Health Problems: a third of horses in UK affected

We all know that keeping horses can be a costly pastime, and the results from a recent study show that owners should do everything they can to ensure their animals stay in good health.

According to the 2017 National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) more than a third of horses have experienced at least one health problem over the past year.

The most common issues are skin conditions and lameness. More than a quarter of the horses with back problems have exhibited signs of lameness, and the most common skin issues are sweet itch and mud fever.

As always, prevention is better than cure, and Remus Horse Sanctuary suggests that owners can stay on top of health problems by ensuring their animals have a horse health MOT with a vet at least annually and that vaccinations are kept up to date.

Look our for our workshops in 2018!

More useful tips for keeping your horse healthy, along with more results from the survey can be found at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/skin-disease-lameness-top-uk-horses-health-issues-633590.

Horse Charity Needs Your Help on #GivingTuesday

Remus Horse Sanctuary is asking animal lovers everywhere to help with a little fundraising on Tuesday 28 November – #GivingTuesday – a date which is all about supporting and celebrating Britain’s charities.

We are looking for people who could help with street collecting in either Brentwood or Ingatestone on Tuesday 28 November for an hour or so for #GivingTuesday. Anyone interested should contact promotions@remussanctuary.org directly.

“We promote lots of ideas on our Facebook page”, says Sue Burton, Founder of the Sanctuary, “we’re encouraging people to organise their own fundraising events – as well as helping us with street collections – such as: a ‘dress down day’ or a sponsored colouring competition at school and a bake sale or sponsored ‘walk to work’ day for companies. Other people are organising a sponsored knit which sounds great fun!”

There are currently over 7,000 horses at risk in this country and the welfare crisis continues to escalate year on year with little or no progress. Without the Sanctuary’s help, many animals will die a slow, painful and unnecessary death. Sue says, “We know that we can save horses’ lives this winter by getting food and water out to them quickly, but we need the public’s support to help us, to help them!”

#GivingTuesday coincides with the Charity’s new winter feed appeal for 2017 to help raise £2,500 to feed not only the veterans and permanent residents at the Sanctuary, but those neglected, unloved and abandoned animals that are either tethered by their necks on waste ground or just left wandering and unwanted with no food, no water and no shelter.

The news regularly features victims of physical and mental abuse and the Charity continue to receive calls daily. Keeping an animal fed over winter will give it a chance to thrive into Spring and forage also helps a horse keep warm.

Additionally donations can be made to the Sanctuary via the JustGiving appeal page online at: www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/rmhs/winterfeedappeal2017, via the Charity website at: www.remussanctuary.org/donate/ or by texting FEED36 £10 to 70070 to donate to Remus with JustTextGiving*.

Visitors to the Charity’s online shop at: www.remussanctuary.org/product-category/animal-treats can also buy a bale of hay, bag of animal food, straw bedding and plenty more. A week’s supply of food and hay for a tethered horse will help improve their life and wellbeing for just £25 and help get them through the winter months.

Sue Burton, Founder, says: “We experienced a break-in at the Sanctuary earlier this month and we hate asking for yet more help. But it’s a fact that without the public’s support, hundreds of horses will die this winter. Every donation, no matter how large or small will be of huge benefit to those starving animals that no-one cares for.

“I’m really hoping that #GivingTuesday will give our campaign a real boost.”

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

*Text donations can only be for £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. However, a donor can donate up to three times per day. £10 is the maximum donation amount for all mobile operators.

Vandals Break in to Remus Horse Sanctuary

Between the hours of 9.30pm on Monday 6 November and 6.30am on Tuesday 7 November, vandals broke in to the premises of Remus Horse Sanctuary at Little Farm, Buttsbury, near Ingatestone stealing over £1000 in cash and creating significant damage to the charity’s offices and equipment, which will require thousands of pounds to repair and rebuild.

The thieves gained access to the farm and offices by breaking padlocks and breaking down security gates and smashing doors and cupboards in order to ransack the offices and steal the cash. An attempt was also made to steal the ATV (all-terrain vehicle) although it was left abandoned half way down the fields.

The police were called immediately the break-in was detected and have confirmed that the thieves managed to avoid the CCTV cameras and wore gloves. Anyone with knowledge or information of the break-in or the people involved should contact the Police quoting Crime Reference Number 42/158124/17.

Sue Burton, founder of the Sanctuary commented, “Its been a hard day today [Tuesday] trying to come to terms with the reality of the break-in and the financial implications to us when we are already strapped for cash and going into the hard winter months.

