Social Behaviour in Horses

January has rolled around again; the month of fresh new starts and exciting exercise regimes, well, in usual years at least! While January 2021 may still consist of some of that, it also consists of ‘bubbles’ and ‘social distancing’, which is not so different to some interesting new research into horses’ herds from the University of Bristol and Royal Veterinary College.

The research is based on how the social behaviour of horses living in herds can influence their body condition. Much like if we live with people who play video games all day, we might do the same, but if we live with keen walkers, things might be very different!

The researchers looked at the social dominance of each equine and how often their grazing was disturbed – through vigilance, movement and social interactions, positive or negative. As you might expect, higher vigilance was linked to a lower body condition score, as these horses spent less time grazing.

It goes to show that a horse who is underweight or overweight can be helped by who it is turned out with. An overweight horse will spend less time grazing if it spends more time grooming or playing with its field mates.

At Remus, our residents are turned out in small groups for a harmonious environment. However, other horses aren’t so lucky and we do experience large herds together, particularly in instances of fly grazing. Unfortunately some horses in these types of situations suffer socially, which has an impact on their physical and mental wellbeing.

If you would like to buy food for an animal for a week or a tethered horse, you can do so online on our website at: www.remussanctuary.org/product-category/animal-treats.

New Year PUSH for New Shelter Roof

Happy New Year to you! Just before Christmas, we launched a new fundraising appeal to help us to build a new roof for one of our shelters which houses Pippa, Sophie, Dickie and Megan…

The area that we call the shelter is a large area enclosed on three sides with two gate size openings at the front which allows access to the laminitic paddock. This area is lived in by Pippa, Sophie, Dickie and Megan. If you were fortunate to visit us for the one Open Day of 2020 when we could actually open to the public, you may have seen it. It is the large barn on the right hand side as you enter the yard.

Last year we grew very concerned as the roof began to leak and, despite two patch up jobs the leaks have continued! It is very important for us to get this roof fixed prior to the really bad weather starting as these horses will need the protection.

We have received a quote for the works and, to fit the extra timbers to the inside, then fix treated timber battens over the existing felt to the entire roof area spaced from the eaves to top of the roof; pack some of these battens out to reduce the bow in the roof bays, and then fit PVC coated galvanised steel sheeting and barge boards to either end and flashing at the top…will cost £3,600 including VAT.

Will you help us raise the necessary funds by giving our appeal a big New Year PUSH?

You can donate online directly via this link: www.justgiving.com/campaign/NewShelterRoof and please do share the details of our appeal on your social media profiles and with your friends and family.

Thank you!

A little long in the tooth?

We all know how hard the pandemic has hit us during 2020. In the horse world, there have been more welfare-related calls to equine charities than ever before and together we are very worried that the country faces a horse welfare catastrophe this winter, as restrictions continue to affect us socially and economically.

Although times are hard, it’s important that every aspect of our horses’ welfare is looked after as usual; even the parts we might think are OK to cut back on ‘just this once’.

A good example is teeth. We don’t ordinarily look at our horses’ teeth, so they can be easily forgotten about. However, dental problems can occur in horses of all ages, as they can in humans. So regular examinations are really important to stop any potential problems in their tracks.

Signs of dental problems can range from a change in appetite (an easy one to notice in most horses!) to headshaking or quidding. Quidding is where they drop their food back out of their mouth. One of the main causes of new arrivals here at Remus being underweight, apart from lack of food, is tooth problems such as painful abscesses.

Even in horses and ponies with healthy mouths, the teeth do wear down with age – between 2mm and 3mm a year – so it’s important to keep them in top condition and alter their management accordingly.

This article from Your Horse has more information on spotting the signs of dental disease: https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/advice/horse-care/articles/spotting-the-signs-of-dental-disease

If you would like to buy a gift for one of our animals this year, or provide hay to feed a tethered horse, you can do so via our website here.

