Ride to Parliament raises awareness of horse smuggling

At lunchtime today (Tuesday 18th April) central London echoed to the sound of clattering hooves as a group of horses and riders from World Horse Welfare, joined by familiar faces from the worlds of entertainment and equestrianism, rode to Parliament in a bid to press for the passage of the Kept Animals Bill and raise awareness of the live export to slaughter of horses.

Find out more about the Kept Animals Bill and email the Prime Minister to call on him to get the bill over the line and ban live exports to slaughter.

Tourists and passers-by were transfixed by the sight of the horses and their riders, including Radio 2 DJ, horse lover and World Horse Welfare Patron Sara Cox; equestrian influencer and World Horse Welfare Rehomer This Esme and equestrian legend Jane Holderness-Roddam. The ride took just over 45 minutes from South Carriage Drive in Knightsbridge, through Hyde Park to Constitution Hill and along The Mall before arriving at Parliament.

The ride marked the start of the charity’s #StopHorseSmuggling appeal to help finish what Ada Cole started and ensure that no horse from Britain is transported abroad live for slaughter.

Donate now to support our #StopHorseSmuggling appeal and help protect vulnerable horses.

Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare said:

Sara Cox said:

This Esme said:

The superbly behaved horses, supplied and led by Carol Andrews, owner of Wimbledon Village Stables, were flanked by Mounted Police for safety before coming to a halt in the very heart of the city, at Victoria Gardens South just outside the Houses of Parliament.

Carol said:

Here the horses and riders took a rest. “Have you seen the Bill?” asked the banner in the park; “Neither have we,” came the reply from the riders and colleagues from World Horse Welfare, the UK’s largest equestrian welfare charity.

Jane Holderness-Roddam said:

The Kept Animals Bill, which will ban live exports of animals for slaughter and fattening, was first introduced to the UK Parliament in June 2021 and, despite cross-party support, it has still not become law.

Any horse can end up being exported to slaughter, from outgrown children’s ponies through to ex-sports horses; horses sold with the best of intentions and in the belief that they could never end their lives in a slaughterhouse as they are signed out of the food chain on their official passports. While no horse, pony or donkey has officially been declared as being exported for slaughter in recent years, it is known that there is a trade in equines being smuggled out of the country – often in poor welfare conditions and on fraudulent passports. Sadly, some of these vulnerable animals will end their lives in a slaughterhouse.

World Horse Welfare is hugely grateful to everyone involved with making the Ride to Parliament a safe and effective one. The horses themselves came from Wimbledon Village Stables and grooms from the stables accompanied the ride on foot and were available for the duration of the ride in case of emergency, LeMieux who provided the riders’ jodphurs, the Mounted Police who accompanied the ride to ensure safety and SEIB (the providers of World Horse Welfare’s insurance cover) who extended their cover to insure this event.

Further information:

• Find out more about the Kept Animals Bill and email the Prime Minister calling on him to make sure it gets the Parliamentary time it needs.
• Read more about our position on horse smuggling.
• Donate to our #StopHorseSmuggling appeal.