The Problems with Grass Grazing
We are now into winter after a very good summer for grass growth. That means it’s time to put some of the horses and ponies back to their original fields after being kept in on limited grazing for the last 6 months.
This is always a very exciting affair for both us and them to enjoy. Being cooped up this long is unusual given the good weather we have enjoyed this year – good for the grass to grow at least. It was wet and warm for long periods, which is ideal for the fields.
Unfortunately for a lot of our individuals, this flush of grass brings about laminitis, a serious health concern which can ultimately, if left unmanaged, lead to severe pain and even death
Laminitis is defined as ‘Inflammation of the laminae of the hooves causing lameness, often severe’. This inflammation is caused by the increased sugar levels in the grass which some individuals’ bodies can’t deal with. It therefore becomes damaging in the bloodstream, especially around the pedal bone in the foot, which in severe cases can rotate and penetrate downwards through the hoof at the bottom.
To avoid these problems during the spring months when the grass becomes very lush and high in sugar, we take all of our problem horses off these pastures and move them to areas of poor grass growth or bare paddocks that are coated with woodchip. We then carefully control their diet with hay to supplement the grazing they are losing and monitor them closely over the next few months.
Find out more about laminitis and visit our website for some winter advice for you and your animals when coping with snow, frost and ice.
If you’re able to help with a donation for our running costs during these difficult winter months, please visit: www.remussanctuary.org/donate
Horse i, the app with an eye for safety
Have you and your horse ever been involved in an incident? (no, this isn’t an advert for a no-win, no-fee solicitor). Something that put either of you in danger, or made you feel unsafe? Did you report it? Did you know where, or how to report it?
The BHS estimates that only 1 in 10 equine incidents are reported to them. In an attempt to increase this number, and empower riders, they launched an incident reporting app earlier this year. Using Horse i, you can report incidents like road rage, car accidents, dog attacks, fireworks and low flying aircraft, in just minutes.
Most riders are aware that sharing roads, fields, beaches and bridleways within our communities can sometimes be difficult. But often, incidents occur because local MPs, road safety partnerships or the police are unaware of the potential dangers we’re facing.
The data collected from Horse i, is used as evidence to support improvements in the community, to make it safer for riders, drivers and dog walkers alike. Without the data provided by you, it can be difficult to highlight the regularity and severity of these incidents.
The incidents you report through Horse i are used to;
- lobby and advise MPs – giving a voice to the equine community in government debates, on topics like road safety and fireworks
- support local safety campaigns such as, Dead Slow – Road Safety Campaign
- identify problematic areas or trends in the community
- promote awareness of equine safety at BHS events throughout the country
Whilst the app was released earlier this year, a more recent update has improved the loading of questions and added a feedback option after submission. Users have called it a “great initiative”, and “easy peasy to report to the BHS”.
The app is available in both iOS and Android app stores. Taking only a couple of minutes, the information you submit could make all the difference.
You can learn more about the app in this article from Horse and Hound.
Whilst you’re here, remember to check out our Christmas shop!
Christmas Order Deadlines
Thankfully Claire continues to be very busy sorting through all of the Christmas orders and gift sponsorships, and is skipping down to the Post Office with brave regularity given the cold weather we’ve been handed by Storm Barra et al!
However, regardless of how many trips she makes, sadly we cannot influence what Royal Mail do or don’t do. For that reason, you’ll find our deadline dates for ordering a little earlier than the normal recommended posting dates.
- For 2nd class orders, please place your order no later than Friday 17 December
- For 1st class orders, please place your order no later than Monday 20 December
As you know, we rely solely on the generosity of the public and our own fundraising to raise money for the Sanctuary. And, for each and everyone of you who has shopped with us this festive season, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! To be honest, the animals don’t mind where the money comes from, so long as it delivers food and warm bedding! 💚
To snap up those last-minute stocking fillers, visit our Christmas Shop.
And don’t forget to save us your used postage stamps!
Team Spotlight on Esme Fordham
Hello! I‘m Esme and I have been a volunteer at Remus for about seven years now, although I have been a member for many years.
I love animals and help Sue to continue all the hard work and achievements she has made and devoted her life to, and to take the Sanctuary forward.
My role is overseeing volunteers, organising Afternoon Teas and other fundraising and making sure all the merchandise is ready for all our events, such as Open Days and Stock Village Hall. I also keep stock of the merchandise and uniform for staff and volunteers.
I also feed the cats on certain days, and the various birds who come and visit us; I sometimes sort out any bric-a-brac that we’ve received. Occasionally I help Sue and the vet with the horses and in the office with post, filing and some computer work – there’s always something that needs doing!
I also organise all the medications each week for all the animals who need them. Animals are just the most wonderful creatures on our planet but are so abused by so many, it’s great to help Sue in any way I can.
Oh I forgot to say I’m also a glorified tea maker! 😁
On a personal note, I am 82 years old on the outside and 45 on the inside! Most of my life I worked in an office but for 10 years had a workshop and did china painting.
