Remus Veggie Cook Book 2015 sponsored by Essex Mums

This is a new fundraising initiative for Remus Horse Sanctuary and we need your help please!

Our all new vegetarian cook book will be available for sale later this year, making the perfect Christmas gift!  We would like you to submit your favourite tasty, healthy vegetarian recipe to feature in this unique cook book alongside your name and picture – or perhaps a picture of your child or pet, if you prefer!

You’ll see an example of a recipe page to the left.  Recipes can be categorised by starter (or snack), main course or dessert, whichever you prefer.  And you can submit up to 3 different recipes – though preferably in different categories please!

All you need to do at this stage is to donate 50p per recipe page (or pages) to a maximum of £1.50, although you can of course make a further donation if you wish.  Once we have received your donation we will send you all of the necessary information to proceed.  If you have internet access, we would ask you to submit your recipe and upload your image online.  If you do not have internet connection we can provide you with a recipe sheet.

The deadline for recipes is 30 September 2015.  Once we have everyone’s recipe we will be sending them off to be printed.

**Remember to include your contact details so that we can send you the necessary information  to submit your recipe**

Please make your donation HERE.

 

 

Would you like to be in with a chance of winning £500 towards a dog friendly holiday?

The Kennel Club and Dog Friendly are on the hunt for the UK’s most dog friendly businesses, and we are inviting YOU to participate!

Encourage your friends, family, clients, and fellow dog lovers to nominate and vote for us – Remus Horse Sanctuary under the category of ‘Days Out’. Everyone who makes a nomination or votes will be entered into a free prize draw to win £500 towards a dog-friendly holiday, with runner up prizes of ten pairs of tickets to Crufts and Discover Dogs! You will also get a free one year membership, worth £5.99, to the Dog Friendly database so that you can find dog friendly venues throughout the UK.

The winners in all categories will be determined by public vote. In addition to the category awards, a Special Recognition prize will be awarded to a place or business that the Kennel Club identifies as pulling out all the stops for its canine customers.

The awards will be presented at Eukanuba Discover Dogs on the 17th-18th October 2015 at ExCeL, London. The Awards look to honour those businesses that are offering innovative services to attract dog owners into their premises. So, if you think we pull out all the stops for you and your dog, simply nominate us in the Be Dog Friendly Awards 2015!

To nominate and vote for us, please visit the Be Dog Friendly Awards website at www.bedogfriendlyawards.com – just search for Remus Horse Sanctuary and vote for us under the category of ‘Days Out’.

The competition closes on 18th September 2015, so make sure you spread the word about being dog friendly!

Why not tweet or upload a picture of your dog enjoying a dog friendly day out with the hashtag #bedogfriendly and make sure you share with us on Facebook and Twitter @RemusHorse.

Heavy Heart

It is with heavy heart that I write this message. The last year has, without question, been the hardest year of my life and among the many pressures has been that of finances. Unless we increase the amount of money coming into the Sanctuary then I can’t guarantee our future beyond the foreseeable future. I have put off writing this for so long but there really is no alternative…

We are inundated this time of year, as we have been for the last few years, by calls regarding horses left in fields around the country and have done all that we can to help them, including getting hay to many last year to keep them alive until the weather improved and taking in Grace and Holly the two blind mares who had been left to roam the Essex countryside for months despite being totally blind and both being pregnant.

I know money is tough for everyone but can you help by making a donation towards the Winter Feed Fund? Sponsor a horse as a gift? Organise an event to raise money during the year? I really have to turn things around NOW and maintain a steady income stream.

Thank you,

Sue Burton (Founder)

If you can do just 1 thing today, please set up a regular monthly donation via JustGiving (or your payroll). Even if its only £5 a month, it’ll be a start. If you can offer more, please please do so. Donations of this nature are tax deductible. https://www.remussanctuary.org/donate-justgiving.

If you can do 2 things today, please set up a regular donation and share this message with all your friends and family asking them to help too.

If you can do 3 things today, please set up a regular donation, share this message and sponsor one of our animals.

If you prefer, text FEED36 £10 to 70070 to donate to Remus via your mobile. It doesn’t have to be for £10 you can enter whatever value you wish. Please note that text donations are one-offs and not the same as a monthly direct debit.

