HISTORY

How We Started:

Horses in Drought was founded in November 2002 after Mrs Nicole Pearce (President, Horses in Drought) from Kurrajong in NSW read a plea from a lady in Central NSW that was having difficulties sustaining her horses due to extreme drought conditions. After speaking with some horse friends, it was agreed that a program be set up to help those that are suffering. This was the beginning of what we hope to become a National program, that has snowballed as a result of word travelling that Horses in Drought are willing to help anyone that is in genuine strife.

How We Started

Our Aims

Interesting Facts

Top of Page

Our Aims:

Horses in Drought are a registered non profit organisation, run by unpaid volunteers, whose main aim is to provide farmers with an alternative to euthanasing or selling on their beloved equines because of the drought.

Horses in Drought offer temporary homes with good pasture, given in good faith (via ballot) to horse owners who are in genuine strife.

Various relevant Agricultural departments are consulted on drought status of those potentially receiving assistance.

Donations are gratefully accepted..

Interesting Facts:

Horses in Drought are registered in NSW as an Incorporated Association. Our registration number is INC9880430. We also possess an authority to Fundraise in VIC.

Horses in Drought have a considerably large number of horses registered mainly throughout the Eastern Seaboard of Australia that are in need of some form of relief. The numbers are increasing every day.

The Horses in Drought program is targeting drought effected areas through out VIC, NSW and QLD. However, this list is by no means exhausted.

As you can well imagine the majority of the horses that we are hoping to provide assistance to are in extremely poor condition, many are unfit to travel.

· In order to help these poor suffering animals the Horses in Drought team are seeking donations to provide much needed hay and feed supplies to farmers.

The Horses in Drought team is working closely with relevant Agricultural Authorities and the circumstances of each case is carefully investigated before assistance is provided, to ensure that the need is genuine.

How the recipients of HID help are selected

Horses in Drought receive nominations and requests for assistance from members of the general public, members of other non-profit organisations, and relevant agricultural authorities.

Recipients are selected to be entered into a ballot (to receive fodder and relief for horses) from the following criteria:

· A registration form (Request for assistance form) must be filled out upon nomination/request for assistance.

· Horses in Drought promote responsible horse ownership and encourage owners to take action before it is too late. In this respect, once nominations/request forms are received the owners are contacted so that we have a clear picture of the circumstances surrounding the welfare of the animals. HID offer advice on alternatives available through our assistance programs, to owners, and make a general assessment of their situation. If there are no agreed viable alternatives, (for example de-stocking, gelding stallions, moving horses to temporary homes, or seeking veterinary advice) then the request is progressed.

· Potential recipients must reside in a current Exceptional Circumstances (EC Zone) Zone (as determined by the Department of Primary Industries or other governing body in the relevant State), or reside in an area that has been a declared EC Zone, at some time within the 12 months prior to date of registration with HID.

· Potential recipients must state if they are registered as a Primary Producer (this is confirmed by HID with the local Rural Lands Protection Boards in the area). However, potential recipients do not have to be registered Primary Producers to receive assistance.

· A check with Local RLP Boards is carried out as to the drought status of those potentially receiving assistance, and in some cases Local Rangers are consulted on the welfare of the animals concerned.

· HID also take into account information received by word of mouth on potential recipients, providing it is backed up by substantiating evidence.

Once the above criteria have been confirmed and we are satisfied that the information provided is sufficient, the following procedure is undertaken:

· Potential recipients nomination/request is presented to the Committee and must be accepted by all members present at the meeting.

· Potential recipients nomination/request is then entered into a ballot, of which (depending on resources/money available at the time) names will then be drawn, and declared recipients for the current round of assistance.