A riding centre fears it will have to put its horses down after a local council handed its field over to a trendy alpaca walking business.
Russell’s Equestrian Centre in Southampton has used the seven acre field for grazing for 10 years as part of its work to rescue and rehabilitate abused horses.
But the school is now at risk of closing after being told the field would be handed over to Hensting Alpacas, a company that offers ‘Alpaca walking and Llama trekking’ experiences.
Carol Boulton, who opened the equestrian centre in 1974, received an email from Eastleigh Borough council just six days before Christmas, informing her the school could no longer use the land.
She said it would be ‘cruel’ to move the horses to an alternative site as the animals would have to travel alongside cars on non horse-friendly routes, admitting the only other option would be to put them down.
Locals have rallied around the riding centre and criticised the council’s ‘disgraceful’ decision to the allow the ‘non native’ South American mammal use the space over the ‘indigenous’ rescue horses.
They branded the walking experience as a ‘fad’ and ‘useless waste of time’ involving a species of animals we ‘don’t need’ – and remarked the requirement for horses goes ‘way beyond the entertainment value’ of alpacas.
But the council have defended themselves by boasting of the ‘biodiversity, health and well-being benefits’ the alpaca business will bring.
For the last decade, the school has rented Lower Russell Fields, which is part of Itchen Valley Country Park, to graze their horses in the summer months.
The organisation said the land they previously used was lost to a housing development so Eastleigh Borough Council allowed them to rent the seven acres opposite.
Carol said: ‘We have had a six month licence every year for 10 years now.
‘Six days before Christmas, we received an email from an officer at Eastleigh to tell us that they had decided that we couldn’t use it any more.’
Ms Boulton was told by the council that Hensting Alpacas would be moving onto the land instead.
The family-run business, which allows visitors to walk the South American animals around a field, moved their 30 alpacas onto the land over the festive period.
‘It’s such a worry because our horses are so precious to us,’ Ms Boulton said.
‘The alpacas are here – they moved them over Christmas and we didn’t know anything about this until six days before.
‘There are other areas in the country park that they could have gone to and these areas are more suitable.’
The centre has been rescuing abused horses and rehabilitating them for therapy work for 50 years.
‘It’s not just about riding horses – it’s about being with them because they are such special animals,’ she said of her business.
Ms Boulton said many of her animals are anxious due to trauma they experienced in the past.
She added: ‘They have come here and this is their haven and to move them would be particularly cruel so we would have to put them down.’
Ms Boulton said she has raised her concerns with Eastleigh Borough council but has been met with ‘radio silence’ by the local authority.
She said: ‘I think a lot of councillors didn’t realise what was going on. I have nothing against alpacas but there are other places they could be which would be more suitable.
‘There’s 420 acres of country park – why choose the seven acres that are essential to us.’
Hensting Alpacas announced on its website that it would be moving to Itchen Valley Country Park on February 1.
The statement said: ‘Hensting Alpacas is thrilled to announce its move to Itchen Valley Country Park, a picturesque destination nestled in the heart of Hampshire.
‘This 440-acre park offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and family-friendly attractions, including scenic woodland trails, open meadows, and the enchanting Itchen River.’
An hour long ‘waking experience’ at Hensting costs £28 per person. It costs an extra £20 to walk a baby alpaca, known as a cria.
Alpacas are the smallest of the domesticated camelid species and originate from the central and southern Andes from Peru to Argentina.
A petition has been set up to ‘Oppose Eastleigh Borough Council Threat to 50-year-old business and Pony Rescue trust’. Already, it has garnered more than 2,500 signatures.
Supporter of the petition, Sharon Lewis said: ‘Horses and ponies need places like this, these guys and girls are here because they have been abused, neglected or abandoned, they are not bred or bought for making money like alpacas.
‘Common sense says the horses should be able to keep the land as they already provide a service to the community.’
Julia Laursen said: ‘Making decisions without any prior consultation is never a fair or just process, it reflects badly on Eastleigh council.
‘It is wrong that they are designating this land for alpaca without any thought to the more indigenous horses and ponies that currently use the space.’
Another supporter, Elaine Noble, said: ‘The horses provide a values service to people both in rescue and mental health provision.
‘This goes way beyond the entertainment value of alpacas.’
Others criticising the decision said that ‘killing horses to have alpacas instead is disgraceful’ and ‘alpacas are non native and just a fad’.
Elizabeth Maybury said: ‘No horse rescue should have land taken away from them that would mean they had to rehome rehomed horses.
‘It’s way harder to find suitable horse fields than to find suitable alpaca fields.
‘We don’t need alpacas, send them back to where they came from.’
In response, Eastleigh Borough Council said: ‘The Council has entered into a new licence agreement to allow the grazing and walking of around 30 alpacas on the 7.5-acre Lower Russell Fields site at Itchen Valley Country Park.
‘This will provide grazing and the opportunity for children and adults to walk alpacas at the park.
‘As well as having biodiversity and health and well-being benefits, it will generate income towards the upkeep of the park.
‘There are no plans to build shops on the site.
‘The previous seasonal grazing licence for Russells Equestrian has been issued for many years on a month-to-month basis between May and October, with no commitment in the legal agreement to continue this year-on-year.
‘We wrote to Russells Equestrian in December giving them five months’ notice that we would not be renewing the licence this coming May, and the Council is continuing to work with Russells Equestrian to look for alternative grazing.’
Hensting Alpacas declined to comment on the situation.
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