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:

Sponsor Heidi >>

Sponsor Jakie >>

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!

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

 

Turn up the Turnout

With the long nights drawing in, and a sudden shift to the colder weather, it’s easy to see how we might be tempted to reduce turnout time for our beloved horses and ponies – particularly in favour of a warm and cosy stable! But a recent study has shown that longer turnout could actually reduce the risk of equine injury.

The benefits of turnout have long been recognised. Not only does the constant roaming contribute to good health and fitness, excellent circulation, and reduce the risk of Colic, but the companionship associated with being outdoors and part of a herd is said to prevent boredom and reduce stress-related behaviour.

Our Remus residents spend much of their days wandering the pastures with their pals, as well as being supported by our environmental enrichment programme. We have always recognised the importance of providing our horses with the opportunity to behave as naturally as possible.

But now a six-year study from Centenary University Equestrian Center in New Jersey, has shown that horses turned-out for more than 12 hours per day, had a massive 25% lower instance of soft tissue injuries. The research across 146 non-elite performance horses was inspired by the lead researcher’s own veterinary practice observations. Jesslyn Bryk-Lucy noticed that horses who had a more natural, outdoor lifestyle seemed to require less veterinary care.

Scientists believe there could be a number of reasons behind the findings of this research. Horses may have benefited from increased conditioning of the tendons and ligaments from simply being in a more natural environment, or it could be related to change in behaviour caused by longer turnout.

There is undoubtedly further research to be done in this area, but this study goes one step further in demonstrating that horses are happiest and healthiest outdoors!

You can read more about the findings on Horse & Hound here.

As you can imagine, our costs for the animals increase significantly during the winter. If you are able to make a donation or perhaps purchase a treat for one of them, it would be massively appreciated!

World Animal Day is Here

Today, 4 October, is World Animal Day and we’d like you to help us celebrate!

How Can I Help?

‘How can I help?’ is question we often get asked by our supporters and we’ve worked hard to come up with lots of ideas for you to help us, from fundraising to volunteering, microvolunteering, recycling and plenty more besides.

One of our ideas is for you to create a fundraising page and fundraise on our behalf, in your own time and at your own pace!

So if you’re not yet aware of it, please take a look at our 9.9K Remus Reservoir Challenge.

This is a great way for you to get out in the fresh air, get some exercise and get your family, friends and colleagues together! All we’re asking is that you pick a date of your choosing, and then to walk, run, cycle or even scoot the equivalent of the Hanningfield Reservoir – which is coincidentally also 9.9K!

The Hanningfield Reservoir is a nature discovery park in Essex and it’s a glorious place to visit. However, if you live in Scotland, Wales, Plymouth or even London or Norwich, you may not want to travel to Essex. So guess what…you can choose to do your challenge wherever you like! You don’t even need to find a reservoir! You can do this at any time up to the end of October, but time is starting to run out, so don’t delay.

So go on, what are you waiting for? It’s really easy, just follow these simple steps (pun intended):

1. Decide on your date and location
2. Click on the link to create your fundraising page> https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/campaign/-remus-reservoir-challenge
3. Share your fundraising page with your friends, family and colleagues on social media and by email and get those sponsorships rolling in
4. Do your walk, run or cycle on your chosen date
5. Share your pictures with your family and friends and encourage them to donate if they haven’t already
6. Sit back and congratulate yourself on a job well done!

We’re recommending you create your fundraising page online to help track your progress and also accept donations online, which saves having to worry about cash or collecting in funds. However, if you prefer to create your fundraising page via another means, such as Facebook or JustGiving for instance, please go ahead.

Start Fundraising

PS. And don’t forget to tell us what you’re doing, tag us in your posts and share your photos with us too!

Buzz Lightyear to visit Horse Charity in Essex

Visitors to Remus Horse Sanctuary’s final Open Day in October will be able to meet a very special guest! Landing at 2.30pm on Sunday 3 October will be none other than Toy Story space ranger and superhero…Buzz Lightyear!

