8 min read Last updated: January 2026 Worried a horse in the UK is being neglected? This guide shows who to call for emergencies and non-urgent cases, what to prepare, and when, starting with the RSPCA 24/7 line 0300 1234 999, so you can make a report that reaches the right team quickly. Quick Summary Short on time? Here are the key takeaways. Area: Define Emergencies What To Do: Treat collapsed, trapped, unable to weight bear, or severely distressed horses as emergencies; call RSPCA 0300 1234 999 (24/7). In Scotland call Scottish SPCA 03000 999 999; in Northern Ireland call USPCA 028 3025 1000. Why It Matters: Rapid triage saves lives and reduces suffering. Common Mistake: Using office-hour lines or email for urgent cases. Area: Who to Call What To Do: For non-urgent concerns, contact World Horse Welfare 0300 333 6000 (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm), the British Horse Society (Mon-Thu 8:35am-5pm; Fri 8:35am-3pm), Redwings, Bransby, HAPPA (North), or RoR (ex-racehorses). If unsure, start with World Horse Welfare or the RSPCA for routing. Why It Matters: The right body routes your report to the best-placed team quickly. Common Mistake: Contacting the owner instead of a welfare organisation. Area: Out-of-Hours Reporting What To Do: Outside office hours, call the RSPCA 24/7 or police if there is immediate danger; use your vet's emergency line if you cannot reach a welfare officer. Keep these numbers saved in your phone. Why It Matters: You will not lose critical time waiting for offices to open. Common Mistake: Waiting until morning to report urgent suffering. Area: Road Safety: Loose Horses What To Do: Call police on 101 immediately (999 if danger to life); give road number, precise location, and direction of travel. Do not herd or catch; warn traffic only if safe and highly visible. Why It Matters: Prevents collisions while keeping you and others safe. Common Mistake: Stepping into live traffic or trying to grab unfamiliar horses. Area: Prepare Details What To Do: Provide your contact details, exact location (What3Words), horse descriptions, owner/land info if known, and safe photos/video from public places. Share concise, specific observations. Why It Matters: Good information helps inspectors find and assess the horse faster. Common Mistake: Giving vague directions or trespassing for a closer look. Area: Stay Safe Reporting What To Do: Observe, record, and report only; wear hi-vis, stand well off the carriageway, use sturdy footwear/helmet near traffic, and never confront owners or enter private property. Prioritise your safety. Why It Matters: Protects you while evidence is gathered for action. Common Mistake: Challenging owners or climbing fences to check the horse. Area: Keep Numbers Handy What To Do: Save RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, BHS, police (101/999), Scottish SPCA, USPCA, and your vet's emergency line; post a laminated yard card at exits and in vehicles. Practise the call flow with your team. Why It Matters: Quick access reduces hesitation and speeds response. Common Mistake: Scrambling for numbers during a crisis. Area: Prevent Issues Early What To Do: Use season-appropriate rugs, fly control, daily checks, safe fencing, grooming, and vet-advised nutrition; store What3Words for each paddock. Fix small problems before they escalate. Why It Matters: Prevention reduces welfare risks and avoids reportable situations. Common Mistake: Ignoring gradual weight loss or poor fencing until it becomes urgent. In This Guide Who to contact about a neglected horse in the UK What counts as an emergency vs a non-urgent welfare concern? What to prepare before you call How to report during and outside office hours What happens after you report Loose horses on roads: what to do Proactive yard measures to prevent welfare issues Keep key numbers handy: a quick-reference checklist If youre worried about a horse youve seen, speed and accuracy matter. The UK has a clear pathway for reporting equine neglect and emergencies and the right call can save a life.Key takeaway: For urgent cases (collapsed, trapped, unable to weight bear), call the RSPCA 24/7 on 0300 1234 999. For non-urgent concerns, contact World Horse Welfare, The British Horse Society, Redwings, or other NEWC members during office hours.Who to contact about a neglected horse in the UKCall the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 for urgent cases; otherwise, report to World Horse Welfare (0300 333 6000), The British Horse Society, Redwings, Bransby Horses, HAPPA (North of England only), or Retraining of Racehorses (ex-racehorses) during office hours.The UKs equine welfare bodies work together through the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) to route each case to the right team. For emergencies in England and Wales, the RSPCA National Cruelty Helpline operates 24/7. In Scotland, call the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999; in