A horse charity founded as a one-woman campaign to stop the slaughter of equines in 1911 is re-launching under a different name which recognises the different type of work it does throughout the world.

Lucy Bolton

A horse charity founded as a one-woman campaign to stop the slaughter of equines in 1911 is re-launching under a different name which recognises the different type of work it does throughout the world.

The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) was started by Ada Cole in the hope of ending the slaughter of thousands of horses killed for meat.

But now, nearly 100 years on, the charity has decided to re-brand under a new name, World Horse Welfare, which represents both the rescue work it does at home and abroad as well as the campaigning it has done for almost a century.

Roly Owers, chief executive officer from the newly named charity, said: “When the ILPH was set up it was very much about campaigning against the slaughter of horses for meat.

“There are still issues with horses travelling to Italy for slaughter, but now we have three areas of work. We also deal with rescues in the UK and the horse welfare here, as well as the way horses are used for work abroad.”

Officers from the Norfolk centre have been spending the last few years travelling to countries in Central America and Southern Africa trying to educate communities with the skills needed to use horses.

Mr Owers added: “Horses are beasts for work in many countries yet many have horrific harness sores. We try to educate people with the skills of saddlery and farrowing. It's about leaving those skills there.”

The centre in Snetterton has also helped house horses from rescue operations throughout the county - and country. After a large scale rescue from a farm in Amersham on January 9 the centre has been housing 11 horses.

Mr Owers said: “We try to put horses we have rescued out on loan to families.”

The name change is also aiming to make it easier for people not familiar with the charity to understand what it means.

It was also felt the word “league” was outdated.

Christopher Hall, chairman of the charity, said: “When I became chairman I decided that changing our name, a subject we have debated for many years, was a nettle which finally needed to be grasped. There are fond associations with the name ILPH, which I absolutely recognise, but it has become a hindrance rather than a help to us.

“Our new name is a good description of the involvement between man and horse and represents, much better, our work here in the UK, and internationally.”

The charity spent more than a year conducting research, including speaking with supporters, staff and the public. After sending 55,000 questionnaires to supporters as part of the research, 79pc of those who responded were in favour of a change of name and logo.

t For more information go to www.worldhorsewelfare.org

t Do you have an animal story? Call Lucy Bolton on 01603 772429 or email lucy.bolton@archant.co.uk