Animal Update
At last Spring is round the corner! The very wet winter and some very cold nights have made life very difficult for us and the animals here at the Sanctuary especially with all the rain we have had, making the ground saturated, although of course the animals are still kept warm and dry and are looking forward to the Summer!
At the end of last year we had another colt left at our gate who was full of lice and worms and had been dragged from his mother so you can imagine how scared he was. He was in isolation at first so he could be treated and checked over by the vet. We put a mirror in his stable so that he would not feel lonely and it was so sad to see him looking at himself wondering where he was. Thankfully he is gaining in confidence and we have called him Charlie 2; he’s out in the paddock now having fun with with his new friend Dante.
We also took in four riding school horses recently as the school had collapsed financially. There was a total of 12 horses that we found homes for and they are now all settled. Our sponsored animals are all doing very well and we are so grateful to everyone who sponsors our animals and directly help make a difference to the lives of these animals. If you sponsor an animal that is not on this list, please do drop us a line or give us a call for an update.
APOLLO had had a good winter and still likes to check on all the others. A bit of a ‘mother’ figure, she enjoys being in the barn at night with her friends Guinness and Clyde.
BERT GOAT our vets diagnosed his bad skin condition as a skin complaint prone to pygmy goats, but with the Aloe Vera we applied last Summer he seems to have improved a lot and is happy out with his friends.
BLOSSOM & AMBER gaze around watching all the goings-on. They still enjoy their peaceful life with plenty of sweet smelling hay and different vegetable treats!
BRACKEN is now a beautiful mare, grown from such a little skinny little foal who was quite ill at the beginning and now a strong and healthy horse who enjoys her days out with Jess (who does enjoy bossing her about!).
CHARLIE is still the smallest bossy pony in the field! Even the big horses are a bit mindful of him and although one of the oldest, is quite fit and often you see him trotting around chasing the others.
CHARLIE 2 is was the little colt torn from his mother who arrived at our gate thin and full of lice and worms but has really improved recently and is enjoying life out with Dante. They both had similar starts in life and now are happy as can be!
COCO & WILLIAM had a good winter too, enjoying life with the other donkeys although Harvey is still in charge – they don’t seem to mind though as they all snuggle up together at night in thick beds of straw and lots of hay to eat!
DAVEY had a serious operation but he is doing really well and is fit and happy and enjoying being with Harvey, William and Coco out in the fields when the weather is not too cold for them.
DANTE What a character he has become! Having been left at our gate, close to death, he was brought back to health with continued attention from staff and helpers to give him confidence and is now a lovely looking, spirited little pony.
DYLAN is ‘one of the gang’ now and its hard to tell him apart from the other sheep, but he is soon at the gate at dinner time so that’s when we know it’s him!
FOUR SHETLANDS (and Marmite) have all been healthy during the winter, except Oscar who had a little bout of colic, but he is now eating well and enjoying the company of all the others. They all have their cosy little rugs on and have regular teeth checks, and feet trimming just like all the other horses at the Sanctuary.
GUINNESS you may remember that Orchid, the oldest horse in the country and who we lost last year at the age of 52 years, was her best friend and although at first she missed her, she has now become friends with Mallie and they spend their days together.
GRACE has come on really well, has gained in confidence with everyone around her and although she is blind, she is well aware of her surroundings especially now that she and Holly have their own little paddock where they can spend their days grazing until Bracken and Jess return from their play.
HARVEY is still the donkey in charge of the others and is very healthy and happy living with the other donkeys who all seem to love him.
HOLLY had a good winter, gaining in confidence just like Grace. They are great friends and spend the day together while Jess and Bracken go out to play. She is very healthy, apart from being blind of course, but looks really well and no doubt looking forward to warmer weather when at last they can feel the sun on their backs!
HOVIS had a good healthy winter and is still in charge of Wesley and Spencer but they all get on really well and snuggle down together each night with lots of hay and delicious dinners.
JESS is still as mischievous as ever especially knowing she is the only mule in the Sanctuary! She and Bracken spend the days in the field running and bucking and annoying lots of the other horses but then come in at night to their mothers for a lovely dinner and deep beds of straw where they sleep getting their energy to cause more mischief the next day!
