RESCUE horse Buster is well and truly in the spotlight as part of World Horse Welfare’s annual Rehome a Horse Month, thanks to his new life with York-based re-homer, Alison Kay.

Thoroughbred-cross Buster arrived at World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm Rescue and Re-homing Centre in Blackpool aged 15 because his owner was no longer able to take care of him.

After several months of rehabilitation, Buster was ready to be rehomed as a pleasure riding horse to an experienced home where he could continue his education.

Alison was looking for a new horse as she had recently lost her old one and wanted to rehome rather than buying.

She said: “I was very open minded about what my new equine partner should be like so I enquired about World Horse Welfare’s ‘project horse or pony’ category after reading about it on the website. This category applies to horses and ponies who need a more experienced home where they can continue their training as a longer term project and I was keen to find out how I could help by rehoming one of these horses.”

Alison visited Penny Farm to meet two different horses and while Buster was the second she met, Alison instantly fell in love with him. Not only was he tall, dark and handsome but his presence, gentle nature and attentiveness struck her immediately and she knew he was the ideal horse.

While Buster was 15 when Alison rehomed him, he had only recently been backed (trained to carry a rider) so she needed to build up his confidence and strength slowly but he settled in well and she was soon hacking out with her daughter and her pony. As he is still very inexperienced, he requires calm and consistent handling at all times, but the hard work has really paid off and he’s progressed into a lovely hacking horse.

Alison said: “I have had Buster over a year now and he is such a pleasure to own. Though he is a big horse, he has lovely manners and is so respectful around my children plus always very happy to see me. Having two dogs which we also re-homed, I’ve seen the value of giving a second chance to an animal that needs it. I certainly plan to give Buster a forever home and it’s great to have the reassurance that if I ever had any problems, World Horse Welfare would be there for advice and support. I would wholeheartedly recommend re-homing to anyone considering it.”

Rehome a Horse month shines a light on the horses and ponies who are looking for homes but also showcases the stories of the 1,700 World Horse Welfare horses and ponies currently out in homes around the country from those competing at eventing, dressage, vaulting and showjumping to pleasure driving, hacking, side-saddle and those who provide faithful friendship to their re-homers and equine companions.

You can find out more about rehoming by visiting the website rehoming.worldhorsewelfare.org.