Visitors Welcome at Horse Sanctuary Early May Bank Holiday Weekend

The humans at Remus Horse Sanctuary are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Sanctuary to meet the 200+ animals for the first time this year, on Sunday 1 May from 1pm to 5pm.

Parking is available on-site with disabled access, and dogs are very welcome on a lead. Admission will be charged at just £5 per adult and £3 for children. Advance online booking is recommended via the charity’s website.

The Sanctuary organises a number of Open Days throughout the summer months and dates for 2022 are as follows:

• Sunday 5 June
• Sunday 3 July with a fun dog show
• Sunday 7 August
• Sunday 4 September with a fun dog show
• Sunday 2 October

Open Days at the Sanctuary are fun for the whole family, with a children’s corner, live entertainment, and music from Midnite Blu.

A range of delicious refreshments, including gluten-free sandwiches and homemade cakes, are also available and there will be lots of stalls including a tombola and raffle.

The Sanctuary also host Afternoon Teas, the details for which can be found on the Charity’s website: www.remussanctuary.org/events.

The Sanctuary provides rehabilitation and care for around 200 animals, including horses, ponies, donkeys, 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.

Sue says, “We’re really looking forward to a better season this year. Not only have we seriously struggled since the pandemic, but then Storm Eunice wreaked havoc in February which we’re still trying to recover from. 

“We’re immensely proud of what we do here, and love inviting the public to come and visit us to meet the animals and learn more about what we do.”

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

Worming Our Horses – The Future

The writing is on the wall for more equine disease and death if the industry does not take urgent, cohesive action against wormer resistance.

This was the view of experts at the 30th National Equine Forum on 3 March 2022. There is evidence of resistance to all four classes of worming drug available for use on horses, and no new types or drugs expected in the near future.

Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary said: “When we started 40 years ago I remember seeing horses who looked like they were passing blood, but it was the sheer amount of red worms in the faeces. Horses died from this. With the new version of anthelmintics that came into being, this is no longer something we see. But on the horizon is resistance to existing wormers and therefore we will have nothing that will be effective against worms in our horses and could well return to those awful days.

“Years ago we would all just worm our horses every time it was necessary but now we know that we have to be more pro-active and work with faecal egg counts rather than constantly using drugs. All of Remus’ animals have faecal egg counts taken, and are only wormed when necessary, thus reducing the risk of resistance.”

British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) president elect David Rendle, a specialist in equine internal medicine, said: “We know traditional worming strategies mean 80% of doses are completely unnecessary, and multiple surveys show that although use of diagnostics is improving, as few as 10% of people are using them appropriately.”

Mr Rendle said in the past year in the UK, 1.13m doses of wormer were given, and 120,000 faecal egg counts carried out, so about 11 doses for each count, which is “definitely the wrong way round”.

“The writing is on the wall for more death and disease, and pastures that can’t be grazed by horses,” he said. “That will have a radical effect on our industry, and it will be in years, not decades.”

Claire Shand, managing director of Westgate Labs, which carries out parasite diagnostics, said using faecal counts can reduce wormer use by about 80%.

“There’s absolutely no place any more for routine worming,” she said. “The humble egg count is the cornerstone of testing; they’re cheap, simple and we try to make them as easy for owners to use as we can. And we use them to maintain the efficacy of the wormers we do need to give.”

Ms Shand added that appropriate dosing is also key, for horses who do need to be wormed, as not giving enough for a horse’s weight also contributes to resistance.

“All horses need good parasite control, and it’s future generations we need to do this for, so we can keep grazing horses on our fields into the future,” she said. “My question is: what will you do when the wormers stop working?”

Sue Burton said: “The horse world needs to acknowledge this threat and wake up now and deal with this problem whilst there is still time to do so, but we need to act fast. We don’t want to return to the old days and the problems that horses suffered from needlessly.”

The first stage of the project, which is supported by the BEVA was initiated as a collaboration between Tim Mair of CVS Group and Julia Shrubb and Camilla Scott of the VetPartners equine clinical board. The first step involves asking horse owners, keepers, stud and yard owners and managers, to complete an online survey on their worm-control programmes.

The surveys, for horse owners and yard/stud owners/managers, are available online via the two links.

We urge you to take part.

Make your Will for FREE

Leaving a legacy in your Will is one of the best ways of ensuring that we can continue our valuable work. As you know, we rescue horses, ponies, donkeys and more, and provide rehabilitation and respite to them and to elderly horses, and all of our work is paid for by donations and fundraising. A gift in your Will, however small or large, can help ensure we can always be here for those victims of physical and mental abuse, whether it be as a result of ignorance or malicious intent.

By making a Will you can ensure that your wishes, and the people and causes you care about, are provided for. After providing for your family and friends remembering us in your Will means that we will be able to carry on the vital work of rescue, lobbying and education. By leaving a gift to Remus Horse Sanctuary in your Will you can shape the future, ensuring that we are always here to raise a voice for animal welfare.

