A SECOND wave of a crisis which has seen sick horses dumped across Cumbria could be on the way.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RPSCA) has issued the warning after responding to 479 equine incidents in the county last year.

This has sparked fears that more horses could be neglected and abandoned across the north, putting an already-stretched RSPCA under even more pressure.

“This is a truly worrying time for equine charities," said Christine McNeil, the charity’s National Equine Inspectors Co-Ordinator.

"We still haven’t got a handle on the repercussions of the current horse crisis and it now looks like the worst is yet to come. In April 2011, before the effects of the financial recession had hit, the RSPCA had 290 horses in its care, already more than our official stables could house. The following year, the impact of the crisis really began to hit.

"Our officers were called out every day up and down the country to neglected and abandoned horses.

"By May 2012, the number of horses in our care had leaped to 600.

“Fast-forward to today, and we’re caring for 927 horses.

"That’s three times the amount since the crisis hit and we strongly fear that the impact will be even worse this time round.”

In 2019, the charity received reports of more than 5,236 incidents involving horses in the north of England.

There were 479 in Cumbria, and by the end of the year the RSPCA had nearly 900 in its care nationally.

This has left its rescue centres full and funding hundreds more in private boarding.

The RSPCA is appealing for vital donations to help it prepare for a second wave of the crisis.