Quest

Sometimes keeping a horse/pony/donkey is no longer an option, but other options do exist. Horses and other equines are high maintenance animals, and can suffer a great deal if not provided with the basics of care necessary for their well-being. It is every horse owners responsibility to ensure the care of their equines. This includes making wise decisions when it comes to the disposal of an unwanted horse.

Al on arrivalThere is simply no excuse for leaving a horse unattended, unfed, and its care neglected. If you are no longer able, or no longer wish to care for your horse/s, please fulfill your responsibility to them by placing them in the appropriate hands. If having trouble doing so, please ask for help.

Quest does accept equines for care, rehabilitation and re homing, but does so under fairly specific criteria. Due to space limitations and financial constraints, it is necessary for us to prioritise when assessing an equine and its situation for potential acceptance.

Quest will accept any equine for care whose immediately and foreseeable physical condition is such that its well-being is under threat.

We cannot extend ourselves to accept equines who are simply seeking a retirement home or are proving difficult to sell.

 

If you would like to discuss the possibility of surrendering your horse, pony, or donkey whose well-being is genuinely under threat, please do contact us.

You may also visit our Network Affiliate listings page to possibly locate a member who is close to your location.

 

There is absolutely no shame whatsoever in surrendering a much loved horse or pony to another individual or organisation in order to ensure that he/she is provided with the care needed. If unable to provide that care yourself, it is in fact the only decent thing to do.

 

 

 
SEASONAL TIP - TAKE CARE, SPRING IS IN THE AIR!

LAMINITIS - from Quest Vice President, Dr. J. Mulholland BSc. BVMS

From the middle of winter heading into spring I begin seeing laminitis cases. As day length increases and the weather becomes milder the growth rate and photosynthesis of plants increase and so does the risk of laminitis. Cases this year include a 6 year old quarter horse, 10 year old arab and 8 year old pony. All mares. The risk factors are breed, age and gender. Middle aged, fat, female, equine. Ponies with a previous history of laminitis should already be in out of risk areas, and you could organise your feeding program for those ponies through the spring now. Too late to go looking for the right hay at the last minute.

I rarely recommend anything, but if you need a feed for ponies in confinement throughout the lush months ahead ask your feed supplier about WALK-EASY. This feed was developed in consultation with me for obesity and treatment of acute and chronic lamintis. For more information go to www.dmstockfeeds.com.au - nutrition and click on the tabs.

If you have obese horses this is the time to rethink what is healthy.

Obesity combined with the other risk factors significantly tips the scales in favour of a horse or pony developing laminitis. Mares are at most risk. For more information also go to www.farriervet.com - laminitis and read topics relevant to your situation. Once your precious equine, horse, pony or donkey has developed lamintis it can never be reversed, and this disease is the number one crippler and eventual killer of horses.

Take care, spring is in the air.