Remus Horse Sanctuary is committed to being there for those animals that need us – after all, they cannot speak for themselves. If you decide to leave a gift in your Will to us, you will be supporting us to make sure we continue our valuable work with animal rescue and welfare.

Every single gift is vital to Remus and we appreciate any gift you may choose to leave us. Whatever the value of your gift, it will go a long way to help an animal that needs us.

It will not cost you a penny during your lifetime. It is simple to do and is free from inheritance tax.

All gifts, whatever their size make a real difference. It truly is a gift of a lifetime.

We thank you in advance for making a generous and thoughtful contribution.

Your gift will make a lasting and positive difference to Remus Horse Sanctuary.

Click here to find out more> www.freewills.co.uk/charity/remus-sanctuary

The New Highway Code: How it Affects You and Your Horse

You might remember back in January we mentioned a review of the Highway Code. As of 29 January 2022, a number of changes to the code came into force – and it’s one step closer to making our roads safer for horses and riders. Most significantly, a new hierarchy of road users means that riders are to be considered equal to cyclists.

So what does that mean in practice? We’ve broken down some of the most important things you need to know.

1. The new hierarchy of road users gives more responsibility to those who present the most risk. For example – drivers have responsibility for themselves, as well as cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians, because they present the most risk.
2. Within the hierarchy, cyclist and horses riders are to be treated equally.
3. Riders have responsibility for themselves, and more vulnerable road users like pedestrians.
4. Other road users must pass riders at no more than 10mph, with at least 2 metres of space.
5. Cyclists must not pass a horse on the left.
6. Drivers should take extra care when entering a roundabout, and must not cut across riders who are continuing around the roundabout in the left hand lane.
7. Horse riders should give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists at a parallel crossing.
8. Horse riders should give way to pedestrians on bridleways, or other shared use paths.

All of the above changes have been welcomed by the British Horse Society, who have been campaigning tirelessly to make the roads safer for horses and riders.

With almost 2 horses killed each week on UK roads, and that number increasing year-on-year, the new rules are aimed to protect horses and riders as vulnerable users.

You can read more about the Highway Code changes here.

As you may know, Storm Eunice raged through the Sanctuary, tearing apart field shelters, flattening fences and ripping into roofs. Please help us to rebuild.

Goats saved from slaughter with new home at Remus Horse Sanctuary

Remus Horse Sanctuary has literally provided sanctuary for Arnie, Patch, Bobby and Bonnie, by saving them from slaughter! The young goats, all about a year and a half old, were originally born and bred for meat but, thankfully, their owners couldn’t face it when the time came.

Arnie and Patch, the bigger of the four, are Boer goats which were originally bred for the meat industry due to their fast growth rate and good meat quality. However, the breed actually originates from South Africa where they were kept by tribespeople for land management. The smaller pair – Bobby and Bonnie – are both a Boer/Pygmy cross, hence their smaller size. They are all quite naughty and playful which is another trait of the breed.

The original owners, from a smallholding in Essex, came to love the animals whilst in their care and couldn’t face sending them to slaughter when the time came.

The goats have spent a period of time in isolation before being integrated with Remus’ existing goat herd.

Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary, explained: “We were approached by our Farm Vet to see if we could offer these little goats a home. How could we say no – they’re just delightful little characters and we couldn’t possibly see them go to slaughter!

“Thankfully they integrated well with our existing herd and immediately made themselves at home! We look forward to introducing them to visitors at our first Open Day in May.”

To sponsor Arnie, Patch, Bobby or Bonnie or to find out further information about the invaluable work at the Sanctuary, visit www.remussanctuary.org or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.

10 Amazing Facts About Horses

1. The original horse was no larger than a Jack Russell. Known as Hyracotherium or Eohippus; it looked more like a deer than the modern day horse! Hyracotherium lived about 50 million years ago and was a forest dweller. In contrast to the horses of today it had four padded toes on the front legs and three padded toes on the back legs.
2. Horses have the largest eyes of any other land mammal.
3. An adult horse’s brain weights 22 ounces, about half that of a human.
4. Horses can’t vomit due to them having a strong band of muscle around their oesophagus, known as the Cardiac Sphincter. Other animals that can’t vomit include rabbits, guinea pigs, frogs and rats.
5. The world’s smallest horse breed is the Falabella which ranges from 38-76 cm tall!
6. Horses cannot breathe through their mouth, only through their nose!
7. Equinophobia is the fear of horses.
8. When foals are born their hooves are covered with a soft tissue. This prevents damage to the mare’s birth canal and uterus. This tissue has several names such as fairy slippers or golden hooves.
9. Just like humans, some horses are quite sensitive to the sun and can get sunburned on the non-pigmented pink areas of the skin. Common areas of sunburn include around the eyes and muzzle, especially on horses that are light coloured, such as greys.
10. The oldest ever recorded horse was ‘Old Billy’, who is said to have reached the age of 62! He was born in Lancashire in 1760.  Old Billy died on November 27^th 1822 near Manchester.

