Giving Checkout – A New Online Tool by JustGiving

In the past year, more and more people have been going digital and JustGiving is addressing this by helping charities and supporters get a smoother user journey through its new online donation tool called Giving Checkout.

Why is this important to us?

Put quite simply, it’s a no-brainer! Giving Checkout is completely free to use for your direct donations (including regular gifts), so every donation makes an even bigger impact for us. Plus there’s no platform fees on JustGiving and, for Giving Checkout donations, they’ll cover the processing fee from a donor’s voluntary contribution if you do “tip” or absorb the cost if you don’t. Plus, donations can be made in five currencies via all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Pay with Bank Transfer. As an HMRC approved Gift agent JustGiving can boost all eligible donations by 25% (though a 5% fee does apply for this service).

What to do next?

If you see a JustGiving ‘Donate Now’ button, please click it!

Thanking you, as always!

Celebrating Volunteers Week 2021

This week we’re celebrating the difference volunteers make to our charity and thanking them for all their time and dedication during this year’s Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1-7 June. Furthermore, this 37th annual Volunteers’ Week is taking place during #MonthOfCommunity!

Volunteers don’t get paid.
Not because they are worthless.
Because they are priceless!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our volunteers for all their hard work and generosity.

Meet Esme who was announced as Horse & Hound Volunteer of the Year 2020!

Did you know?

• 4 million people volunteered through a group, club or organisation during 2018/19.
• More than half of the population gets involved in informal ways of volunteering.
• Most people have formally volunteered at some point in their lives, dipping in and out of involvement over time.
• Volunteers get involved in different ways, reflecting their lifestyles, values and priorities.
• A small proportion of volunteering takes place via employers, mostly in large organisations.

Like many charities we have suffered tremendously as a result of the pandemic, not just financially, but because our volunteers were not able to visit and help us. At an animal sanctuary, work goes on as normal whatever the situation as the animals still need feeding, caring for, exercising and more.

There are lots and lots of ways you can help us here at the Sanctuary and please do check out our two web pages on both volunteering and microvolunteering. We love to welcome teams from businesses too, a day at a working yard is great for team building! Hopefully it won’t be long before we can welcome everyone back to the Sanctuary without needing to observe social distancing etc.

If you’d like to visit the Sanctuary, view our events page on the website.

#VolunteersWeek and #MonthOfCommunity

Visitors invited to Covid-Safe Open Day at Essex Horse Charity

Remus Horse Sanctuary will be opening its gates on Sunday 6 June 2021 to welcome visitors safely to the charity with numerous Covid-safe measures in place. To minimise physical contact, tickets must be pre-booked, entry times will be staggered, and there will be waitress service within the refreshment area.

The Sanctuary will be open from 1pm to 5pm for the event and pre-booking is essential either via the website or telephone as the charity will only be selling a limited number of tickets to ensure everyone’s safety and maintain social distancing.

Admission will be charged at £5 per adult and £2 for children. Tickets can be purchased securely online or via the 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.

Sue Burton, founder of the Sanctuary said, “We are taking a cautious approach to our events this year. We want our visitors and the Remus team to feel safe and to be safe.

“Our on-site events are generally outdoors anyway, but we have put in place a number of measures to keep interaction to the minimum. For example, there will be stalls, but no stalls that allow for interaction, such as our regular tombola or children’s corner. We’ll even be disinfecting the fencing!”

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 be held for 21 days to assist the government’s Track & Trace system.

Visitors will be asked to keep two metres apart from others and encouraged to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the afternoon.

Ms Burton added, “We experienced no problems at our Open Day earlier in May. Everyone came along and had a great time out in the open in the beautiful Essex countryside and enjoyed meeting the animals whilst feeling Covid safe.  We hope that our stringent measures will mean we can continue to open safely throughout the summer.”

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

No more stigma for strangles

This week (3-9 May) is Strangles Awareness Week. Many of us will know about strangles and the devastating effect this highly contagious disease can have on our equine friends and the wider industry. It does also sadly still carry a stigma, which the British Horse Society (BHS) want to challenge and get people talking about.

There are over 600 outbreaks of strangles in the UK each year. It’s spread through contact with a bacteria called Streptococcus equi, so can quickly infect horses and whole yards, resulting in lockdowns and cancellation of events to stop cases from multiplying.

Here at Remus, our four Shetlands came to us in extremely poor condition and suffering from strangles. Archie, Oscar, Dusty and Drifter were less than a year old at the time and were being dragged around the country from market to market, before finally being saved from slaughter.

This week hopes to educate everyone on how with relatively simple steps and good biosecurity could play their part in losing the stigma and eradicating the disease for good.

Join in the discussion: www.bhs.org.uk/our-charity/press-centre/news/2021/april/strangles-awareness-week.

You are welcome to come and meet Archie, Oscar, Dusty and Drifter and all of our other animals at our next Open Day on Sunday 6 June from 1pm to 5pm. Pre-booking is required as we are only able to sell a limited number of tickets at present. Find out more on our website and pre-book your tickets today!