Northern Ireland, call the USPCA on 028 3025 1000. For non-urgent concerns (e.g., poor fencing, prolonged tethering without immediate distress), contact: World Horse Welfare (0300 333 6000) 8am5pm MondayFriday, UK-wide. The British Horse Society 8:35am5pm MondayThursday, 8:35am3pm Friday. Redwings Horse Sanctuary 9am5pm MondayFriday (or via email). Bransby Horses welfare reports accepted; hours vary by weekday. HAPPA North of England only. Retraining of Racehorses former racehorses only.All major organisations keep your details confidential and will not share them with the horses owner. If youre unsure who to call, start with World Horse Welfare or the RSPCA and theyll direct you.What counts as an emergency vs a non-urgent welfare concern?Emergencies are situations causing immediate suffering or risk to life (collapsed, trapped, unable to weight bear, severe distress) and require an immediate call to the RSPCA or emergency services; non-urgent issues can be reported during office hours.Examples of emergencies: Collapsed horses unable to rise Horses trapped in ditches, fences, or tangled tethers Inability to weight bear on a limb Obvious severe pain or acute distressExamples of non-urgent concerns: Long-term poor body condition without acute distress Unsuitable or dangerous fencing where no immediate harm is occurring Inadequate shelter, dirty water, or prolonged confinement Anything which is obviously causing serious pain or distress to the horse should be reported as an emergency. Please give us a call on 0300 333 6000. World Horse WelfareIf the horse is loose on a road or creating an immediate public safety risk, call the police on 101 straight away (999 if theres an active danger to life).What to prepare before you callHave your contact details, the precise location (What3Words if possible), a clear description of the horse(s), and safely obtained photos or video; the more detail you provide, the faster an inspector can find and assess the horse.Before you report, gather: Your name, phone number, and address (kept confidential by welfare organisations) Why youre concerned (specific behaviours, injuries, or conditions youve observed) Horse details: number of horses, colours, sex, approximate ages, markings Location: full address and postcode if known; if not, landmarks, road numbers, field access points, and a What3Words reference Owner/landowner details if known Photos or short video captured safely from a public place and without trespassing The more information we have the easier our inspectors will be able to find you and the animal. If you have any photos or videos of the incident or the animal please let us know. RSPCAQuick tip: If youre stopping near a road to take a location reference, wear high-visibility riding gear and stand well off the carriageway. Sensible footwear such as sturdy riding boots and, if youre close to traffic, a riding helmet improve your personal safety while you get accurate details.Do not confront owners or enter private property. Your role is to observe, record, and report; trained welfare officers and vets will handle assessment and intervention.How to report during and outside office hoursDuring office hours, contact World Horse Welfare (8am5pm MonFri), the BHS (8:35am5pm MonThu; 8:35am3pm Fri), or Redwings (9am5pm MonFri); outside office hours, call the RSPCA 24/7 or your local police/veterinary practice for emergencies.Use this simple flow: Urgent (immediate suffering/risk): RSPCA 0300 1234 999 (24/7). Scotland: Scottish SPCA 03000 999 999. Northern Ireland: USPCA 028 3025 1000. Non-urgent (no immediate risk): World Horse Welfare 0300 333 6000 (8am5pm MonFri), The British Horse Society (8:35am5pm MonThu; 8:35am3pm Fri), or Redwings (9am5pm MonFri). Outside welfare organisation hours (but urgent): contact police or your local veterinary practice for immediate guidance if you cannot reach a welfare officer.For loose horses on highways, always call the police on 101 and give road numbers, direction of travel, and exact location. Save these numbers in your phone now so youre not searching in the moment.What happens after you reportYour report is logged confidentially, triaged for urgency, and routed to the most appropriate organisation; an officer or inspector then assesses the horse, often coordinating with vets and police under the Animal Welfare Act framework.NEWC member organisations work together to avoid duplication and ensure the right expertise attends. Depending on the assessment, outcomes may include: Advice and support to the owner (e.g., feeding plans, turnout improvements) Monitoring visits and welfare checks Veterinary attendance if clinical issues are identified Police involvement if theres a public safety risk or suspected criminal offence Seizure or rehoming in severe cases where legal thresholds are metYour identity is not shared with the owner. If an organisation needs clarification, they may