About Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria

Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria Inc., originally known as Project Hope Horse Rescue first began in 1973 when a concerned Val Collingwood of Wallan, Victoria, wrote into RIDER magazine regarding the number of neglected horses in Australia.

She outlined a scheme whereby someone could co-ordinate the rescue and rehabilitation of these unfortunate animals and she suggested the name “Project Hope” in memory of a terribly neglected, supposedly aged, buck-jumper from Queensland. She had taken him home to try to save his life, giving him the name “Hope”, although he had very little. He died three weeks later from massive worm infestation at the tender age (as it was then discovered) of three.

People responded to Val's letter, assuming that she was to be co-coordinator and the scheme became loosely organised on a district basis.

Gradually, the organisation grew until it became necessary to use newsletters for communication, to introduce memberships fees to help cover costs, and to draw up a constitution. The group has steadily grown from there and with the help of a logo and media coverage has become a more familiar name in equine circles within Victoria. In 1993 the organisation became an incorporated organisation and still is through Consumer Affairs in Victoria.The need for our existence however, is still as strong over 30 years on.

Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria Inc. is an incorporated non-profit organisation governed by a committee of management.

Registration number: A0027152D

Click each Committee Members name for an introduction story

• To assist owners through education, assistance and advice to rehabilitate their own horses.
• To provide emergency care, treatment and assistance to horses.
• To rescue and rehabilitate any horse found abandoned, sick, injured or mistreated.
• To educate the community on the plight of neglected horses.
• To contribute to the development of improved government legislation and policy.

Farewell Pamphlet
Designing of a booklet dealing with one of the most difficult decisions a horse owner may have to make, that of euthanasia. This will contain information about when to make the decision and discuss options that a horse owner is faced with.

Education
This is an on going role that PHHWV undertakes. This includes things such as promotion days, pony club talks, school talks and through our quarterly newsletter. With more public awareness we hope to see a decline in future welfare cases.

Code of Practice for Trail Riding Establishments
The Code of Practice for the welfare of horses at horse hire establishments has been gazetted and is available on the Department of Primary Industry website. It covers the following areas: responsibilities of the proprietor, staff, trainees, supervisor and riders; accommodation facilities for horses; overnight restraint of horses during a ride; water, food and health care; management of equipment and horses; record keeping; fire and flood safety and transport. Appendices include: criteria for an appropriate course; humane euthanasia; body condition scoring; and reference to relevant Victorian Codes of Practice.

PHHWV would like to see every horse hire establishment have a copy of this code, to be familiar with it’s contents and operate within it’s guidelines. Riders should boycott establishments not abiding by the code and report any horse cruelty or neglect to the RSPCA, Bureau of Animal Welfare or ourselves.