Last weekend’s storm and heavy rain has caused an equine charity to shut one of its visitor centres until further notice.
The wet weather led to flash flooding at World Horse Welfare’s Glenda Spooner Farm which damaged fields and affected the ground floor of two bungalows used as accommodation for grooms, as well as the Visitor Centre.
The flood water is still running through the fields at the 200-acre Somerset site, where 90 of the charity’s equine residents graze.
Fortunately, all horses and staff have emerged unscathed and are doing well.
‘Couldn’t be prouder’
“Despite everything, our grooms have really pulled together to make sure all the horses are cared for, and their needs met,” said farm manager Claire Dickie.
“They have really embraced the joy of life with it all and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone.
“The flash flood on Sunday really took us by surprise and has wiped out the Visitor Centre for the foreseeable future.
The clean-up operation is underway, but the charity currently cannot say how long the site will be closed for.
“We have received so many messages of support and offers of help, and I can’t thank everyone enough — it has been such a morale boost to know so many people care about us and want to make sure we are all okay,” said Claire.
The video below shows two of the charity’s horses being led through the running flood water:
Horses unfazed
“As for the horses they are all doing well and I think it’s just been like any other wet, winter’s day for them. Many are out in the fields and don’t even use their shelters — being perfectly happy to weather the storm and get on with it as they always do.”
Glenda Spooner Farm is one of World Horse Welfare’s four rescue and rehoming centres. The others — Belwade Farm in Aberdeenshire, Hall Farm in Norfolk and Penny Farm in Blackpool — are unaffected and are operating as normal.
Updates on when the Visitor Centre will reopen will be made on the charity’s Facebook page. The farm is still operating as a rescue and rehoming centre.
Images and video © World Horse Welfare.