Remus Pledges to Tackle Fraud

Fraud is an ever-evolving and increasing criminal threat to society. No organisation – charitable or otherwise – can make itself completely immune to fraud but it can take steps to minimise the risks. Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary is committed to doing precisely that, which is why we have signed the Fraud Pledge: www.preventcharityfraud.org.uk

Benefits of signing the Fraud Pledge

By taking the pledge we are showing that we work actively to prevent fraud, wherever it might occur in our organisation. We are now entitled to use the Fraud Pledge badge on our website, newsletters and printed materials. It will help us build trust among donors, funders and beneficiaries by providing us with a visible demonstration that we take the protection of our assets very seriously.

You, Your Horse and Your Mental Wellbeing

The last two years have been hard – and we’re not talking about Remus’ financial hardships as a result of the lack of fundraising – the Covid-19 pandemic has bulldozed its way through our lives, challenging each and every one of us.

But in the wake of that incredibly difficult time, and hopefully as we head into a new era of normality, there seems to be a positive mental shift occurring; a newfound sense of appreciation amongst us. Some people have prioritised their health and chosen more active lifestyles. Others have resigned from jobs that left them feeling uninspired or opened a business out of their passion project. There are new hobbies, new relationships, new banana bread recipes! People are thinking about their own happiness, and their own mental wellbeing. So how do our horses play a part in that?

It is a well-trodden research path, the link between mental health and our relationships with animals. There is vast amounts of evidence to show that our furry friends can reduce stress levels, and help treat anxiety and depression. Horses provide us with companionship, help us build trust, and increase our mental focus. Not to mention the benefits of exercise and fresh air from riding and being outdoors.

In a recent Horse & Rider article, Emma Hutchison explores this link in more detail. She asks the question, What lessons can we learn from our horses?

We all know the saying, ‘Treat others as you wish to be treated’, but how about ‘Treat yourself as you’d treat your horse’? In the article, Emma talks about the levels of compassion we offer our horses on a daily basis. The good practice of working with “the horse you have on the day”, and treating each day differently, according to their moods and needs. Can you honestly say you offer yourself the same opportunity? Checking in on how you’re feeling each day is an important part of mental wellbeing. It helps you treat yourself with kindness and show compassion for yourself on an ‘off-day’.

There are a lot of things we can learn from our horses. This article shines a light on how mental wellbeing can be one of them. You can read more here.

Find out how Storm Eunice wreaked havoc at the Sanctuary.

Images: Sophie Boeme

Storm Eunice Wreaks Havoc at Elderly Horse Sanctuary

Storm Eunice raged through the Sanctuary on Friday 18 February 2022, tearing apart field shelters and flipping them into the air like cardboard, flattening fences and ripping tiles from roofs. Please help Remus rebuild and make the necessary repairs and replacements.

Field Shelters cannot be covered by insurance and, due to the rising cost of timber and inflation, Ms Burton is estimating a total of £34,500 will be required to address the full list of repairs resulting in the wake of Storm Eunice.

Initial investigations have reported a lengthy list of repairs at the Sanctuary amounting to tens of thousands of pounds. Major repairs are required as follows:

• Five field shelters destroyed
• Roof tiles missing from Donkey shed and across the yard
• Skylights in roofs blown out
• Apex and other bits of roofs broken
• Fencing smashed to ground

Founder of the charity, Sue Burton said, “We have never seen such devastation in such a short period of time – five field shelters were shattered, fences were flattened and tiles were ripped from roofs.

“As a charity we’re still reeling from the pandemic and losing out on all that fundraising for such a long period of time, so for something like this to happen now… well it’s beyond words!”

To help rebuild Remus please donate via their JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/campaign/rebuild-remus-after-eunice.

For further information about the invaluable work at the Sanctuary, visit www.remussanctuary.org or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.

Turn points into positivity

Your Nectar points could help make a real difference to charities like ours.

We’ve partnered with Nectar Donate, a new scheme which allows you to donate some (or all) of your Nectar points to good causes and charities on Crowdfunder!

No matter how many Nectar points you choose to donate, each and every one will be supporting your chosen charity, helping to make a real difference to our cause. It’s quick and easy to donate and there are no hidden fees!

How it works

1. Click ‘Get started’ to find a charity you’d like to support and click donate
2. When on the checkout page, ensure you sign in or sign up to your Crowdfunder account
3. Select ‘Donate with Nectar’ at checkout and ensure your Nectar account is linked – you’ll only need to link once
4. That’s it! Your Nectar points will then become pounds sent to support your chosen charity

Get started >

Every 200 points = £1 donated

100% of your donation will help do good for your chosen cause as there are no hidden fees.

Donations will need to be made in increments of £1 (200 points).

Storm Eunice wreaked havoc at the Sanctuary last week, find out more here.