Despite our best efforts, there are still some cases of abuse and neglect on the road. In these cases we remove horses from their owners and take them to our Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre in Gordon’s Bay. When they have recovered enough to work again, the  owner of the horse is expected to pay for both the transport and the keep of the horse, after which they will be returned to their owners.

In cases where the neglect and abuse warrants it, our inspectors have the magisterial rights to permanently confiscate horses. There are also cases when cart horse owners feel they can no longer take care of a horse and then they can voluntarily sign the horses over to us. Once horses that have been signed over or confiscated are sufficiently rehabilitated, they are put into our adoption programme to be suitably rehomed.

All of this was made possible through the bequest from Bertha van Vliet which enabled us to acquire a piece of land in Gordon’s Bay.

The Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre provides a place of safety for working cart horses whose owners and drivers continue to abuse and neglect them, despite our efforts at education and the services offered at the static clinics.

The Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre provides:

  • A place of safety for working cart horses whose owners and drivers continue to abuse and neglect them, despite our efforts at education and the services offered at the static clinics
  • Accommodation for sick and injured horses requiring palliative care
  • A safe haven for working cart horses needing rest and rehabilitation
  • Maternity care for foaling mares.