Remus Member Announced as Horse & Hound Volunteer of the Year 2020

Sue Burton, founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary is delighted to share that volunteer Esme Fordham has been awarded ‘Volunteer of the Year’ in the Horse & Hound Awards for 2020, sponsored by Dengie. Mrs Fordham was shortlisted and the winners announced on 8 December.

Mrs Fordham started volunteering at the Sanctuary in 2013 when, at age 74, she was recovering from cancer. Ms Burton recalls, “I remember Esme visiting one evening to bottle feed Jess the mule. She said, ‘if only I was younger, I would be able to help.’ Now, 7 years later, her help has become invaluable.

Esme Fordham, now 81 years of age, has been a member of the Sanctuary for many years. She provides assistance by helping in the office, overseeing the volunteers and much of the fundraising, including organisation of the popular Afternoon Teas which are held during the summer months.

“The award is to recognise the sacrifices made by those wonderful volunteers who enable countless others to enjoy their horses, sport or profession week in, week out, through their incredible dedication and selfless actions – and this is certainly true of Esme,” said Ms Burton.

The Horse & Hounds Awards, in partnership with NAF, have been virtual this year and the innovation means equestrian fans around the world can be part of the celebration.

The awards video can be viewed on the Horse & Hound website at: www.horseandhound.co.uk/awards. Volunteer of the Year is included within the first video on the page and can be found at 20:22.

This year’s awards celebrate the heroes of the past decade (2011–2020) in elite equestrian sport, while honouring the unsung stars who have helped our industry, our horses and our spirits during this unusual year. Award winners are nominated and voted for by the public and anyone is welcome to nominate the person, group or horse they feel deserves recognition.

Mrs Fordham said, “I’m delighted and honoured to have won this Award and I am so grateful to everyone who voted for me. I am proud to be associated with Remus and be involved in the wonderful work they do.”

For further information, visit www.remussanctuary.org or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.

What an incredible Giving Tuesday!

What an incredible Giving Tuesday we had. Together we were able to gain a number of new monthly donors, and we couldn’t have done that without your help.

Your support means we are another step closer to achieving our goal of getting more regular monthly donations. Regular monthly donations will help us to become more sustainable. This winter will be extremely tough for us, due to the losses we have incurred as a direct result of Covid-19.

We know there are lots of other charities out there who were also asking for support on Giving Tuesday and we want to say a special thank you for choosing to support us here at Remus Horse Sanctuary. We couldn’t do what we do without you, your support really has made a world of difference.

If you weren’t able to help us yesterday or missed our messages, there are a number of ways you can still do this. Please just choose the one best suited for you and remember to check the box for a monthly donation:

Online
- Via a Just Giving account
- Via PayPal
- Via Give as you Live
Offline
- Download this Standing Order Mandate form from our website (or telephone us to request a copy on 01277 356191) and return the completed form to us for processing

And finally, don’t forget to share your wonderful generosity on social media tagging us @RemusHorseSanctuary (on Facebook and Instagram) or @RemusHorse on Twitter.

We look forward to making Giving Tuesday 2021 an even bigger success for our rescue animals here at Remus.

We only have a Few Hours left on Giving Tuesday to Achieve our Goal

Giving Tuesday will end at midnight, only 6 hours away. #GIVEBACK2020

We urgently need your help to help us reach our goal of gaining a minimum of 200 NEW MONTHLY DONORS in the next few hours.

Watch this short video from our Founder, Sue Burton

Helping us to reach our goal is easy. All you need to do is create a new monthly donation of just £5 a month and you will help make the world of difference to REMUS and THE ANIMALS WE CARE FOR.

There are a number of ways you can do this, please just choose the one best for you and remember to check the box for a monthly donation:

Online

Offline
- Download this Standing Order Mandate form from our website (or telephone us to request a copy on 01277 356191) and return the completed form to us for processing

Don’t forget to share your wonderful generosity on social media tagging us @RemusHorseSanctuary (on Facebook and Instagram) or @RemusHorse on Twitter, @GivingTuesdayUK and using the hashtag #GivingTuesday.