Members of the public are invited to visit with Buzz and the animals at the Sanctuary from 1pm until 5pm on Sunday 3 October 2021. Please note that Buzz will only be available for photographs and autographs between 2.30-3pm on that day due to a very tight schedule. A magician/entertainer will also be present during the afternoon to entertain the children.

Admission will be charged at £5 for adults and £2 for children and tickets can be purchased securely online via the charity’s website at: www.remussanctuary.org/events/open-day-sanctuary-october or by telephone on: 01277 356191. Advance booking is recommended to secure your place.

Parking is available on-site and disabled parking is available near to the yard. There is also a wheelchair accessible toilet. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Light refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.

Visitors to the Sanctuary will be encouraged to wear masks in busy areas, to maintain a responsible social distance from each other and to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the afternoon.

Ms Burton added, “We have been delighted to offer our events in a covid-safe environment so far this year and we have no reason to think that our final Open Day of the season will be any different.

“All activities will continue to take place outside, and we’ll take the necessary precautions to welcome people safely.

“We’ve hosted less than half our normal events for 2021 in order to make sure everyone is kept safe, so along with losing out financially for the whole of 2020, sadly we’re not in a great position. We hope that Buzz Lightyear will encourage people to attend.

“Even if people can’t visit us on the day, we’d love them to send us a donation.”

Donations can be made online via the website at www.remussanctuary.org/donate and further information on the charity is available at www.remussanctuary.org and the charity’s Facebook page.

Best Sausage Catchers Invited to Fun Dog Show at Charity Open Day

Remus Horse Sanctuary will be hosting its Fun Dog Show at its popular Open Day on Sunday 5 September. The gates will open at 1pm and the dog show will commence at 2pm, with registration from 1.30pm – classes will include ‘Best Sausage Catcher’, ‘Bad Hair Day’ and ‘Dogs with a Disability’ to name just a few.

Admission for the Open Day will be charged at £5 per adult and £2 for children. Tickets can be purchased securely online at: www.remussanctuary.org/events/open-day-sanctuary-september or via the telephone on: 01277 356191. The dog show will cost £2 per class entry and tickets can be purchased on the day. A list of the dog classes can be found via the above link.

Making an appearance at 3pm that afternoon will be none other than Mickey Mouse himself! A magician/entertainer will also be present during the afternoon to entertain the children. Parking is available on-site and disabled parking is available near to the yard. There is also a wheelchair accessible toilet.

Sue Burton, founder of the Sanctuary said, “Our dog shows are always such great fun! And of course, we’ll be continuing to take a cautious approach to ensure everyone is Covid-safe, with limited numbers and we’ll be asking visitors to maintain social distancing. We still want everyone to feel safe and to be safe.”

In line with current government guidelines, visitors will be asked to provide contact details for members in their party over the age of 16, or to scan the NHS QR Code using the NHS Covid-19 App. QR posters will be displayed at the main entrance. Contact details will not be held.

Visitors will be encouraged to wear masks in busy areas, to maintain a responsible social distance from each other and to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the afternoon.

Ms Burton added, “We’ve experienced no problems at our events so far this year and everyone’s had a great time out in the open enjoying the beautiful Essex countryside. Our Open Days are such a great way of sharing our passion for the animals that we have rescued and protect.”

Further information on the fun dog show will be available on the website at www.remussanctuary.org and the charity’s Facebook page.

Rain, rain go away

It might be August, but that hasn’t stopped the heavy rain showers and fluctuating temperatures we’ve been experiencing so far this month! If you’ve been pulling your hair out not knowing whether to put a fly sheet or a lightweight rug on your horse in the mornings, you’re not alone!

Unfortunately, our horses can be at risk of rain scald when the weather is so wet. Although it’s usually more common in the winter months, this common skin disease thrives in periods of wet weather with warm temperatures and high humidity – a lot like we’ve been experiencing recently!

