Your questions answered

This part of the Young Supporters website is dedicated to answering your questions. I hope that you find out what you'd like to know, but if you have any other questions you'd like answered, just email us!

• How often do horses and ponies need their feet done?

As a general rule horses and ponies will need their feet trimmed or shod every 6 to 8 weeks.
 

• How much water will a horse drink in a day?

Horses will drink between 20-70 litres of water a day.
 

• What do horses and ponies eat?

The main part of a pony’s diet is made up of grass or hay (dried grass).  Horses or ponies in work may need to be fed extra feed such as a horse or pony mix.
 

• How do you measure a pony's height?

Horses and ponies are measured in hands.  One hand is 4 inches (just over 10cms) and you measure from the ground to the pony’s withers (the bone at the top of a pony’s shoulder, in front of where the saddle goes).
 

• How often should I groom my pony?

It is a good idea to groom your pony every day, you will then be able to check for any injuries or swellings. It is also a good idea to pick your pony’s feet out at least twice a day to check for stones and other problems.
 

• How long do horses and ponies live for?

Horses and ponies usually live for between 20 and 30 years, although some have been known to live longer than 40 years!
 

• What can I do to learn more about horses and ponies?

Lots of reputable riding schools will offer ‘own a pony’ days or weeks where you can find out how to care for ponies as well as learning to ride them. Own a pony days will include jobs like mucking out their stables and cleaning tack . There are also many interesting books you can read about horses and ponies, you should be able to get these from your local library.

• I’d like to work with horses, do you have any advice?

There are many ways in which you can work with horses and therefore many career opportunities. The first steps you take will depend on the kind of work you want to do. The best advice we can give you is to gain as much experience as possible. If you think you might like to be a groom or like being ‘hands on’, volunteer at your local riding school, or if you’re more interested in horse welfare visit our farms and find out about the work of World Horse Welfare. You could also speak to equine professionals such as your local vet or farrier and find out more about what their job involves and how they trained.

The British Horse Society have a range of qualifications in both care and riding and there are quite a few colleges and universities which offer various equine courses . All jobs with horses require considerable commitment and hard work; most involve long hours, often outdoors in all weather conditions. Even though there are many different types of career, there is often strong competition. However, if you love horses and are committed to working to achieve your goals, then anything is possible!

• Can I volunteer at a World Horse Welfare Centre?

We offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities at our four Rescue and Rehoming Centres, within our Head Office, from home or even within your local community.  However you choose to volunteer for World Horse Welfare your help will make a difference to our work and help us to achieve our objectives.

The majority of our volunteering opportunities are not hands-on with the horses, ponies and donkeys in our care as these require considerable expertise given the nature of the horses we work with.  However, there is plenty of opportunity for you to be around the horses if you volunteer at one of our Centres and even Head Office.

• Can I do work experience with World Horse Welfare?

Work experience placements are available at our four Rescue and Rehoming Centres in Aberdeenshire, Lancashire, Norfolk and Somerset - however, places are limited and only offered to those students with previous horse experience and who are genuinely interested in following a career in the industry.

You must be 14 years old or over in order to be eligible for the work experience programme, which normally runs for a period of one or two weeks.

On-site, shared accommodation may be available during your placement; however, you need to be at least 16 years of age to qualify for this.

All work experience students will require the following clothing and will not be permitted on the yard without it:
• Steel-toe-capped boots - these must be worn at all times;
• Jodhpurs, tracksuit bottoms or loose-fitting trousers
• Riding hat and gloves;
• Wet weather gear.

Please note that jewellery is not permitted on the yard.

It is also possible to have a short work experience placement within World Horse Welfare's Head Office, based in Norfolk. Placements will only be offered to students if appropriate work is available at the relevant time, in order to keep the student occupied and therefore benefit fully from their time spent with the charity.

Please note that accommodation is not available for placements within the office. Download an application form here. If you require more information, please contact Sheri Frearson on 01953 497200.

• How can I help World Horse Welfare?

There are many ways in which you can help World Horse Welfare. Firstly, by signing up as a Young Supporter you are showing your support, and you will be at the very heart of supporting World Horse Welfare. You can sign up today online and it’s absolutely free.  Read more about membership.

Another way in which you can show your support is to get involved and raise money for World Horse Welfare. We have a special fundraising pack, which gives you lots of information on how you can hold an event, have lots of fun and raise money to help the horses in our care.  Read more about how to get involved.

You can also adopt a horse, which is a great way to help horses, and for you to have contact with a horse if you haven’t got your own. For more information on how adopting a horse helps, see the question above ‘How do I help by adopting a horse?’.  Read more about Adopt a Horse.

Rehome a pony from World Horse Welfare?  If you are thinking about rehoming a pony from World Horse Welfare you will need to take a look at the Rehome a Horse scheme section of our website with a parent or guardian. You will be able to find out about how the scheme operates and then make an on-line application for a pony which sounds like it might fit the bill (you must be 18 or over to apply so this will need to be done by your parent or guardian). From making your application you will then hear back from the farm where the pony is within a couple of weeks either by phone or email.

Don't forget, if you have any other questions you'd like answered, email us.