I’ve always had dogs through the years who have been just wonderful getting me through thick and thin! But now I have taken a sick cat from the Sanctuary – George – to look after at home who is a little treasure. You can see me pictured with Ollie Dog when the lane got flooded – sadly a regular occurrence here! It means we have to walk into the Sanctuary when the cars can’t get through.
I’m also very proud to have been awarded Volunteer of the Year by Horse and Hound last year, which you can read here.
Meet the rest of the Remus team here.
Help Remus Bounce Back for #GivingTuesday
Remus Horse Sanctuary joins #GivingTuesday 2021, the global day of generosity taking place on 30 November.
Remus Horse Sanctuary is thrilled to announce that we’re one of the thousands of organisations taking part in this year’s #GivingTuesday campaign, to be held on 30 November 2021.
Brought to the UK in 2014 by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), this year #GivingTuesday offers the opportunity to give back to good causes, either by donating to charity, reaffirming commitment to a cause, volunteering time or supporting others by simply helping a friend, neighbour or family member.
In the face of financial and social challenges as traditional fundraising opportunities have been shut off, like many charities, Remus Horse Sanctuary continues to suffer due to the impact of Covid-19.
To make a fee-free donation to Remus Horse Sanctuary, please visit: www.justgiving.com/rmhs.
Founder Sue Burton believes that the funding gap is somewhere in excess of £400,000 for events and fundraising activities cancelled over the past 18 months.
Giving Tuesday is a chance to secure our future in the post-pandemic world.
All of the animals here at the Sanctuary have been rescued. Our work is similar to that of a hospice – we give the animals the very best of care. We help the younger ones to recover and to develop into happy adults and the older ones to rest and recuperate. Nothing is asked of our animals at all – they are just loved and cared for. Holistic therapies also play a big part at the Sanctuary.
“It’s not always physical and mental abuse”, says Sue, “sometimes, it’s just plain ignorance, which I find unfathomable in this digital age, when so much information is available for free online. Some people just don’t care.”
In 2020 #GivingTuesday was the top trending item on UK Twitter and generated more than 360 million impressions. In the UK, more than £20 million was raised in online donations, more than ever before.
To make a fee-free donation to Remus Horse Sanctuary, please visit: www.justgiving.com/rmhs.
“The past 18 months have been the toughest I’ve known them. The majority of animals we rescue are malnourished, riddled with worms, diseased and worse. We’ve seen horses and ponies too weak to stand, covered in acid, and blinded.
“As a result, our biggest expense, other than food obviously, is vets bills and medication. So the sheer lack of fundraising over such a long period of time has taken more than just a strain on us!”
Andy Frain, #GivingTuesday UK Lead at the CAF, adds: “Giving Tuesday is a great chance to Give Back to the charities and causes that we care about and thank them for overcoming some immense challenges over the course of this pandemic.
“People can Give in so many ways and we’re always amazed at the diversity of people’s generosity – whether it is donating money, volunteering time or just amplifying your support for a charity, any act of Giving can make all the difference to a cause you care about.”
To find out more about #GivingTuesday, and how you can get involved, visit: www.givingtuesday.org.uk. To find out more about Remus Horse Sanctuary, visit www.remussanctuary.org, or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RemusHorseSanctuary.
To make a fee-free donation to Remus Horse Sanctuary, please visit: www.justgiving.com/rmhs.
Winter Coughs and What to Look Out For
Winter often brings with it its fair share of coughs and colds, even without an international pandemic! But it’s not just the NHS under pressure. Studies have shown that the cold air and dark nights also have an impact on the health of our four-legged friends. With an increased risk of horses developing respiratory issues throughout the winter months, there are a few things you can do to help ward-off coughs and act quickly if more significant problems occur.
Environment is a huge factor. Whilst it might be tempting to warm up the stable and create a cosy sanctuary, ventilation is key! Increasing turnout time and ensuring good air circulation in your stable can counteract the effects of altered air hygiene, caused by the winter months. Low-level feeding and soaking or steaming your feed are also great ways of preventing dust and spore inhalation.
But a dust-aggravated cough is different from a virus. In fact, there are four different causes of equine respiratory issues: fungus spores, allergens and contaminants, bacteria, and viruses. Often, the increased time indoors gives infections the opportunity to spread around the yard. If you suspect your horse might be affected by something more than dust inhalation, you should cease ridden exercise, increase turnout, and contact your vet immediately. Your vet will be able to conduct a number of tests to help diagnose the issue.
You can read more about the causes of equine coughs, and what to do if your horse has symptoms on this Horse and Rider article here.
Our online shop has a number of new items for Christmas 2021 including, of course our new wall calendar for 2022 which features unique images of our animals throughout the 12 months. Visit our online shop.
Ready for some Magic?
This Christmas, turn your ordinary online shopping for gifts and more into extraordinary FREE donations for us, thanks to @giveasyoulive!
