Here comes Autumn…
The nights are drawing in, the stubble fields have been ploughed back over and the winter rugs are coming out of storage…yes, summer is officially over! But what a great summer it was with wall-to-wall sunshine and record temperatures – we can’t complain, can we?
Unfortunately the unusually hot temperatures and long dry spells meant the grass really struggled to grow. We’re sure, like us, many horse owners had to feed hay throughout the summer; a time when we’re usually complaining we have too much grass! Of course, limited grass also means a limited new crop of hay and so we also need to be prepared going into winter.
If we do end up facing a hay shortage, this article from Your Horse has some useful information on feeding forage alternatives. As we all know, the fibre our horses get from forage is essential to their digestive health.
It currently costs us around £20 a week to feed hay to one of our residents here at Remus. There are many different ways you can help our fundraising efforts – our ‘how you can help’ page has more details. Amongst others:
Pass On Something Wonderful
How can we protect more horses from neglect in the UK?
This week Remus is joining forces with 200 other charities up and down the UK to launch Human – the world’s first charity-powered search engine.
The activity is part of Remember A Charity Week, 10-16 September, which sees hundreds of charities come together to encourage people to leave charitable gifts in Wills and, by doing so, pass on something wonderful to the next generation.
Drawing upon Remus’ unique knowledge and expertise in horse welfare and combining it with insight from other charities, Human will enable the public to ask some of life’s biggest questions and to hear directly from charities, including Remus Horse Sanctuary, what they are doing in response.
This Remember A Charity in your Will Week we’re inviting our valued supporters to help us find the answers to life’s biggest questions and pass on something wonderful.
Through the search engine, people can select from over 100 questions such as: ‘How can we cure the deadliest common cancers?’ and ‘How do we ensure no one has to sleep rough?’ and see video responses showing how charities address these issues and how the public can help, by leaving a gift in their Will. Remus Horse Sanctuary has contributed to the search engine by providing responses to the question: “How can we protect more horses from neglect in the UK?”.
Gifts left to charity in Wills are a crucial source of income and help fund key services, including the rescue and rehabilitation of horses provided by Remus. We rely on charitable legacies from supporters like you. Once you’ve taken care of family, friends and loved ones, you can help us to continue our vital work long into the future by leaving a gift in your Will. Even a small gift could make a big difference.
Sue Burton, Founder, commented: “Our mission is to protect more horses from neglect in the UK. We do this by rescuing animals, lobbying and campaigning, and by educating and informing the public and we are delighted to bring our charity’s mission to life via the innovative human search engine and help shine a light on how important a gift in Wills can be.”
“Like others, gifts in Wills are crucial to our charity’s work – both now and long into the future. Leaving even a small amount – after taking care of friends and family first – makes an enormous difference.”
Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity, says: “Every day people use Google to find the answers to their questions, but it’s real people and charities we turn to when we want answers to life’s biggest challenges.
“This campaign has been designed to showcase just how vital charities are in responding to many of the world’s biggest problems and how gifts in wills can help combat those issues and we’re delighted that Remus Horse Sanctuary is taking part. We hope it will encourage the public to think about their deepest concerns for the world we live in and to consider leaving a gift in their will.”
Remember A Charity Week, now in its ninth year, brings together charities, government and stakeholders to highlight the importance of leaving gifts to charity in Wills. The search engine is part of a broader public awareness drive, which showcases the impact of legacy donations and calls on the public to ‘pass on something wonderful’.
To find out more about Human and how Remus Horse Sanctuary is helping to tackle the world’s biggest challenges this Remember a Charity Week, visit humansearchengine.org
Thank you for your continued support!
Look out for the Human Search Engine
What does the future hold? We are proud to be one of 200 charities working towards a better future.
Discover the answers to the world’s biggest questions on 10 September at HumanSearchEngine.org #HumanSearchEngine.
Take a look at the web page here to find out more and look out for our next blog on the 10th for the big launch!
Raise free funds for us with your Back to School purchases
Did you know that you can raise free funds for Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary when you shop for the new school year via Give as you Live?
This term, whether you’re buying school uniform, stationery or sports gear, please shop via Give as you Live and raise money for us, at no extra cost to you.
Treat the kids this new school year!
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.
Charity Open Day & Novelty Dog Show
Dog lovers across the South East of England are invited to Remus Horse Sanctuary on Sunday 2 September for the second of our fun Dog Shows taking place at the next Open Day. Visitors will also be able to meet the latest rescues including Daisy pictured.
Enjoying our 35th anniversary year, Remus host just six Open Days between May and October opening on the first Sunday of every month, and two dates – July and September – feature a Novelty Dog Show including fun classes such as: Bad Hair Day and Best Sausage Catcher, along with something more meaningful – Dogs with a Disability (blind, deaf or a life changing illness) and of course, the ever-popular Best in Show. Entry into each class costs just £1.50 and the 1st – 6th winner receives a rosette. Entries will be taken from 1pm, show starts 1.30pm.
