We don't operate as a dumping ground for owners who just no longer want to look after their ageing horse - that is their responsibility. We rescue those who have no one else to fight their corner, or whose owners don't have the means to take care of them, and whenever possible restore them to a place in a loving long term home. Horses in trouble are found by animal lovers across the country. They may find some ponies who have been neglected or abandoned, or horses needing care their owners can't or won't provide, or who are just the victim of circumstance, like poor Dawn whose owner developed Alzheimers disease and forgot he owned her - she only survived for one ight in the sanctuary, so emaciated was she, but she did know that one night of comfort and care.  

We take in equines needing sanctuary from the north Midlands, north Wales and the north west of England. If they can have access to grass, they spend the first day or two in the round pen, so that we can assess them and they can meet the other residents whilst remaining safe. Once their health and relationship with people is assessed, we put in place a flexible plan to address their needs. Their diet is carefully chosen and any supplements we consider they need, depending on their physical health, with particular care not to overload their system too soon, especially those who have been undernourished. Plenty of good quality haylage is often all that they need, particularly in winter, along with rugs and shelter for the older equines. 

Feet and teeth are checked and attended to by our helpful farrier and dentist, as well as their backs and musculature before the training element gets under way. Often when equines have been neglected they are in no fit state to undergo even groundwork until their bodies are in much better shape, and sometimes the answer is simply time. We have plenty of that. Once we are satisfied that their needs have been met and that they are more of a pleasure to have around, no longer defensive or worried, we look to find them an approved loan home where they can have more individual attention. Sometimes they go to be companions but are loved and cared for as pets. Please note though that some horses will never make riding horses or companions, due to temperament or health problems. It isn't in their interests to have them languishing where they are unhappy, so the advice if the prognosis is poor is to have them put to sleep.  

We have the help of volunteers, who not only enjoy their work with the daily care of the residents, but learn lungeing, long reining and a whole host of skills needed to care for and rehabilitate these horses.

Paddock Paradise - the "Track system"

Reports have been coming in from friends and other stables on how effective the Paddock Paradise system of grazing management can be.  Designed by Jaime Jackson in the interests of conditioning of bare feet, and based on a more natural way of moving around and foraging, one side effect is that horses stand around less, and keeping on the move hugely improves their fitness and circulation. The original version includes various foot conditioning areas, stones, mud, hard ground etc which horse can avail themselves of as they choose to, but so far we are just interested in the track system as a means of fittening and weight loss without boredom.   

It involves setting up trackways around the fields, and we have installed several hundred yards around the outside of the fields at Mill Green, using electric fencing - a significant investment in electric fencing. After one season, results were very encouraging - horses were seen to be moving so much more and for those prone to obesity or laminitis it appears to have much to offer.  Daisy in particular often just seems to set off for a power walk around the outside of her eight acre field, and now looks trimmer than she has for years.   It also has the added benefit of reducing bullying - the victim can easily get away to the other end of the track and can't get cornered, and new horses can be introduced much more easily.  If you would like to come and see what is involved and how it works, please get in touch.

During the months of winter, we found that it wasn't working so well, the track itself got very poached with the wet weather and the horses were always seeking ways to get to the old grass or "foggage" in the centre area. It will be re-established in very early spring because one important aspect is that the centre ungrazed area comprises the hay crop needed for next winter.