Let’s get together and #GIVEBACK2020 to boost our fundraising on 1st December

Giving Tuesday is just around the corner and this year we are asking you, our supporters, to set up a £5 monthly donation to help us recover some of the funds we have lost during Covid-19, and we can’t do it without your generosity.

This year has been a difficult year for us all but Giving makes us feel Good. #GiveBack2020 is a chance to take something positive from 2020 and make a difference at the same time.

Giving Tuesday is traditionally a day when people and organisations from all over the world come together to support the causes and communities that mean so much to us all. This year GIVING BACK has never been more needed as charities struggle with increased demand in services and a massive fall in income.

We are asking you to help us reach our goal of gaining 200 new monthly donations on Tuesday 1st December and really make a difference for THE ANIMALS WE CARE FOR by DONATING JUST £5 A MONTH.

There are a number of ways you can do this, please just choose the one best for you and remember to check the box for a monthly donation:

Online

Manual Form
- Download this Standing Order Mandate form from our website (or telephone us to request a copy on 01277 356191) and return the completed form to us for processing

Since Giving Tuesday is all about the power of social media and collaboration, we would love it if you could share how you are supporting us on your own social media channels. Don’t forget to tag us @REMUSHORSE on Twitter and @REMUSHORSESANCTUARY on Facebook and Instagram and @GivingTuesdayUK and use the hashtag #GivingTuesday.

Together we can make generosity go viral.

From everyone here at Remus Horse Sanctuary, thank you for your continuing support on Giving Tuesday and every other day.

Winter is here: let’s get ready for spring!

As we find ourselves in another Lockdown here in England, you’ll probably have noticed all the attention has swiftly turned back to exercise and keeping fit! Cue the return of Joe Wicks, online yoga and home gyms being dusted off once again. One key difference between the last lockdown and this one is the unlimited exercise allowed outdoors.

While some restrictions remain on what we can do with our horses, this is also the time of year that experts warn about spring obesity. It may seem a long way off, but we’ll be back to too much grass in no time. What we do now to keep our horses in good shape throughout winter will help them to go into spring at a healthy weight.

One of these actions is, of course, regular exercise, but for those non-ridden and retired equines just like ours here at Remus, sensible feeding is also very important to help them shed any unnecessary pounds.

A recent article in Horse & Hound outlines some important points; from understanding that winter grass does still contain calories and should be rationed if appropriate, to soaking hay to reduce sugar content.

Winter is tough for everyone but making small tweaks to your horse’s routine and management will help him stay safe and healthy into the new year.

Read Horse & Hound’s article in full here.

If you’d like to help with our animals food over winter, please visit our online shop or make a donation.

Remus Horse Sanctuary joins #GivingTuesday 2020 on 1st December

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 1 December.

Brought to the UK in 2014 by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), this year #GivingTuesday offers the opportunity to #GiveBack2020 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 2020, the global Covid-19 pandemic has caused dramatic repercussions around the world. According to CAF research, charities have reported a significant increase in demand for their services while more than half (53%) have suffered a drop in donations. Charities estimate they will see a £10bn funding gap and without help many may be forced to close their doors.

Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary provides lifetime help and care for horses, ponies, donkeys, goats, sheep and cats, that are victims of physical and mental abuse, be it as a result of ignorance or malicious intent. The charity is 100 per cent reliant on fundraising to continue rescuing and rehabilitating animals and receives no government support.

In 2019 #GivingTuesday was the top trending item on UK Twitter and generated more than 487m impressions. In the UK, more than £14.2 million was raised in online donations (via Visa alone), equivalent to almost £10,000 per minute.

Gráinne Mathews, #GivingTuesday UK Lead at the CAF, says: “Charities have given us so much this year, from vital food deliveries during lockdown, to developing new ways to deliver services so they could continue to help those in need; all while struggling themselves with cancelled fundraising events and closed charity shops.

