New Partnership Enhances Welfare and Safety for Nottinghamshire’s Loose Horses
Bransby Horses has joined forces with Nottinghamshire Police to improve the welfare and safety of loose horses across the county.
Bransby Horses has joined forces with Nottinghamshire Police to improve the welfare and safety of loose horses across the county, strengthening a shared commitment to animal welfare, public safety, and rural crime prevention.
Building on the successful collaboration with Lincolnshire Police, Bransby Horses has been working closely with Nottinghamshire Police to reduce equine-related incidents and rural crime, while enhancing road safety for local communities.
Nottinghamshire Police Equipped for Swift, Safe Response
A key element of this partnership has been the donation of essential equipment—headcollars and lead ropes—by Cobbs Country Store to Bransby Horses. These were then distributed to Nottinghamshire Police stations and will be utilised by the Rural Crime Team. The equipment enables officers to respond swiftly and safely when managing loose horses, ensuring the well-being of the animals and the safety of officers and the public.
In a unique step forward, the headcollars feature QR codes that, when scanned, provide officers with essential guidance on approaching, catching, and leading equines, along with contact information for Bransby Horses and other relevant charities.
Training for Real-World Situations
Bransby Horses, renowned for its equine rescue and welfare expertise, has long worked with local authorities to support incidents involving loose or abandoned horses. This latest collaboration with Nottinghamshire Police’s Rural Crime Unit further demonstrates the charity’s dedication to protecting horses in the community.
As part of the initiative, 39 officers from across three neighbourhood policing teams completed horse handling training at Bransby Horses. Organised through partnership efforts led by Juliet Webber, Nottinghamshire Police’s new Rural and Wildlife Crime Partnerships Manager, and Rachel Dixon of Bransby Horses, these training sessions covered horse welfare, reading body language, and safe handling techniques. Officers gained hands-on experience in practical on-yard sessions managing and herding equines.
The engagement team, based at the red NEWC tent on Salt Tip Corner, will be highlighting the importance of horses always having access to water and owners offering their horses water immediately after exercise.
A limited number of free re-usable water bottles with ‘My horse drank first’ written on them will be given away to those taking part in an interactive game, and the message will be promoted through posters and online.
Nicola said: “There is a hard-to-bust myth within the horse community that watering horses straight after exercise can lead to colic, but, as a vet, I can tell you that the risk of this is negligible compared to the risk of not watering a horse who needs it.
“Dehydration poses a huge danger to horses, and we have seen changes in other environments where horses are worked – for example in sport – as the science has moved on.
“The issue of dehydration is one of the biggest to arise at the Fair almost every year, particularly if the weather is warm, along with horses being worked too hard or too young.”
Watering troughs will be available at the ‘flashing lane’ and opposite Salt Tip Corner. There is also access to the river ramp on The Sands and at Jubilee Bridge. It is an owner’s responsibility to ensure that they can provide for their animals’ needs.
Voices Behind the Project
Juliet Webber, Nottinghamshire Police’s rural crime and wildlife crime partnerships manager, said:
“We aim to enhance the wellbeing of all animals – whether it be horses, sheep or cows – as well as ensure the safety of our officers and road users with this new equipment.
“With support from Bransby Horses, we have trained officers from across the force in the practical handling of loose horses, the legislation surrounding them, and each officer has gained valuable contacts for those times when a horse finds itself in need.
“Combined with Cobbs County Store, it’s been partnership working at its very best, and the provision of headcollars will further promote our goal to improve our response and understanding of all animals we may encounter during day-to-day policing.”
Rachel Jenkinson, Equine Welfare Manager at Bransby Horses, added:
“Bransby Horses is dedicated to creating positive impacts on the lives of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Through our work of ‘Sharing Knowledge and Influencing Change,’ we were very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Nottinghamshire Police on this project.
“To date, the officers have learnt about how to understand equine behaviour, work safely around unknown horses, and approach and apply a headcollar. We look forward to continuing to work with Nottinghamshire Police and supporting any future equine-related incidents.”
This collaboration highlights the importance of partnerships between animal welfare organisations and law enforcement to tackle issues affecting rural communities. Together, Bransby Horses and Nottinghamshire Police are making Nottinghamshire a safer place for horses and the people who care for them.