It’s caused by the same bacteria that causes mud fever on legs. The bacteria originates in the soil and can be passed from horse to horse by flies, or by sharing rugs and grooming equipment. It does well in warm environments, so on horses with long coats and who aren’t regularly groomed, much like many of those we see come into us here at Remus.

Something else you may not know about rain scald is that lighter coloured equines, including palominos, greys and coloureds, are more at risk, as well as young and old horses whose immune systems are not fully functioning.

Find out more, how to spot it and how to treat it, in this article from Horse & Rider magazine: www.horseandrideruk.com/expert-advice/articles/rain-scald

We need your  help to continue for our horses, ponies and donkeys – find out about our fundraising challenge and get those running or walking boots on!

It’s Double Donations Week at @giveasyoulive – that means when you shop as normal at selected retailers, we receive 2x the normal donation, for free! See the full list of retailers and generate free funds for us, just click on the image below.

9.9K Remus Reservoir Challenge

Join us on our 9.9K Remus Reservoir Challenge! We are asking our supporters to walk, run or cycle the full distance of the Hanningfield Reservoir 9.9km, or equivalent, in a day this September or October.

Help us raise £10,000 to support the running of the Remus Horse Sanctuary, which provides lifetime help and care for horses, ponies, and donkeys, many of which are aged between 30 and 45 years old. The Sanctuary provides these equine horses a happy and pain free quality of life.

Get your family and friends involved to complete the challenge together. You can track your progress by linking your Strava account to your fundraising page.

It’s very easy! Just decide on a date to undertake the challenge, create a fundraising page and ask for donations!

Sign up today! donate.giveasyoulive.com/campaign/-remus-reservoir-challenge

#remusreservoirchallenge #remus4horsewelfare

A Family Friendly Day Out at Remus Horse Sanctuary

Remus Horse Sanctuary will be opening its gates again on Sunday 1 August for one of its summer Open Days. Unfortunately, the July date had to be cancelled last minute due to Met Office weather warnings which then never materialised. Founder Sue Burton hopes that nothing impacts their August event, especially after losing out on so much fundraising as a result of the Covid pandemic.

Sue Burton said, “As you can imagine, we really need to maximise our fundraising efforts this year to try and make up for last year’s shortfall – of course that feels like an impossible task!

“When we invite visitors to the Sanctuary for an event, we require them to park on what is normally grazing land, so it’s vital that the ground underneath is firm. Not only that but, as the majority of our events are based outdoors naturally, torrential rain and storms can affect everyone’s enjoyment as well as spooking the animals. Fingers crossed for some nice summer sunshine on August 1st!”

Members of the public are invited to visit with the animals at the Sanctuary from 1pm until 5pm on Sunday 1 August 2021. However, to minimise physical contact and maintain responsible social distancing, tickets must be pre-booked and there will be waitress service within the refreshment area.

Making an appearance at 3pm that afternoon will be none other than Mickey Mouse himself! A magician/entertainer will also be present during the afternoon to entertain the children.

Admission will be charged at £5 per adult and £2 for children and tickets can be purchased securely via the charity’s website at: www.remussanctuary.org/events/open-day-at-the-sanctuary-august or by telephone on: 01277 356191.

Parking is available on-site and disabled parking is available near to the yard. There is also a wheelchair accessible toilet. Dogs are welcome on a lead.

In line with current government guidelines, visitors will be asked to provide contact details for members in their party over the age of 16, or to scan the NHS QR Code using the NHS Covid-19 App. QR posters will be displayed at the main entrance. Contact details will not be held.

Visitors will be encouraged to wear masks in busy areas, to maintain a responsible social distance from each other and to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the afternoon.

Ms Burton added, “We’ve experienced no Covid issues at our previous events. Everyone has followed the guidelines and we’ve been able to offer a great day out in the beautiful Essex countryside, and everyone has enjoyed meeting the animals while feeling very comfortable with the safety rules in place.  

“Despite the relaxation in measures, we will be continuing to take the necessary precautions for the foreseeable future and we look forward to welcoming people safely.”

Further information will be available on the website at www.remussanctuary.org and the charity’s Facebook page.