jarvis, a groom at Hall Farm looking after Ada and Cole, said: “These two are the lucky ones as they have a bright future ahead of them and once Cole has been weaned our charity will ensure they are found loving new homes.

“I can’t bear to think about all the other horses that aren’t as lucky as them and having to go on even longer journeys in worse conditions. I, for one, will be signing the pledge and hope that others will join me in doing the same.”

Although the Dover 26 were rescued, nobody has faced legal action over the incident.

Kim Ayling, senior public affairs officer at World Horse Welfare, said: “Unfortunately due to the lack of information to be able to properly trace the background of the Dover 26 movements before being discovered, it has made a possible prosecution quite challenging.

“We have approached all of the local authorities who could have taken legal action and none of them have wanted to take that forward.”

The charity’s pledge can be signed here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."