The Mare and Foal Sanctuary has been “overwhelmed” by the generosity of its supporters, who have got behind a crowd-fundraiser to help the charity purchase a new horsebox. Their current horsebox has become unreliable and costly to run, so a new mode of transport is essential for the organisation to continue its work.
The team has set a target of £35,000 through its Horsebox Crowdfunder, which launched last month, and supporters have already donated more than half of the total. Online pledges have reached almost £9,000 and the Crowdfunder has also been directly awarded two large sums — £10,000 and £2,000 — by two donors who wish to remain anonymous.
The Sanctuary hopes that with a little more support to raise the remaining £14,000, the horsebox can hit the road quickly to help more equines in need.
“The charity’s current horsebox has served us well but has a few too many miles on the clock and doesn’t always start when we need it to,” said Sally Burton, Head of Sanctuary Care. “It’s becoming very costly to run and increasingly unreliable.
“While the horsebox design is ideal for our horses and ponies, the vehicle itself is showing signs of significant wear and tear, being 11 years old with a mileage of more than 111,000. We are now footing the bill for major and minor repairs on a regular basis and in the last 24 months have spent £6,389.60.
“The new horsebox will make a huge difference. It’ll give us peace of mind when travelling to the furthest corners of the Southwest on rescues and provide smooth transitions of rescued horses between our four sanctuary sites, or for veterinary treatment as needed.”
The charity has been helping horses and ponies for more than 30 years. Shetland Lola was starving when she was rescued alongside 17 equines from an unlicensed organisation known as Family Nest Therapy. The Sanctuary’s Welfare Outreach and Advice team escalated the case to the RSPCA and took part in a multi-agency rescue over two days in summer 2022.
This resulted in 13 horses and ponies in exceptionally poor condition coming into The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s care. Transport was a major aspect of this welfare operation, and the charity needed reliable transport to remove the equines to safety.
Lola required more than a year of intensive care and rehabilitation. She is now living in a “wonderful” new home with with one of the sanctuary’s experienced carers.
Members of the public can see The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s current horsebox and learn more about their workat its Summer Fete on 25 August at Coombe Park Equestrian and Education Centre at Totnes. Click here to find out more.