Entry to the Open Day is £4 for adults and £2 for children and will take place from 1pm to 5pm. The Sanctuary offers entertainment for the whole family including a kids’ corner with face painting and bouncy castles and live performances from children’s entertainer Magic Dave, competitions and games; music from local band Midnite Blu; delicious refreshments including sandwiches and homemade cakes – including gluten free; many stalls and a raffle.
Parking is available on-site, with disabled access and dogs are welcome at every Open Day on a lead.
The Sanctuary provides rehabilitation and care for over 200 animals: including horses, ponies, donkeys, cows, goats, sheep and cats. The Open Days are a vital source of fundraising for us as, due to our location on greenbelt land, we can only open to the public for a limited number of days each year.
Founder of the Sanctuary, Sue Burton, says, “We love inviting the public to come and visit the Sanctuary, and the novelty dog shows are always such great fun! Opening to the public in this way allows us to show-off our premises and our animals, giving people a real insight into the amazing work that we do.”
For further information, visit www.remussanctuary.org or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191. For companies wishing to sponsor a class at the event, please email: info@remussanctuary.org.
The Power of Purple
Is there a more beautiful sight than the calming mauves and lilacs of a lavender field? We’re probably all familiar with the concept of popping a piece of lavender under our pillow at night to help us sleep, but did you know that it could also help to relax our horses?
Researchers in America have recently discovered that a whiff of lavender could help to soothe them. They found that the horses’ heart rate variability reduced after inhaling the scent from a diffuser of lavender oil, which was held under their noses while they stood out in the paddock.
Whether or not we have a stressy horse, it’s always nice to know that a natural remedy can help if we need it. While there are plenty of different products on the market, we’re proud here at Remus to be one of the few sanctuaries to embrace holistic care and therapies as part of our ethos. We use holistic therapies alongside the professional care that our vets give all of our residents, including aromatherapy, shiatsu, reiki, Bach flower remedies and self-selection herbs.
You can read about the full study in America on the Horse & Hound website here.
You can learn more about our holistic care, enrichment programme and conservation on our website.
You can buy a bag of natural hedgerow herb treats or a session with one of our complimentary therapists for one of our animals via our online shop here.
Hit the aisles and raise FREE funds for us
You can now raise free funds for us when you pop out to buy your groceries!
Whether you’re dashing out for milk or doing your weekly shop, our in-store cards are the convenient way to shop and raise money for us, at no extra cost to you.
Choose to shop at Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Tesco and ASDA, keep it topped up via our website, and use it again and again to keep raising free funds.
A Fun Day Out for the Whole Family
Remus Horse Sanctuary’s Open Day on Sunday 5 August will see children’s entertainer, Magic Dave, and with a dedicated children’s area with two bouncy castles, music from Midnite Blu and competitions and games to entertain the whole family.
Entry to the event will be just £4 for adults and £2 for children and will take place from 1pm to 5pm at the Sanctuary near Ingatestone. Parking is available on-site, with disabled access, and dogs are welcome on a lead. Members can obtain a discount on the entry price by bringing their membership card.
The Sanctuary opens its gate just six times a year offering entertainment for the whole family, with a kids’ corner, competitions and games, music, delicious refreshments including sandwiches (including gluten free) and homemade cakes, alongside stalls and a raffle.
The Sanctuary provides rehabilitation and care for over 200 animals, including horses, ponies, donkeys, cows, goats, sheep and cats. The Open Days are a vital source of fundraising for the charity which, due to its location on greenbelt land, can only open to the public for a limited number of days each year.
Founder of the Sanctuary, Sue Burton, says, “The Open Days are a really important to us, not only in terms of fundraising, but also in educating people about what we do here. Visitors will be able to meet Jake, our latest rescue, and learn about our many other successes.”
For further information, visit www.remussanctuary.org or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.
A happy horse is a horse that… ‘snorts’!
Every horse owner wants their equine to be happy. Let’s face it – if they’re happy, we’re happy. But it can be difficult to know whether or not our horses are truly happy – there’s nothing particularly obvious to help us know. They may seem relaxed, but are they feeling a bit down? Their ears may be forward, so they’re not grumpy or annoyed, but are they constantly on alert? It’s really not easy!
The good news is that research has recently emerged to suggest that the humble little ‘snort’ we hear from our horses is a sign of happiness – and the more they snort, the happier they are. The study was very in depth and you can read the results and explanations on the BBC website here.
Many of the horses and ponies that come into us here at Remus are survivors of terrible cruelty and we strive to give them the very best of care, allowing the younger ones to develop into happy adults, and the older ones to spend their twilight years in relaxed happiness.
Remus Horse Sanctuary is funded entirely by fundraising. To make a donation to support horse welfare, please visit our Donate Page.
Raise FREE funds for us this Summer
Did you know that you can raise free funds for Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary when you shop for summer essentials via Give as you Live?
This summer, whether you’re treating the kids to a day out, updating your garden or jetting off on a last-minute break, please shop via Give as you Live and raise money for us, at no extra cost to you.
Spread a little love and raise free funds this summer!
Other Appeal
