Who are the animals that have most inspired people in 2013 to add their voices to the growing movement for animals? Leading up to the end of the year, AWP is celebrating the causes, campaigns and characters that have been at the forefront of helping make history for animals. Each day until the end of the year (apart from Christmas Day) we’ll be focusing on another story. Please share far and wide.

Day 5: Macy the Horse

In January this year Macy and her foal Loca were found in a bare and icy field. Macy was covered with scabs and sores caused by severe rainscald and mud fever. They were rescued by World Horse Welfare, given veterinarian treatment and helped to recover at an animal sanctuary. Macy has been rehomed, and Loca is ready for rehoming. For these two horses 2013 was a good year.

For others, 2013 has been horrific, such as the 51 studs kept by Mr Evan Lloyd Evans, 68, of Pencarth Uchaf Farm, Chwilog, Pwllheli in inhumane conditions. When rescued, many had to be euthanized immediately. Mr Evans is now serving ten weeks imprisonment for causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the welfare needs of horses at his property.

Unfortunately, even these relatively short punishments are all too rare in the cases of crimes against animals. The Animal Welfare Party strongly believes that the majority of people in the UK want tougher sentences for crimes committed against animals, and this is part of our manifesto.

And 2013 was of course also the year of the horsemeat scandal, when an almost invisible trade in the slaughter and sale of horsemeat came out into the open.

Not only were other forms of cheap supermarket meat contaminated (often up to 100%) with horsemeat, but Hillside Animal Sanctuary’s investigation at Red Lion abattoir, near Nantwich, revealed shocking abuse of these proud, intelligent and independent animals.

In one image, the horses lined up for slaughter fall on top of each other. Under The Welfare of Animals Act 1995 , horses should not be slaughtered in sight of one another because of the distress it causes.

The horsemeat scandal has changed people’s eating habits—many began to consume less meat following the revelations, and some continue to do so. And yet millions of people in the UK were unaware of the trade in horse slaughter at all—much of the meat going abroad to satisfy European taste preferences.

2014 is in fact the Chinese Year of the Horse. For the Chinese, the horse is a symbol of action, energy, pride, love, and hard work. These are all qualities that we hope to draw upon in our campaign to gain political representation for horses, and all other animals, in the European Parliament.

Can you make 2014 an even safer place for horses like Macy and Loca by becoming a visionary for animals? Support the Animal Welfare Party’s campaign in the EU Elections in May. If you live in London you can PLEDGE TO VOTE, and if you live anywhere and care about animals you can support us in our campaign to raise funds. Fundraising is crucial in our efforts to make history for animals. Make the difference now.

Image of horses © Trevor Lowe