When you sign up to support us, Give as you Live Online will give you access to a winter wonderland of free fundraising. Just shop using their website, app or Donation Reminder at over 5,500 top stores – including John Lewis & Partners, Boots, The Entertainer and more – and they’ll pay us a free donation for every order you place!
It’s completely free for you and us, and we receive 100% of the funds you generate! Sign up to support us today!
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Meet More Members of our Team
As promised, here’s a couple more introductions to members of our team:
Meet Sue Strathern
Hello, my name is Sue Strathern and I joined Remus as the part-time HR Officer in February 2018. I have worked in HR for the last 35 years, mainly in the public sector but more recently in the private sector.
My role is to support Sue when dealing with any staffing matters as well as to review and monitor all policies, procedures and practices to ensure that they are up to date and compliant with employment legislation. We are currently recruiting for yard staff and I’m enjoying the variety and flexibility of the role.
Meet Louisa Penny
Hi! My name is Louisa Penny and I’ve been the Bookkeeper at Remus since May 2015 – I maintain all of the financial records for the Sanctuary.
I enjoy working here and I’m proud to be part of the great team at Remus. I’m an animal lover and this is what first interested me in applying for the role. I have two children, a dog, two cats and two horses! My main passion is horse riding and I hope to start competing again soon with my 4-year-old ex-racehorse which I am currently retraining with my daughter.
You can meet other members of our team on our website here.
Luxury Flooring for Stables
A few weeks ago, we purchased 30 rubber mats which are used to cover the concrete flooring in a large number of our stables.
We’ve cheekily called this article ‘luxury flooring’ but in fact, for our older horses, these rubber mats are absolutely essential. They cost about £40 each but provide a softer, warm and more insulated feel from the hard cold concrete. It also helps with our laminitic cases as it provides extra cushioning to assist with the deep beds that we provide for these animals.
We also use them in our field shelters to provide a suitable base to put bedding on top of so that it doesn’t get wet from the ground.
These mats come in a fixed size and have to be cut down for purpose, which was Yard Supervisor Alex’s job recently. This is done with a guide ruler and a utility knife and the mats are trimmed down to size so that they fit snugly together without any overlap.
We took some pictures of the process with Heidi and Jakie looking on! Actually we’re not sure if they’re curious or making sure it’s done properly!
We would be very grateful for any contributions to the purchase of this essential rubber matting for our animals and donations can be made via our website here.
And if you would like to provide sponsorship for Heidi or Jakie, either for yourself or perhaps as a gift for a friend or Christmas, you can do so via our website using the links below:
Team Spotlight on Sue Moloney
Meet our Health and Safety Training Officer, Sue Moloney, in the first of a series of team spotlights. In the meantime, you can meet other members of our team on our website here.
Hello! My name is Sue Moloney, and I am the Health and Safety and Training officer here at the Sanctuary. I have worked at Remus since July 2015, but have been involved as a volunteer for about 25 years. Before coming to the Sanctuary I worked at Writtle College for 18 years as an Animal Care Instructor.
I am employed three days a week and my role is a busy and varied one. I am responsible for making sure that everyone – humans and animals – are working and living in a safe environment. Everyone also receives ongoing training in Health and Safety and also practical and theory sessions in the care of animals.
Before Covid I used to run Workshops and Pony Days at the Sanctuary.
I also volunteer my time to help the Sanctuary, I help them with events such as the Afternoon Teas and on the Open Days. This year I started making the cakes, scones and sandwiches for the Afternoon Teas, which have proved to be very popular. Why not come along to one of them, they are held during the spring and summer months on a Monday afternoon.
Outside of the Sanctuary I have quite a busy life! My life revolves around animals and animal welfare. I was vegetarian for 27 years before finally going vegan five years ago. I have two cats – Tom and Maverick (both rescues, pictured), two tortoises – Rocky and Rambo (also rescues) and a little Bourke’s parakeet called Elsie. I’ve had Elsie for about 25 years, she’s ancient, but still going strong, bless her!
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- Tom
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- Maverick
In the spring of this year I joined a local wildlife group in the village of Boreham where I live. I foster some of the animals that are brought in until they are well enough to be released back into the wild. It has been mostly birds, e.g. collared doves, pigeons and ducklings, but now I have also started to take in baby hedgehogs that are too small to survive the winter. We overwinter them until the spring and then they are released close by to where they were found. The hedgehog population in the 1950s was 50 million, today there are less than a million, so we must protect these precious animals. I also answer the wildlife rescue emergency phone and arrange the transportation of any sick/injured animals that are found by members of the public.
I am also very much into crafting, my main hobbies being cake decorating, jewellery making and sewing. Up until recently I was the secretary for the Sugarcraft Guild. I make cakes for Remus to use as raffle prizes to help raise funds.
Another great interest of mine is complimentary therapies for both humans and animals, I am qualified in aromatherapy, Bach Flower remedies, Crystal Healing and Reiki. I gained a qualification in aromatherapy for animals, taking two years to complete.
Well that’s all about me! Thank you so much for supporting the Sanctuary, it truly is a wonderful place xx
Other Appeal