“A large amount of cash was taken as well as causing a significant amount of damage to property which is going to cost thousands of pounds to replace. We will also have to look at increasing security on site which will have a cost too.

“The mission of the Sanctuary is to rescue neglected or abused animals and be able to keep them safe for the rest of their lives and the thought that someone may threaten this is horrendous. We’re very lucky that all of the animals were left untouched and unharmed, and I feel so relieved that they are all safe.”

Sue is keen to thank those who have sent messages of support and would like to hear from anyone who can help with repairs and security or fundraising on tel: 01277 356191. Donations can be made online or by cheque made out to Remus Horse Sanctuary, Little Farm, Buttsbury, near Ingatestone, Essex CM4 9NZ. We have also set up an appeal on our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/RemusHorseSanctuary.

Raise free funds for us this Christmas

Did you know that you can raise free funds for Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary when you shop online for Christmas goodies via Give as you Live?

This Christmas, whether you’re buying the perfect present, festive food or dazzling decorations, please shop via Give as you Live and raise money for us, at no extra cost to you.

Enjoy the magic of giving this Christmas!

Shop & Raise

Help spread the word and get others raising free donations when they shop online through Give as you Live. Use Twitter and Facebook to tell all your friends today.

Winter Feed Appeal Will Save Horses Lives

Remus Horse Sanctuary has launched a new winter appeal to help raise £2,500 to feed not only the veterans and permanent residents at the Sanctuary, but those neglected, unloved and abandoned animals that are either tethered by their necks on waste ground or just left wandering and unwanted with no food, no water and no shelter.

Remus will also be promoting their winter feed appeal on #GivingTuesday – Tuesday 28 November – a date which is all about supporting and celebrating Britain’s charities.

Donations can be made via the JustGiving appeal page online at: www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/rmhs/winterfeedappeal2017, via the Charity website at: www.remussanctuary.org/donate/ or by texting FEED36 £10 to 70070 to donate to Remus with JustTextGiving. Please note that text donations can only be for £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. However, a donor can donate up to three times per day. £10 is the maximum donation amount for all mobile operators.

Additionally, the charity offers numerous ‘treats’ via its online shop at: www.remussanctuary.org/product-category/animal-treats whereby visitors can buy a bale of hay, bag of animal food, straw bedding and plenty more. A week’s supply of food and hay for a tethered horse in your area will help improve their life and wellbeing for just £25 and undoubtedly help get them through the winter months.

At present, there are more than 7,000 horses at risk in the UK and the welfare crisis in this country continues to escalate year on year with little or no progress – when the mares foal, the problem doubles and so on and so forth each year.

The news regularly features victims of physical and mental abuse and the Charity continues to receive calls daily. Keeping an animal fed over winter will give it a chance to thrive into spring. Forage also helps a horse keep warm. Without the Sanctuary’s help, many animals will die a slow, painful and unnecessary death.

Sue Burton, Founder, says: “Normally the amount of welfare calls we receive dip in the summer months – this year we have remained as busy all through the summer months which does not bode well for the poor horses this winter. We need to get food and water out to abandoned horses quickly and, without the public’s support, we just wouldn’t be able to do that! Every single donation no matter how large or small will be of huge benefit to those starving animals that no-one cares for.

“Winter is especially tough for us”, says Sue, “as we’re entirely self-funded. Without the support of the public there is no way that we could continue – everything costs money and the onset of the cold weather makes it even harder as feed, bedding and heating bills increase.

“I’m really hoping that #GivingTuesday especially will give our campaign a real boost.”

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

Keep calm its November the 5th

While lots of us, especially those with children, look forward to November the 5th and firework displays, for animals it can be a really stressful time of year!

At Remus Horse Sanctuary we recommend you follow this advice:

Horse owners should find out dates of local firework displays so that they can be prepared.
Let the organisers and neighbours know that there are horses nearby so they can set off fireworks away from the animals.
Horses usually kept in a field may be happiest staying there with their companions, but do make sure the fence is secure in case they bolt, and there are no objects on which they could hurt themselves.
For horses in stables, check for anything that could harm them if they become stressed, such as protruding nails or loose boards, and play music to mask the sound of the fireworks.

There are more excellent tips for horse owners here.

Of course, cats, dogs and other pets also need to be kept safe at this time of year. For more advice on keeping pets safe and happy over Bonfire Night, check out this article.

Raise Free Funds when you Shop for Halloween Treats

Did you know that you can raise free funds for Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary when you shop for Halloween treats via Give as you Live?