LACEY is getting older now, so she stays in a small paddock during the day where she cannot wander too far. Last year she gashed her face badly and needed stitches and antibiotics but thankfully, with great care and attention from the staff and helpers, she recovered very well. For an elderly pony she continues to eat well and generally enjoy life!
MARCUS had a good winter with his friends and still enjoys a gallop round the field especially on chilly mornings when he runs and bucks to keep warm!
MINSTRAL has pink skin pigments around her eyes and nose and still has sun cream applied even in Winter on sunny days. She is still very well, and has a beautifully shiny coat which shows what good condition she is in.
PIPPA had the eye operation which thankfully was successful and she continues to be out in the fields with all the other horses. It is so nice to see how that operation gave this horse a new life. She is full of confidence and healthy in all respects.
PIPPIN & IVY have had a lovely winter together with all the other goats and have lovely thick beds of straw and lots of hay and delicious dinners when they come in at night. They have some new play equipment in their outside pen which they love and have lots of fun climbing over it and sheltering under it when it rains.
PEPPER is still settled in the lovely warm office during the day and far too cold to go hunting at night! So she stays where there is plenty of food, lots of cuddles from staff and helpers, so why bother going out…
ROWAN had a good winter with Willow, both in lovely warm rugs during the day then in at night to warm cosy stables, plenty of hay and delicious dinners.
SPARKY with the special shoes and veterinary care, the laminitis he suffers from has been managed well and he is enjoying life without too much pain. You can always hear him whinny when someone comes by as he loves the attention from everyone!
STIX is still the cheeky little boy who likes to torment the others then run away which starts a stampede, but this is what he likes to do!
THOMAS was a bit poorly last winter, this winter he has been quite well, he is a good weight and enjoys the company of all the other horses especially his girlfriend Dolly!
TONY GOAT arrived with an awful torn mouth but after the infection was treated and cleared up, had a good winter enjoying the days with all the other goats – he had to be kept separate for some time because of his injury.
TOSCA had a good winter and enjoyed being out in the paddock. Although he is getting on in years and his sight is deteriorating, you will see him at dinner time running up and down the fence waiting to come in.
WESLEY & SPENCER live in a stable in the barn with Hovis and you will often see them enjoying the warmth of the solarium. They are out in the day but enjoy coming in at night to their sweet smelling hay and delicious dinners.
WILLOW lives out with her Mum and has lots of fun with the other horses. We think she loves Qinter because that means there is lots of lovely mud to roll in while her mother watches her having fun!
Once again, thank you for all your help and support. We look forward to seeing you at our Open Days starting in May when our sponsored animals will be looking forward to meeting you all again!
Caring for the Elderly Horse
At Remus Horse Sanctuary we very much work with older horses and have had many in their early 50’s, late 40’s and many into their 30’s.
We believe that ‘old horse’ should not equal ‘thin horse’ and all of our horses are weighed on a weighbridge weekly to ensure that we can monitor their weight. They have high fibre food and high caloric, if we require weight gain. Those with poor dentition have this in a sloppy porridge consistency. Old age is not an illness and horses can cope very well with being old. It does take a lot of work to keep on top of the needs of the older horse and as they live longer the problems increase.
We try to keep their lives as structured as possible with as much enrichment as possible. We have calm music playing around the yard in all buildings to keep all the animals calm and we offer various holistic therapies including reiki, self-selection herbs, shiatsu etc to help keep them emotionally calm to help them deal with the many issues they have to deal with as they age.
Retirement is a very tricky issue at the moment as there are just so many horses caught up in the horse welfare crisis that there are very few places available for them. Most people will find their horses will tell them when they are ready to retire. Every horse and every situation will be different. We urge horse owners to think before buying or breeding a horse, can they care for that horse for life? Options available are :
- Put to sleep – this seems unfair as its not the horse fault that it has become old but if you can’t guarantee him/her a safe retirement then this is an option.
- Keep their horse in happy retirement.
- Find a retirement home – a lot of research has to go into ensuring you find the right place for your horse and the retirement home is going to do what it promises.