“This #GivingTuesday charities need us to be there for them, like they’ve been there for us. It is time to #GiveBack2020. It’s easy, just think of what you have – money, a voice, family, friends, followers, or time – and how that might help.”

Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary, adds: “We are facing a huge deficit this year as a result of the funding gap created by Covid-19. We have estimated it to be somewhere in excess of £337,000.

“Our goal for #GiveBack2020 is to gain 200 new monthly donations on Tuesday 1 December, of just £5 a month, to really make a difference for the animals that we care for, and to help us recover some of what we have lost this year.

“If people can give more, I implore them to do so. However, we have tried to make our goal realistic as we understand that everyone has had an extremely tough 2020.”

For further information, visit www.remussanctuary.org or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.

Huge Deficit Faced by Essex Horse Charity

Like many charities, Remus Horse Sanctuary is suffering financially due to the impact of Covid-19 on its fundraising activities. Founder, Sue Burton believes that the charity will be facing a funding gap somewhere in excess of £337,000 for events and fundraising activities cancelled so far this year, stating that it costs £450,000 per annum to remain open.

Please DONATE HERE

“At the beginning of each year, I know that we have to find hundreds of thousands of pounds just to remain open, to feed the animals and to cover the medication bills,” said Ms Burton.

The majority of fundraising activities and events take place during the warmer months from March to October all of which, apart from one, have had to be cancelled. The deficit can be estimated at a sobering £10,500 per week.

Mounting a rescue operation is extremely expensive including equipment, medical expenses and transport costs. Though the greatest impact is felt by the charity once the animals are on-site at their Sanctuary near Ingatestone in Essex – financially, emotionally, physically and mentally – as Ms Burton explained:

“The majority of animals that we rescue are, at best, malnourished and full of worms. They may have been abandoned, neglected or mistreated. Some may not recognise food and hay, let alone know what to do with it. Some may be suffering from Cushings or Laminitis. Often their lower teeth are found growing into their top gums. Some may be crippled either by overgrown hooves or injury.

“Some will have shut down completely, near death, depressed and, despite all of our best efforts, just can’t be saved. It takes its toll on them and on us. But we can’t give up, we have to continue trying to help these magnificent creatures.”

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The charity was hoping that the few remaining events scheduled, along with their online gift shop, will generate some interest. However, as Essex has now been raised to Covid-19 Alert Level High, even those few sales are unlikely to happen.

The Christmas Gift Shop is now available online with some lovely gift items including stocking fillers, new and exclusive Christmas card designs for 2020 and a new wall calendar for 2021, which features a variety of rescued animals residing at the Sanctuary. Visit www.remussanctuary.org/product-category/christmas. The Sanctuary will also accept orders placed over the telephone.

New items for 2020 include a Christmas Biscuit Gift Drum (£3.50) available as Caramel and Sea Salt biscuits or Clotted Cream shortbread, Clotted Cream Fudge (£3.25) and Milk Chocolate Truffles (£4.50). The majority of items come with a choice of Christmas design.

Sponsorship of an animal, like Blax [pictured], can also make a lovely gift for animal lovers and welfare supporters – with horses, ponies, donkeys, cats, goats and sheep to choose from! More details can be found at: www.remussanctuary.org/how-you-can-help/sponsor/.

Please DONATE HERE

One socially distanced Winter Sale is due to take place on Saturday 14 November at the Billericay Reading Rooms, Covid-19 alert level allowing. Full details of the event can be found on the charity’s website at www.remussanctuary.org/events.

“As always,” concluded Ms Burton, “we are deeply indebted for everyone’s support. Every winter is tough due to the spiralling costs, but this year will be extremely difficult. We implore the public for help. If they can’t donate, we really hope they can shop with us!

“I still believe that together, we can make a difference and that no animal should be born to die”.

For further information, visit www.remussanctuary.org or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.