Plans for an equine wellness centre in Trinity have the support of the island's horse owners.

If approved, it will be the only health centre for horses on the island.

Currently, any horses who require intensive vet treatment need to be taken by ferry to the UK which can be expensive for owners and traumatic for the animals.

Lindsay Thatcher's horse developed a back condition called 'kissing spine', when the vertebrae in the back bunch together.

He needed to be sent to the UK for an operation.

"With no surgery, equipment, people, or place on the island he needed to undergo the arduous journey by ferry and then be driven up to Newbury.

He then had to stay over there until he was stable so that he could travel back to Jersey."

Sketches showing planned equine wellness centre. Credit: Page Architects

Lindsay says as an owner it is awful to send your poorly horse away.

"But we had no choice whatsoever and it's not pleasant for a horse to be on a ferry and added to that we have had a massive price increase by Condor.

Whereas, with the planning permission in for Jersey, we can have it all done locally and there will be stables on site for the recovery."

Lindsay believes that many horses on-island die unnecessarily because of the lack of horse health provisions.

"There are not just things like kissing spine, there is another terrible thing that horses can get randomly called colic.

In the UK they can easily get them to a surgery and get the horse operated on, we do not have that option here.

If a horse colics here, it is rarely a good outcome."

The public can still comment on the proposals on the government planning website.