We have been home to Buttons who died at 54 years, Shane who died at 52 years and Orchid who died last year at 50 years. We achieve this just from the care regime that we mentioned above. Its not always easy but its so satisfying to be able to enable a horse to live its life out to the full. There is something so gracious about an elderly equine who has given its life to its owners, doing everything that is required of it, now being allowed to live its life in quiet and peaceful surroundings.
You can help us by sponsoring one (or more) of our animals here, by becoming a member here, or by donating here.
Essex School Colouring Competition
In the Autumn term of 2015, local primary schools near Ingatestone in Essex were invited to take part in a Remus colouring competition, organised by our Education Officer Sara Hampson.
The aim was to let schools know that at Remus we are keen to engage with local schools and to educate children on the correct way to approach and handle animals.
The entrants were very colourful as you can imagine and so hard to judge! Winners for the different key stages were chosen and all entrants received a free pass to a 2016 Open Day. You can see two of the images alongside.
Ingatestone Infants invited Sara to talk to their school council about Remus and, as a result they chose Remus as their charity of the term. They raised enough money to sponsor 6 animals and visited the Sanctuary in December with the Head to choose their animals. Great work Ingatestone Infants!
We hope that more schools will consider us in their fundraising efforts.
If you would like to know more, please contact Sara directly via email, in the first instance, to: education@remussanctuary.org.
Support Remus this Easter
Did you know that you can raise money for Remus Horse Sanctuary when you shop for Easter without it costing you a penny extra?
Well you can, just by shopping online via Give as you Live!
So, this Easter weekend, whether you’re buying sweet treats for the kids, food for a seasonal feast or a special gift for someone, please shop through Give as you Live and raise money for Remus Horse Sanctuary, at no extra cost.
Find out more here.
Open Season at Remus Horse Sanctuary
Remus Horse Sanctuary is delighted to open its gates and welcome visitors to the Sanctuary for the first time this year on Sunday 1 May 2016. Further dates throughout the 2016 season can be found below:
- Sunday 5 June
- Sunday 3 July
- Sunday 7 August
- Sunday 4 September
- Sunday 2 October
Open on each of the above dates from 1pm to 5pm, the Sanctuary offers entertainment for the whole family including competitions and games, music from local band Midnite Blu, delicious refreshments including gluten-free sandwiches and homemade cakes, lots of stalls and a raffle. Parking is available on-site, with disabled access and dogs are welcome on a lead. Admission will be charged at just £4 per adult and £2 for children. Members of the Sanctuary will receive a discount upon presentation of their membership card.
Visitors to the Open Days will be able to meet 7-month old foal Charlie [pictured], who was cruelly wrenched from his mum in 2015 when his owners simply had no use for him, Dante who was dumped at the Sanctuary’s gates again in 2015 and Jess and Bracken, born at the Sanctuary in 2014 to rescued, blind mares, Grace and Hollie.
The Sanctuary is currently providing rehabilitation and care for over 200 animals, including horses, ponies, donkeys, cows, goats, sheep and cats. The Open Days are a vital source of fundraising for the charity which, due to its location on greenbelt land, can only open to the public for a limited number of days each year.
Founder of the Sanctuary, Sue Burton, says, “we love inviting the public to come and visit the Sanctuary and learn more about what we do. We always have such a great time showing off our facilities and our amazing animals and giving people an insight into the valuable work that we do.”
For further information, contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.
One of the Lucky Ones
Do you remember little Charlie, who is a 7 month-old colt, cruelly wrenched from his mum when his owners simply had no use for him! An hour later, he arrived at Remus Horse Sanctuary to start his new life. Charlie is one of the lucky ones!
We can only imagine what Charlie has been through in his young, short life. We can’t heal the mental scars, but we can, with your help, give him love, care, attention and a safe place to live for life, without cruelty and without placing any demands on him.
We are dealing with hundreds of horses in dire conditions, and are constantly called upon to help more and more innocent creatures who, through no fault of their own, are caught up in this ever-widening horse welfare crisis. There is no let up, which is increasingly straining the resources of the Sanctuary.
It Starts With You
As the winter weather continues, many horses across the county (and beyond) will stand tethered to the ground without access to food, water, attention or care, let alone love. Many will die.
