News
Posted on March 30th, 2016
Give the Gift of Carrots
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.
Posted on March 30th, 2016
Suffolk’s Millie Stennett Secures the Top Spot in the British Showjumping 128cm/138cm Handicap Special Final
All roads lead to Bury Farm Equestrian Village, Slapton, Buckinghamshire, last weekend where pony riders from the length and breadth of the country gathered for four fun-filled Easter days of the Pony of the Year Show.
This year the show carried a Jungle Book theme with monkeys and gorillas amongst the animals to become part of the wings and fences for a great jungle feel – although the weather didn’t feel able to join in, unless you count rain to complete the Rain Forest ambiance.
Millie Stennett, aged 12 years-old from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk took victory in the British Showjumping 128cm/138cm Handicap Special Final. Riding Stafford, a 15 year-old grey mare owned by Claire Stennett. The pair produced two clear rounds, posting a jump off time of 49.97 to secure the top spot.
Posted on March 30th, 2016
Hertfordshire’s Georgina Burchmore-Eames Rides to Victory in British Showjumping 148cm Special Final at POYS
Hertfordshire’s Georgina Burchmore-Eames Rides to Victory in British Showjumping 148cm Special Final at Pony of the Year show, held at Bury Farm Equestrian Village.
All roads lead to Bury Farm Equestrian Village, Slapton, Buckinghamshire, last weekend where pony riders from the length and breadth of the country gathered for four fun-filled Easter days of the Pony of the Year Show. This year the show carried a Jungle Book theme with monkeys and gorillas amongst the animals to become part of the wings and fences for a great jungle feel – although the weather didn’t feel able to join in, unless you count rain to complete the Rain Forest ambiance.
Georgina Burchmore-Eames, 15 years-old from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire riding Ron Burgundy, a 10 year-old Chestnut Gelding owned by Jack Eames. This combination produced a consistent performance with two clear rounds, storming the jump off in just 32.10 seconds to take victory in the British Showjumping 148cm Special Final.
“He came out and won despite being tired after jumping the JA, he has a heart of gold and he always tries,” said Georgie, who also has Horse of the Year Show Foxhunter and Pony Showjumper of the Year hopes with this gelding.
Posted on March 30th, 2016
Essex’s Kallum Fletcher Wins the Children on Horses Grand Prix Title at Bury Farm Equestrian Village
Last weekend pony riders from the length and breadth of the country gathered for four fun-filled Easter days of the Pony of the Year Show held at Bury Farm Equestrian Village, Slapton, Buckinghamshire.
This year the show carried a Jungle Book theme with monkeys and gorillas amongst the animals to become part of the wings and fences for a great jungle feel – although the weather didn’t feel able to join in, unless you count rain to complete the Rain Forest ambiance.
Kallum Fletcher, 15 years-old from Rayleigh, Essex, on board Disco III a 10-year-old grey gelding owned by Natasha Hawkins produced smooth turns and forward-going strides to earn the Children-on-Horses Grand Prix title. The combination produced two clears, with a lightening round in the jump off, coming home in just 42.87 seconds.
“He’s on form, I thought we were in with a chance,” said Essex-based Kallum.
Posted on March 30th, 2016
Cambridgeshire’s Jessica Howard is Crowned Pony of the Year Novice Grand Prix Winner
All roads lead to Bury Farm Equestrian Village, Slapton, Buckinghamshire, last weekend where pony riders from the length and breadth of the country gathered for four fun-filled Easter days of the Pony of the Year Show.
This year the show carried a Jungle Book theme with monkeys and gorillas amongst the animals to become part of the wings and fences for a great jungle feel – although the weather didn’t feel able to join in, unless you count rain to complete the Rain Forest ambiance.
13 year-old Jessica Howard from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire was crowned Novice Grand Prix Champion and Leading Rider with Rocky Robin a 9 year-old grey gelding owned by Claire Darwin. The pair produced two clears, bringing home a time of 38.23 seconds in the jump off to secure their win.