This October, whether you’re buying scary costumes, ordering freakishly good party food, or spooky decorations – you can shop at 4,100 stores via Give as you Live and raise money for us, at no extra cost to you.

Have a spooktacular Halloween and raise free funds for us!

Shop & Raise

Help spread the word and get others raising free donations when they shop online through Give as you Live. Use Twitter and Facebook to tell all your friends today.

Remember Remus in your Will and ensure your love of animals lives on

Making a Will is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. And it’s a lot more affordable and straightforward than you think.

Legacies are vital to our very survival at Remus Horse Sanctuary, a fact that most of our supporters don’t realise. To raise some much-needed awareness, we’ve joined forces with Remember A Charity, the largest consortium of its kind in the UK working to promote legacy giving.

You can visit the Remember A Charity website to find out how to leave a gift to Remus when making a Will.

With 35%* of people saying they would consider including a gift to charity after providing for their family and friends in their Will, and only 7%* end up doing so, there is huge potential to increase income from legacies. If, together, we can grow the sector by just 4%, we could raise an extra £1 billion for UK charities.

7.3% per cent of the UK have left a gift to charity in their will. A 4% increase would raise a further £1 billion for good causes every year.
We understand that family and loved ones will always take priority – remembering a charity in your will doesn’t mean excluding others.
A gift to charity in your Will does not have to mean large amounts of money. A small gift can make a very real difference.

A refreshed consumer campaign which launched in 2009 around the theme of ‘Make your last wishes something to remember’ has made positive inroads in changing people’s attitudes. For example, 60% of those who had seen the TV ads said ‘it made them think it was possible to leave a legacy as well as provide for family and friends’.

The annual Remember A Charity Week, which the consortium runs in September each year, gives us a perfect opportunity to promote legacies both internally and externally.

You can visit the Remember A Charity website to find a solicitor in your local area, who will be able to advise you on leaving gifts to Remus Horse Sanctuary when making a Will.

The campaign not only creates enthusiasm among the general public, but also with legal advisors and other professionals who write Wills. Our collective aim is for all professional advisors to prompt their clients to consider leaving a charitable gift in their Will.

We can all help the campaign to succeed, thereby growing the legacy market, by spreading the legacy giving messages, particularly to our own colleagues and staff and also with charity supporters.

However, please don’t wait until next September to give this some thought! We need your help today and every day!

For more information please contact Sue Burton or visit our website.

*TNS Social 2008

Remember Remus In Your Will And Ensure Your Love Of Animals Lives On

Making a Will is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. And it’s a lot more affordable and straightforward than you think.

Legacies are vital to the very survival of Remus Horse Sanctuary, a fact that most of its supporters don’t realise. To raise some much-needed awareness, the Sanctuary has joined forces with Remember A Charity, the largest consortium of its kind in the UK working to promote legacy giving.

7.3% per cent of the UK have left a gift to charity in their Will. A 4% increase would raise a further £1 billion for good causes every year.
Remus understand that family and loved ones will always take priority – remembering a charity in your will doesn’t mean excluding others.
A gift to charity in your Will does not have to mean large amounts of money. A small gift can make a very real difference.

The annual Remember A Charity Week, which the consortium runs in September each year, gives charities the perfect opportunity to promote legacies both internally and externally.

The campaign not only creates enthusiasm among the general public, but also with legal advisers and other professionals who write Wills. The collective aim is for all professional advisers to prompt their clients to consider leaving a charitable gift in their Will.

Sue Burton, Founder at Remus Horse Sanctuary commented: “We can all help the campaign to succeed, thereby growing the legacy market, by spreading the legacy giving messages, particularly to our own colleagues and staff and also with our members and supporters.

“However, please don’t wait until next September to give this some thought! We need your help today and every day!”

For more information please contact Sue Burton or visit the Sanctuary website.

Identify the Friend or Foe Plants for Foraging Horses

For horse riders there’s nothing better than hacking out on a beautiful day, whether it’s a crisp autumn morning or a delightful spring day, and enjoying the fresh air and surroundings. And the horse will enjoy it too – especially if they can do a bit of foraging along the way.

Horses love snacking on anything from thistles and grass to oak leaves and wild garlic. And while some plants can be good for them (find out more about useful herbs for horses here), others can be toxic – and they don’t always know the difference. So it’s vital for horse owners and riders to know which plants are safe and which are not.

Make yourself familiar with plants, and whether they are friend or foe to your horse here.