So the day has finally arrived.

18 mares have been released from the facility for adoption. Unlike in the past, this batch consists of mainly older horses so ages range from 7 years of age to 22.

This does make it that much more difficult for us to find homes, but we believe that we will be successful in doing so as there are many wonderful people out there as was indicated when the last batch was homed towards the end of last year.

If you are one of these homes, rest assured we will be sending out our e-mail update to our members who have signed up to our newsletter. If however you are not a subscriber, but you would like to look at possibly adopting, please feel free to browse the horses available here and if you are interested in adopting, utilise the web form on the site to contact us for more details and the process of adoption.

As with any initiative of this sort, it does cost us a fair bit to vette the various properties, especially in the outlying areas and where we need to cover costs where horses are in foster care, so please, if you can, donate towards the campaign to ensure that we can fulfill our obligations towards these magnificent creatures. Our bank details are below and any and all donations are hugely appreciated.

Capitec Bank

Account number: 129 408 4648

Branch Code: 470 010

Branch: Fourways Crossing

Keep your eye on the site as we will be launching a new section dedicated to the prgress of the horses in foster and who have been adopted. The results will amaze you as it does us everyday.

No matter how many times we see the results of love and care towards these magnificent creatures, we are always amazed at the difference and this gives us the drive to continue working towards finding the best possible homes for any animal from a neglected or abusive background.

Thank you for your support, without which we could not do what we do.

OBP Horse Rehabilitation and Adoption Campaign

The OBP Campaign came about in early 2008 when it came to the attention of ourselve’s and a number of other welfare organizations that horses used at the Onderstepoort Biological Products facility in Pretoria were ending up on auction and eventually in slaughter houses.

The full history of the campaign can be found on the original ARC blog that spells out the entire process of the campaign: OBP Horse Blog

As can be seen through the events that unfolded as outlined in the blog, things have changed dramatically for the horses and the option of slaughter was done away with, a committee formed (the Horse Welfare Committee or HWC) on which we sit to ensure the ongoing welfare, rehabilitation (where required) and eventual adoption of these brave animals who are used for the benefit of all horses in this country in terms of being used to ensure the safety and efficacy of the African Horse Sickness Virus.

Sadly, even after the huge public outcry which gave us leverage to negotiate with OBP to change their policies and agree to a Welfare Charter, we are still having huge difficulty in re-homing many of these horses.

Whilst very few of the horses will ever go on to become championship winning rides, the reality is that they are perfectly sound, loving beings who are owed at least a home where they can live out the rest of their natural lives knowing the same love and care that so many of the pure bred breeds get to enjoy.

If it weren’t for them, the success rate of the AHS vaccine would be far lower and many of this countries horses would have suffered a horrendous death if they contracted the dreadful disease. Do we not owe these horses at least that much?

Past Batches

We received the first batch of 29 horses from OBP in May of 2009 and through the generous assistance of a number of people who offered to foster in various batch sizes, we were able to accommodate all of the horses in some manner or form and none remained at OBP.

Many of them went on to find wonderful homes where they are excelling at so many levels, yet there remain a few who are still in long term foster who are still looking for their forever homes.

Current Batch

Batch 3 has been released by OBP so we have more wonderful horses up for adoption. Unfortunately, foster homes are becoming scarce and our endeavour to open or become involved in a Rehabilitation Centre has so far proved unsuccessful for a number of reasons of which funding is the key point. Given the current fiscal climes we are experiencing and which is affecting everyone, even the foster homes who have been willing in the past to help are no longer in a position to do so.

As such, the 3rd batch are currently still at OBP and this is turning into an untenable situation as due to their financial constraints they are unable to continue with the horses on the property indefinitely.

At this juncture, there are 18 horses still available and you can find information on them here: OBP Horses For Adoption

If you would like to adopt or even foster one of these horses, please feel free to contact us.

Any form of assistance is hugely appreciated, by ourselves and all the members of the HWC, but none more so than by the horses.