The Horses and Ponies Protection Association (HAPPA) recently highlighted the tragic case of Spider, a veteran pony abandoned in poor health with multiple severe conditions including advanced Cushing’s disease, laminitis, and COPD. After being found without identification and no owner coming forward, Spider was taken in by HAPPA but ultimately had to be euthanized due to the severity of his suffering. This case underscores a growing crisis in the UK, where equine welfare charities report a significant rise in abandoned horses and ponies, with many animals at risk of neglect or suffering.

The broader issue is described as a systemic failure involving under-resourced owners, weak oversight, and inadequate enforcement of equine welfare laws. Despite legislative changes, rescue organizations remain overwhelmed, and the crisis is worsening. HAPPA and other charities are calling for stronger regulation, better enforcement, increased public awareness, and early intervention to prevent abandonment and neglect, emphasizing that timely support can help avoid such tragic outcomes in the future.