Rehoming a horse for Christmas is a novel idea. And while it may come as a surprise, according to Michelle Cachia and Christina Coppini, the founders of Rehome a Horse Malta, there are always horses here in Malta whose owners are looking to rehome them - and this, more often than not, proves rather challenging. According to the two, there are (surprisingly) close to 10,000 racehorses on the island, not to mention the other thousand or so horses that are used for other purposes.

The duo started the Facebook group Rehome a Horse Malta (RAHM) to be able to offer a second chance to horses who are either no longer wanted, or no longer used by their owners. Working as middlemen to put people in touch with each other, they are usually contacted by owners who have horses up for adoption, and then try their best to find a match with the most adequate home - people are looking to adopt or rescue a horse.

“Horses which are up for rehoming are not necessarily horses which are at risk of being put down,” they clarify. “Horses may be up for rehoming due to many factors such as age, injury (normally minor injuries which require rest but the owner can’t afford the time and care), or lack of time or adequate stabling area. If the situation becomes critical and no homes are available, owners can opt to put the horse down. There are some cases, however, in which owners either do not wish to rehome or simply prefer to take the easy way out by putting their horse down.”

Indeed, looking for a new home for a horse IS challenging, mainly due to lack of public interest and commitment. “Homes for horses are always limited, mainly because the horses we deal with for rehoming are horses which are not the 'perfect' horse in terms of age or being able to be ridden,” they say. “They would require more of a retirement home as a pet but people here seem not to get pleasure out of simply having a horse in a field, and would much prefer to be able to do more with them.”

But if you are interested in rehoming a horse, I ask, what criteria is needed in terms of factors like space, time, and so on?

“It is very important to remember - and we try to stress this - that horses are not like dogs or cats,” they state. “They need space, time and money to be kept appropriately. They are also very sensitive animals, both emotionally and physically, therefore any changes to their daily routine should be made gradually.”

“A horse needs a good sized stable of about 4x4 metres (depending on the size of the horse) which provides shade from the sun and protection from the rain. It is also important to provide access to an adequately sized outer paddock in which they can walk around. They also need to have access to fresh water 24/7.”

“Experience is also another important factor,” they stress. However, this should not be a make-or-break situation. “If you lack the knowledge or experience but have space and time to look after a horse, you should get in touch and we would be happy to show you the ropes and explain the essential details. People may also choose to ‘share’ ownership of a horse if they are limited to time and funds to care for a horse alone.”

If you're interested in rehoming a horse, you can get in touch with Michelle and Christina through their Rehome a Horse Malta Facebook page or via email at [email protected].