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Hall Farm restarts rehoming after strangles outbreak
There are eight horses and ponies now available for rehoming.
A case of strangles prevented rehoming for a number of months.

Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre has made eight horses and ponies available for rehoming, as it restarts its initiative.

The World Horse Welfare farm, located in Snetterton, was forced to close after a newly rescued horse tested positive for strangles on 5 February.

The arrival had been one of 20 horses and ponies rescued from being smuggled out of the country. Despite strict protocols, the respiratory disease soon spread to other horses on the farm.

In response to the outbreak, World Horse Welfare was forced to cancel all equestrian events at the centre and suspend its rehoming initiative.

To manage the outbreak, Hall Farm is carefully managing its horses. There are separate teams caring for horses at different infection statuses, with paddocks designated as red, amber or green zones.

Horses reach ‘green zone status’ when they have tested clear from strangles and been vaccinated.

With so many horses now in the green zone paddock, Hall Farm has been able to restart its rehoming initiative. Every horse and pony made available for rehoming has been screened using a gold standard test (guttural pouch lavage), completed a two-dose strangles booster vaccination course, and spent quarantine in the green zone paddock.

Sue Hodgkins, Hall Farm centre manager, said: “With the outbreak well and truly under control, we’re delighted to be able to start finding new homes for our horses again.

“Hall Farm is currently at maximum capacity, so we can’t take in any more equines in need of our expert care until we make space by finding some of our horses and ponies loving homes of their own.

“I’d urge anyone looking for a horse to consider rehoming – by doing so, you’re not only offering that horse or pony a second chance in life, but also making space for another one in need to come into our care.”

Although horses and ponies are now available for rehoming, the centre is not yet open for visitors. Hall Farm is expecting to reopen for the summer holidays, but will be providing updates on its Facebook page.

Image © Shutterstock

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