Please, help us to give a future to Charlie and to help get food and water to the hundreds of other horses and ponies out there, who are less fortunate. Charlie is now out of isolation and making friends with the others animals, but it’s a slow process to win back his trust.
Can you make a donation to help us to help Charlie and others like him and then share our plight with your friends and family, co-workers and clubs?
Our resources are stretched almost to breaking point, we are not yet out of the mire and we need both financial assistance and more volunteers to help fundraise on our behalf. Can you help us please? It really does ‘start with you‘.
Mothering Sunday
Shopping Online for your Mum
Lest we forget, Mother’s Day is early this year on Sunday 6 March, do you have the date in your diary?
It’s time to spoil your mum and, whilst you’re at it, why not raise a free donation for us at the same time! Just shop online at retailers like Debenhams and Etsy and many, many more via Give as you Live to find that perfect gift – at no extra cost to you!
A Gift with a Difference
Fed up with buying your Mum flowers or chocolates for Mother’s Day, again? What about something a little different!
Why not sponsor a Remus animal for your Mum? Choose from a variety of horses, shetlands, donkeys – like Harvey pictured alongside – goats, sheep, cats and we even have two beautiful cows – Amber and Blossom! Go on… she’ll love it! £25 per year or just £2 per month by direct debit.
Sainsbury’s Shopping Card
Unfortunately, Sainsbury’s have decided to exit the ‘Raise with Sainsbury’s’ scheme as their focus for charity activity is on further developing their own local community programmes. If you would like to get in touch with Sainsbury’s directly you can e-mail them at community.affairs@sainsburys.co.uk.
The Sainsbury’s Everyday Shopping Card scheme will close on 27/02/2016.
Sainsbury’s Everyday Shopping Cards will continue to be issued and can be topped up until 27/02/2016. After this point, the Sainsbury’s Everyday Shopping Card will no longer be available but anyone who has a card will have two years to redeem cash already loaded onto the card by spending it in-store.
Thank you for supporting Remus and the Sainsbury’s Everyday Shopping Card. Look out for more information on the new ‘Cards for Causes’ shceme that will give you the opportunity to buy gift cards and shop in store at a range of retailers including Starbucks, Marks & Spencer and Tesco, raising up to 6% in charitable donations from Give as you Live.
In the meantime, please register with Give as you Live and support Remus with your all of your online shopping today!
Elderly Equine Education Workshops
Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary in Essex is leading the way in terms of elderly horse care and will be hosting two equine workshops over the next month: Routine Care Incorporating Nutrition on Saturday 20 February, and Health and Disease on Saturday 5 March. Both equine workshops will take place at the Sanctuary from 10am to 2pm and tickets can be bought online via the Remus website for £35 each.
Sue Burton, Founder of the Sanctuary says, “With our animals living much longer we are faced with a variety of issues that need attention to ensure that our equine companions thrive to a ripe old age!” These two workshops will give owners and carers valuable insight into the routine care needed for an elderly equine and will be the ideal opportunity for horse and donkey lovers to learn directly from the experts.
The workshops will include a variety of topics including behavioural problems, the digestive system, teeth, worming, exercise requirements and, of course, the main issues associated with advancing years, such as metabolic diseases (PPID and EMS) and Colic, with preventative treatments, laminitis, arthritis and skin conditions. Owners and care-givers are recommended to attend both workshops for a thorough and full-rounded explanation and understanding.
Sue explained, “Like humans, horses are living much longer nowadays. When I first set up the Sanctuary 32 years ago, 15 was a good age for a horse but now it’s normal for them to live for over 30 years. There have been so many veterinary advancements in the past few years that we’re a lot better equipped, but it’s also a matter of lifestyle, which we pioneer at the Sanctuary.”
To find out more and to book a place on the workshops, please click here.
Spread a little love this Valentine’s Day
Did you know that you can raise money for Remus Horse Sanctuary when you shop for your loved one’s Valentine’s Day gift without it costing you a penny extra?
Well you can, just by shopping online via Give as you Live.
So, this Valentine’s Day, whether you’re buying flowers, fragrances, experience days, jewellery or a must-have gift for your partner, please shop through Give as you Live and raise money for Remus Horse Sanctuary, at no extra cost to you.
Register here.
Other Appeal
