Rescue initiative boosted by national horse transporter network

Thursday 14 May 2009

Horse rescue organisation and specialist transporter, PRP Rescue Services, has become a formal partner in the equine rescue initiative launched by the British Horse Society (BHS) and the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).

Jon Phillips founded PRP Rescue Services in 1986 after a colleague was left stranded following a horsebox breakdown. Despite being a member of one of the major rescue organisations he was unable to get horsebox breakdown assistance for his vehicle and ended up paying a small fortune to get his horses and family home. Jon knew this couldn’t be an isolated incident and set about finding a solution.

As a result, tens of thousands of drivers now enjoy the security and peace of mind of being a member of the UK’s largest and most comprehensive equestrian rescue service. With its nationwide network of horse transporters, PRP Rescue Services is the ideal organisation to provide support to the emergency services following incidents involving horses. A new partnership with the Highways Agency is already proving particularly valuable as PRP Managing Director, Jon Phillips, explains: ‘Accidents, stray animals and other incidents can often shut major roads for hours, proving costly not just for those immediately involved, but also for the road users caught up in the after effects. We believe that all incidents involving livestock should be overseen by trained staff in order to minimise the problems that may arise in these situations.’

Professor Josh Slater, who heads up BEVA’s horse rescue activities adds, ‘The issue of loose horses on the road network, whether they are strays or there as a result of a road traffic collision or horsebox breakdown was a concern for us. It’s not something Highways Agency patrols or the police are equipped to deal with, so we are delighted that PRP can fulfil this role. Through their 24-hour emergency hotline they will ensure that an appropriately-licensed transporter with horse handling experience is swiftly on the scene to remove horses to a place of safety.’

Says Lee Hackett, Senior Executive, Welfare at the BHS, ’BHS Welfare frequently get involved in cases where there are stray or injured horses on the road and it has often been incredibly difficult to arrange for horses to be recovered quickly and safely. Having PRP on board, and knowing that they operate nationwide, gives us great peace of mind and is fantastic news for equine welfare.’

The Emergency Services Protocol was established in 2007 to set a national standard for the recovery of horses. BEVA’s initial role was to compile a Directory of equine veterinary practices that were willing and able to assist the emergency services at incidents involving horses. The aim was to ensure that appropriate veterinary care reached the animals as fast as possible. A partnership between animal rescue specialists at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and BEVA saw the roll out last year of training programmes to vets and the fire and rescue service to improve the awareness and skills of key personnel at rescues. The aim of the training is not only to improve horse welfare, but also to reduce the number of injuries sustained by vets, emergency services personnel and members of the public.

For more information on PRP Rescue Services please see their website: www.prprescue.com.

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