Visitors to Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s visitor centres around the UK are being invited to give the gift of carrots for horses in need to mark International Carrot Day on 4th April.
Carrots make fantastic healthy treats for horses and donkeys, and Redwings is hoping kind-hearted supporters will reach into their kitchen cupboards, supermarket shelves and gardens to provide its rescued residents with their favourite scrummy snack.
Throughout April, visitors will be able to drop off bags of carrots at the centres’ ‘Carrot Drop Stops’, or are welcome to donate £1 towards funding a nutritious nibble for the charity’s rescued horses or donkeys.
And while up to 40% of all fruit and vegetables produced in the UK are currently thrown away because they’re deemed not suitable for sale, no knobbly carrot is turned away by a Redwings horse or donkey!
Gemma Walpole, Redwings’ Head of Fundraising, said: “Small, wonky or knobbly – our horses and donkeys adore carrots. With 1500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in our care nationally, that’s a lot of mouths to feed so we hope our visitors will take this opportunity to think of us this International Carrot Day. Don’t neglect your wonky veg, give our residents a well-deserved treat instead!”
Carrots are given by Redwings staff to praise good behaviour or simply as a healthy snack, but care is always taken to give treats in moderation. Despite their size, carrots should only be given to horses and donkeys as occasional treats as too many could see them put on unnecessary weight.
Visitors to Redwings’ visitor centres over the celebratory weekend of 1st to 4th April will be able to find out more by taking on a “Carrot Chase” quiz trail around the site – while making sure to say hello to its many horsey and donkey residents along the way! Anyone with a sweet tooth can also treat themselves to a scrummy carrot cupcake in the centres’ cafés with all proceeds going towards funding Redwings’ vital rescue and welfare work.
