16 February 2023
Your request
We are writing to you with a Freedom of Information Request relating to equine care and welfare. We are conducting a project for the RSPCA exploring equine welfare and management in England and Wales (incorporating Equine Overpopulation, Overbreeding, Neglect and Abandonment) and would be grateful for any information you have on this issue.
We specifically request information you have on the following aspects in your area each year for the last 10 years, and welcome associated information you have:
1. Number of licensed equine establishments (both riding schools and those hiring out horses, ponies and donkeys)
2. Number of livery yards
3. Number of licenced equine slaughtermen (knackermen) and abattoirs
4. Number of equines slaughtered in the abattoirs and killed by knackermen in your area
5. Number of complaints/ calls relating to equine welfare, and the outcome of those calls
6. Number of calls received about fly grazing or equine abandonment with number of horses, ponies and donkeys involved.
7. Number of horses, ponies and donkeys detained after being reported as fly grazing or abandoned
8. Number of equine welfare related prosecutions
9. Number of equine passport fixed penalty notices
Our response
- We currently have 2 equine establishments licensed for hiring out horses.
- Under FOI Section 1(1) any person making a request for information to a public authority is entitled (a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds information of the description specified in the request (b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to them.
I am advised by my colleagues that this is not licensed by Lambeth Council so therefore, the Council does not hold any such information. Consequently the answer to Section 1(1)(a) is no and thus our further duty under 1(1)(b) does not arise on this occasion.
3. As per Q2
4. As per Q2
5. Incident logs reviewed dated from 2014 to 2023 – only 2 complaints mention horses (2016) complaints were regarding horses being brought into a park for exercise – patrols of park were completed but no hoses were seen.
6. None
7. None
8. None
9. None