contact you (unless you have requested anonymity and called a body that can process your report without follow-up, such as World Horse Welfare by phone).Loose horses on roads: what to doReport loose horses on roads to the police on 101 immediately (999 if theres an active danger), giving the road number, precise location, and direction of travel; do not put yourself at risk by attempting to herd them.If its safe and youre competent, you may warn oncoming traffic from a safe position while wearing high-visibility clothing. Never step into live traffic, and dont attempt to catch unfamiliar horses without appropriate equipment or experience. If youre riding when you encounter a loose horse, a properly fitted riding helmet and visible clothing significantly improve your safety as you call for help and position yourself out of harms way.Proactive yard measures to prevent welfare issuesGood management prevents many reportable situations: safe fencing, appropriate rugs, fly control, and routine health care reduce risk and improve welfare year-round.At Just Horse Riders, we see the same preventable triggers for welfare calls each season. Tackle them before they escalate: Weather protection: Choose season-appropriate rugs. For wet, chilly UK winters, waterproof turnout rugs help keep horses warm and dry in the field; stable-kept horses benefit from correctly weighted stable rugs. Summer fly management: Prevent rubbing, sores, and distress with breathable fly rugs and sheets and regular grooming. Injury prevention: Support legs on challenging ground or during turnout changes with protective horse boots and bandages. Daily checks: Build a routine that includes hoof picking, body scoring, and skin checks. Our range of grooming tools makes it easy to spot issues early. Nutritional support: Where advised by your vet or nutritionist, targeted supplements can help maintain condition and joint comfort, especially through winter. Trusted brands: Waterproofing, fit, and durability matter. Explore proven options from WeatherBeeta, Shires, and LeMieux for reliable yard and horsewear essentials.Pro tip: Photograph field entrances and notable landmarks now, in good weather, and save a What3Words location for each paddock. If you ever need to report quickly, youll have precise references ready.Keep key numbers handy: a quick-reference checklistSave these numbers in your phone and post them on your yard noticeboard so anyone can act fast. RSPCA (England & Wales, 24/7): 0300 1234 999 emergency guidance World Horse Welfare (MonFri 8am5pm): 0300 333 6000 report a concern The British Horse Society (MonThu 8:35am5pm; Fri 8:35am3pm): report welfare concern Police (loose horses/road safety): 101 (999 if danger to life) Scottish SPCA (Scotland): 03000 999 999 USPCA (Northern Ireland): 028 3025 1000 Your veterinary practice (emergency line): add number hereAt Just Horse Riders, we recommend keeping a laminated yard card with these contacts by every main exit and in the glovebox of the yard vehicle.FAQsShould I approach the owner first or report directly?Report directly to the appropriate organisation rather than approaching the owner. For urgent situations, call the RSPCA (0300 1234 999) immediately; for non-urgent concerns, contact World Horse Welfare, the BHS, or another NEWC member during office hours.What exactly is urgent vs non-urgent equine neglect?Urgent: collapsed horses, trapped animals, inability to weight bear, or obvious severe distress call immediately. Non-urgent: concerns like poor fencing, unsuitable shelter, or gradual weight loss without acute suffering report during office hours.Will my details be kept confidential?Yes. The RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, and the BHS state that reporter details remain confidential and are not shared with owners or third parties.What if I find a horse outside office hours?For emergencies outside office hours, call the RSPCA (0300 1234 999, 24/7). If you need immediate guidance and cannot reach a welfare officer, contact the police or your veterinary practice.What information do I need when I report?Your name and number, the precise location (using What3Words if possible), horse descriptions (number, colour, sex, age if known), owner/landowner details if known, and photos/video captured safely without trespassing.Can I report anonymously online?Anonymous reports are best made by phone. World Horse Welfare asks anonymous reporters to call 0300 333 6000 so they can gather everything in one conversation without needing to contact you later.How do I report a loose horse on the road?Call the police on 101 immediately (999 if theres an active danger). Give the road number, exact location, and direction of travel. Wear hi-vis if youre near traffic, and dont put yourself at risk. Shop the Essentials Everything mentioned in this guide, ready to browse. Shop Hi-Vis GearShop Riding HelmetsShop Riding BootsShop Turnout RugsShop Fly Rugs