Spring Update

It has been an extremely tough 12 months with no fundraising. Thankfully, there does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel for the country as a whole and it’s important that we try to get some money raised to pay the many bills that have accumulated over the past year – because whilst we have had no fundraising we have, of course, still had to pay for vets, staff, the farrier, utilities, hay and straw etc.

There is always lots to do here, such as getting some more shelters erected, repairs on the premises, ordering woodchip in to top up the special woodchip paddocks, and yet more woodchip paddocks need to be created to make safe grass-free areas for the horses that have laminitis and can’t go onto the grass. Plus of course, paying bills…

It will be great to return to some sort of normality and get the events back up and running and our great band of volunteers back on site! All events will be COVID friendly with social distancing, masks and a one-way system, but we and the animals will be so pleased to see you all again!

Download our Dates for Diary for the remainder of the year, which includes dates we hope will go ahead – obviously subject to steps 3 and 4 of the Covid roadmap. It would be advisable to check in advance of all events to ensure they are all able to go ahead but we are hoping that they will and we can steam ahead with getting some fundraising going.

In Memory

We were very saddened to hear of the death of three very good friends of Remus and they will all be sadly missed.  May they all rest in peace!

Roy Harrington – Spent many years helping at Remus with his wife Joy. He built barns, shelters, repairs and did so much for the Sanctuary.

Linda Croton – Member for many years and a Trustee for a year. She sadly lost her fight against cancer.

Astrid Melton – Known as the bird lady of Billericay, she worked tirelessly for many years rescuing and caring for injured birds and birds of prey.

50 & 100 Club

Why not join one of these clubs? For £24 a year you can enter into a draw that is drawn three times a year and pays out at each draw. We currently have 10 numbers available for the 50 Club and 3 numbers available for the 100 Club.

It’s a great way to help the Sanctuary and win a ‘bit extra’ for yourself.  Joining is easy, simply call the office on 01277 356191.

Membership Renewals

If you haven’t already renewed your membership, please do so using this downloadable form. Your membership of the Sanctuary is so important to us.

• INDIVIDUAL – £15
• O.A.P’s / Under 12’s – £8
• FAMILY GROUP – £25
• LIFETIME – £175

Remus Merchandise for Sale

Don’t forget we still have the following for sale along with many other items on our website:

• Polo Shirts £20
• Caps £10
• Cuddly Horses £6.99
• Small horse or donkey £5.50 each or 2 for £10
• Collage mugs £4,95
• Slant Pads £3.25
• Pens £1
• Biscuit Tubes £3.50

Please contact the Sanctuary direct on 01277 356191 to place your order or look at our website at www.remussanctuary.org/shop/ and order online.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

Covid Safe Socially Distanced Open Day at Essex Horse Charity

Remus Horse Sanctuary will be opening its gates on Sunday 2 May 2021, ahead of the Early May Bank Holiday, for only the second time since October 2019. Visitors, members and supporters are invited to come and meet the 200+ animals residing and recuperating at the Sanctuary and learn about the Charity’s horse welfare programme.

The Open Day follows months of hardship experienced by the charity during the Covid pandemic and lockdown measures.

The Sanctuary will be open from 1pm to 5pm and pre-booking is essential as Remus will only be selling a limited number of tickets online for this event to ensure visitors safety and maintain social distancing. Entry will be staggered to manage the flow of visitors.

Parking is available on-site, with disabled access, and dogs are welcome on a lead. Admission will be charged at £5 per adult and £2 for children and tickets can be purchased securely online at www.remussanctuary.org/events/open-day-at-the-sanctuary-may, or via the telephone on 01277 356191.

Sue Burton, founder of the Sanctuary said, “We have undertaken rigorous risk assessments and are confident that we can open safely in May.

“We want our visitors and the Remus team to feel safe and be safe, so we have applied caution and will only open the areas that we feel are safe to do so. The site will be a totally outdoor environment and we will direct people via a one-way system.”

This Open Day will be a vital source of fundraising for the charity which, like many, had most of its physical fundraising curtailed on 23 March 2020 at the start of lockdown. The Sanctuary was able to open briefly on Sunday 6 September but bad weather and further lockdown measures put paid to any further activity.

Ms Burton says, “We are asking people to purchase a ticket in advance to manage numbers and minimise physical contact on the day. We are so looking forward to opening our gates again and welcoming visitors to this really special place.”

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

Got a sweet tooth?

After a long weekend full of chocolate eggs, another Easter has come and gone. Whether you’re a creme egg fan or prefer a more traditional hot cross bun, we all deserve a treat now and again. Of course, our horses do too, but how do we know what’s safe for them and what should be avoided?

There are so many different treats on the market in all sorts of flavours, as well as plenty of natural options. Did you know horses actually prefer the taste of banana over mint, apple and even carrot? Those banana-flavoured treats suddenly don’t seem so odd, do they?!

