When a major Danish stud farm was declared bankrupt in the autumn of 2023, hundreds of horses had to be rehomed as part of the estate settlement. The association nyt Hesteliv stepped in and rescued 30 of the broodmares with the poorest chance of finding good new homes.
The plan was to rehabilitate the mares and prepare them for adoption by experienced horse owners during the spring of 2024. However, it soon became clear that the mares required more care and training than initially expected. Many of the mares were so difficult to approach that it was an undertaking to even get a halter on them. At nyt Hesteliv, the mares are given the time and peace they need to adjust to their new surroundings.
"It has been a major project to restore the mares’ wellbeing, as they were quite unhandleable. Our staff and volunteers have invested extra time in training them, and private donors and foundations have supported us financially. There has been a widespread wish that these horses should have the chance to live a life full of love moving forward,” says Janne Juncker, Founder and Chair of the Board, nyt Hesteliv.
Three of the 30 mares turned out to be pregnant, which added to the complexity of the rescue, especially as the foals were born with various health issues. With support from, among others, the QATO Foundation, 2024 has been dedicated to improving the horses’ physical condition, providing dental care, vaccinations, other necessary veterinary treatments and hoof care. In addition, nyt Hesteliv has invested a great deal of energy into gentle training to help the mares thrive when interacting with humans. The work is paying off: while a few of the mares still need more time, the first ones are now ready to move on to their own foster families.
The association nyt Hesteliv is a nationwide Danish equine welfare organisation that helps neglected horses. Founded in 2005 and based in Morud on the island of Funen, the organisation operates its own horse sanctuary, with capacity for up to 100 horses, ponies and donkeys – many of which come from animal welfare cases or horse markets. In addition to rescue efforts, nyt Hesteliv works to educate riders and horse owners about good equine welfare practices.
