STAFF at a horse rescue centre want to raise awareness of an equine crisis of abused and neglected horses - and are asking the public for their help.

Phoenix Animal Care was formed in 2008 by Phoenix Pemberton to rescue small animals and horses.

However, earlier this year, Phoenix, 43, and sister Justine Pemberton, 46, decided to focus only on horses and ponies because of the scale of horses needing urgent attention for a number of reasons.

Phoenix Equine Riding and Rehoming, based in Benfleet, consists of a small team of volunteers and equine vet Sophie Fulton, who carries out the necessary checks and treatment on all the horses that come into the centre’s care.

T Currently, the centre relies solely on donations and fundraising. The goal is to become a registered charity.

Tracy Fowler, 46, who is charge of fundraising, has been passionate about rescuing horses and animals for as long as she can remember.

She told the Echo: “There is a real equine crisis at the moment. People are breeding horses - there are some horrific stories.

“When someone breeds a load of horses, they don’t want the boys, so they will dump them in a field, and if they pass away, they pass away. So many horses are in need and the sanctuaries are completely full. We have offers on a daily basis to take horses people can’t own anymore.

“We now have a waiting list which has seven horses on. People relinquish horses for a number of reasons - they may have run into financial trouble or they don’t have the time to look after them.

“We arrange transport through Giddy Up horse box services owned by Georgina Damps, they are fantastic. However, a small journey costs around £100.

“We recently did a rescue in Wales for 12 horses - six mares and six foals. We had to do three round trips as only two horses and two foals can fit in one horse box at a time. The cost was £1,500.”

The centre also offers rehoming on an adoption contract. The horse becomes the property of the centre which ensures that they will never be sold once they are sent out on adoption. If the adopter changes their mind, the horse goes straight back to the centre.

To make a donation, visit https://www.facebook.com/Phoenix-Equine-Riding-Rescue-and-Rehoming-fund-raising-page-105121937546145