What you probably did know is that carrots are full of sugar, so while many fruits and vegetables can be safely fed in moderation, looking for low sugar options is advised. Another thing to look out for is how long they take to chew. Whether you love it or hate it, celery is a really good option because it takes a long time to chew, which generates more saliva production. Saliva is alkaline and can protect against gastric ulcers. Low sugar and beneficial to the digestive system? It seems celery could be the new treat of choice!

Take a look at this article from Horse & Hound for more healthy treats you may not have thought of feeding: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/safe-treats-for-horses-644034.

If you’d like to buy a treat for a Remus animal or provide feed for one of the many tethered horses in the area, you can do so online via our website at: www.remussanctuary.org/product-category/animal-treats.

New Shelter Roof Proves to be a Success

Remus Horse Sanctuary, experts in the care of elderly equines, has shared pictures of its new shelter roof following a fundraising campaign earlier this year.

Remus raised £3,735, via JustGiving, in January and February to replace the roof after it began leaking again, despite two previous repairs.

Image 1: More beams were added to strengthen the roof and wooden supports were attached to the sides of the building to make the whole structure stronger. The electrics that had been getting wet from the previous leaking roof were removed and new timbers added before the lights could be reinstated.

39-year-old Megan can be seen here crunching on some tasty fresh hay. She has been with Remus since 2012 and has a heart issue, laminitis, arthritis and EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome). She is the sweetest of ponies.

Of the shelter, Sue Burton, Founder of the charity said, “We grew very concerned last year as the roof began to leak really badly. Pippa, Sophie, Dickie and Megan all share the shelter which opens out to a large laminitic paddock.

“The quote to replace the roof was £3,600 including VAT which seemed an awful lot at the time, especially as we’ve received very little in the way of donations over the past year and haven’t been able to carry out our normal fundraising efforts”.

Image 2: The completed project from the outside with the box profile steel sheeting attached. Treated timber battens were fixed over the existing felt to the entire roof area to reduce the bow in the roof bays.

Image 3: Pippa, warm and dry in the newly improved shelter. 25-year-old Pippa has been residing at the Sanctuary for many years now. The team worked with her to re-build her health and to encourage her confidence after previously having her spirit destroyed. In 2013/2014 Pippa underwent two serious eye operations to repair her sight and is a different animal now from when she arrived in 2009. She also has various health issues which we see in older horses including arthritis. The Ophthalmologist that performed her surgery sees her from time to time and is very pleased with how well the eye is performing. The surgery was for cataracts after she went blind, and it was because of Pippa being kept in whilst she was blind that the charity introduced music to play around the Sanctuary for the animals as it really helped calm her.

Like many charities, Remus has suffered greatly as a result of Covid-19.

“Towards the end of last year, we calculated that our deficit was somewhere in excess of £337,000 and obviously it has just continued to escalate since then.

“Winter is always much more expensive, with us needing to provide so much more food when grass isn’t available and the paddocks turn to mud and, even worse, get flooded. And many of our elderly horses require additional warmth too, which we provide via special electric lamps.”

There are numerous ways for members of the public to support the Sanctuary. Obviously donations are critical, but leaving a gift in your will, recycling, microvolunteering and clothes recycling are just some of the other ways that people can help. Visit www.remussanctuary.org/how-you-can-help to find out more. Both Megan and Pippa can be sponsored here.

“We are delighted to share pictures of our new shelter roof and we, Pippa and Dickie, Sophie and Megan are eternally grateful to everyone’s support. Our thanks to Malcolm and Paul at Ablefelt Roofing for the great job that they did. 

“Hopefully we will see everyone in early May for our first Open Day – weather and safety permitting!”

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

Remus Takes Part in Essex Lottery Case Study

Spring has sprung: how have your horses done?

The daffodils are out and the sun is making more appearances – yes, spring is well and truly on its way!

It’s been a long, hard winter for everyone, but how are your horses doing? From a welfare point of view there are a few things we need to be on top of as we head into spring. The main one is weight. Horses are designed to lose some weight over winter in preparation for the lush spring grass.

If your horse is a good doer, winter is an ideal opportunity for him to lose some pounds. The dreaded laminitis is a real threat at this time of year so, if he hasn’t lost a little, consider slowly introducing more exercise and decreasing his hard feed. If your horse is retired or not ridden, like our residents here at Remus, then some walking in hand could be beneficial. For more information about laminitis, you can also read our previous blog on the subject here: Laminitis Alert for Horse Owners and/or download this article from Horse Magazine which featured our research work.

If your horse has lost too much weight over winter then good nutrition and appropriate rugging until the weather warms up will help. The spring grass will also give him some much needed nutrients, but if you’re at all worried then speak to your vet.

Check out the full vet health check from Your Horse magazine for more information: www.yourhorse.co.uk/advice/vet-advice/articles/vet-health-check-has-your-horse-wintered-well

And if you would like to contribute to our winter feed appeal to help the many neglected, malnourished and tethered horses out there, you can find out more and do so here.