“He was too much for the riding school, he’s quite a tough pony with lots of character,” said Jessica, who also has HOYS ambitions this summer.
Posted on March 7th, 2016
Suffolk event plays host to top national and international riders
Poplar Park Horse Trials: Rolex Grand Slam winner and three time Olympic medalist Pippa Funnell MBE and Badminton and Burghley winner Oliver Townend are amongst the many riders making the journey to Suffolk this year. Both are returning competitors.
Bo Hardwick, part of the team who manages the event said, “It’s great to see so many competitors coming back this year. The going is particularly good at the moment and riders and spectators alike are sure to have a thoroughly enjoyable two days. We are delighted that some of the world’s top riders continue to return to Suffolk to compete. It gives our spectators the opportunity to watch top class riding in action”.
Taking place the weekend of 12th and 13th March, this is the 33rd year for this family run event. The event, led by father and daughter team Jim and Bo Hardwick, is over a course which was developed and improved in 2015.
“We went through a complete overhaul in 2015,” said Bo Hardwick. “This is part of a three year plan by course builder and designer Joe Weller. Further alterations to the cross country course this year mean that spectators will have some fantastic vantage points to see all the highlights of the new look courses including a formidable new drop fence. We are extremely grateful to all of our loyal sponsors whose support is invaluable to making the event a success”.
The event not only offers the chance to watch top riders but also the opportunity to bring along your dog and take part in dog agility provided by Happi Days Dog Day Care. Trade stands provide last minute equipment for riders as well as country wear, craft and agricultural stalls and a range of food outlets.
As well as proving a great weekend for spectators and competitors alike this long-standing Suffolk event also provides much needed funding for local charities the Woodbridge Injured Soldiers Fund, Riding for the Disabled and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Posted on March 3rd, 2016
FLY-GRAZING PONY FOUND IN HARLOW FIGHTS FOR SURVIVAL
On Wednesday 24th February, Redwings Horse Sanctuary rescued a severely neglected pony found fly-grazing in a residential area in Essex.
The 13hh piebald cob – who is estimated to be three years old and who has since been named Liquorice – was seized under the newly introduced Control of Horses Act (England) following a telephone call to Harlow council from a resident about an abandoned pony.
Meanwhile, Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s welfare line had also received a call from a concerned member of the public, following which Senior Field Officer Jo Franklin attended, together with a veterinary surgeon from nearby House and Jackson Equine Clinic.
“We were met with a very sick filly on arriving at the site,” commented Jo. “She had been abandoned on a green opposite a housing estate and was extremely thin with a body condition score of 0.5 [normal BCS is 3]. Her back legs were also covered in diarrhoea and she had a weeping wound on her right hind leg.”
With James Pretty from Harlow council present and the police, the cob was seized from the residential area and taken to House and Jackson for emergency veterinary treatment.
Initial treatment has included wound care and feeding rehabilitation to build Liquorice’s strength; however there are grave concerns for the extent of the wound on her leg and whether she’s at risk of serious infection and permanent damage.
Liquorice’s treatment is being funded by Redwings and the charity hopes to be able to welcome her into their permanent care, as Redwings Chief Executive Lynn Cutress explains:
“We are all very concerned about this very poorly pony and will be closely following her progress with the hope to be able to bring her into our Essex centre, Redwings Ada Cole, but she is currently in the best place possible under the care of the team at House and Jackson.
“We are really saddened by Liquorice’s neglect and abandonment – in fact, this is one of the worst cases we’ve seen this year – and call on the help of our supporters to enable us to fund her care.
“Liquorice’s case further emphasises our battle in the current horse crisis as again we have been called upon to pick up the pieces irresponsible horse owners leave behind. We are continuing in our fight, but we cannot do this alone.
“Following our successful campaign to establish the Control of Horses Act for England and Wales, we are turning our attention towards ensuring greater enforcement of equine identification regulations and the reinstatement of a fit-for-purpose centralised equine database, so irresponsible owners can be identified and horses such as this poor filly can be protected”.