Worlds Oldest Horse at Remus Horse Sanctuary

Following much speculation in the national press over the past week, Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary will be making formal enquiries as to whether their 50-year-old Arab thoroughbred cross is in fact the oldest horse in the world. The Sanctuary has made contact with the Veteran Horse Society in Wales and the Guinness Book of World Records and awaiting a response.

The previous record holder, Shayne, a 51-year-old liver chestnut Irish Draught cross thoroughbred, who died in September 2014, was also rescued by Remus. The average life span of a horse is between 25 and 30 years.

Orchid arrived at the Sanctuary in May 2014, seriously underweight. Yet she has subsequently stunned staff and vets by her recovery and put on 100 kilograms in weight. When Orchid was originally found by her previous owners in Wales, she was lying on the floor, full of sores and had given up and awaiting death. She is almost totally blind although it doesn’t seem to bother her too much. Orchid is fed a carrot-free diet but goes through four to five cabbages a week, over 200 throughout the course of the year.

Sue Burton, founder of Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary, said, “Like humans, horses are living much longer nowadays. When I first set up the Sanctuary 31 years ago, 15 was a good age for a horse but now it’s normal for them to live to about 30. There have been so many veterinary advancements in the past few years that we’re a lot better equipped, but it’s also a matter of lifestyle, which we pioneer at the Sanctuary. Plus Orchid knows her own mind which is great to see for a horse of her age! Every morning when we go down to the stables, she will bang on the door waiting for her breakfast and doesn’t stop until we give her what she wants!”

Year of the Sheep and Goat 2015

Welcome to the Year of the Sheep, also known as Year of the Goat.

 

“I am a passive onlooker
I let bygones be bygones
Goodness brings me fortune
I believe in the human race
I understand the meaning of giving
My cup is never empty
I am loyal and just and in others I trust
I AM THE SHEEP”

The Sheep (Goat) is a Yin energy, a symbol of peace, harmonious co-existence and tranquillity, and sets the mood for 2015. This ties in ideally with the nature of sheep – probably the most gentle and humble creature on the planet!  Sheep are incredibly docile and yet treated abominably by mankind.

Happy New Year!

Milo Pony Urgent Appeal

It was a sad day when the horsebox drove onto the Sanctuary yard a few weeks ago and two bedraggled little ponies were brought off.

Both these ponies are horrendously thin and in such a pitiful state. Toffee is a small Welsh pony; she is very skinny and has a thick Cushingoid coat. (Cushings’ Disease is an endocrine disease that affects the pituitary gland at the base of the spine and causes among other things headaches, laminitis and low immunity). She has sores under her coat, is crawling with lice and has a belly full of worms.

Milo, is a tiny little grey falabella pony [pictured], who only just comes up to my knee. When he arrived he was so weak that our vet said “I don’t know how he has the strength to hold himself up”.  Milo is emaciated. His teeth are so infected that you can smell him before you get to his stable. Added to this he has a huge sinus infection and severe liver issues, is riddled with arthritis and, like Toffee has Cushings’ Disease, lice and worms.

To be honest we weren’t sure where to start with little Milo when he arrived. Even now we don’t know if he will pull through.  One eye has died and the other is so infected and sore that he keeps it clasped close. It is hard not to cry when you look at this dear little pony who has never done anything wrong in his life yet his whole body has been abused and is so infected and sore. When he came in he didn’t know what to do with himself and just stood with his head in the corner of the stable – resigned to his fate.

Whilst financially things are hard we absolutely could not turn our back on these two ponies, indeed the RSPCA who asked us to take them were in agreement with their vet that the condition of these ponies was so bad they should be put to sleep.  The vet however then recommended that Remus could give them a chance. We believe can give them care and love and comfort and that they deserve a chance to learn that there is love and caring in this world. So many animals (and indeed humans) come into this world and leave it never knowing any kindness or softness. At least Milo and Toffee will know it!

Both ponies are quite old, in their late 20’s but already over the last few weeks we are slowly starting to see an improvement, but they need so much more work. Milo needs an operation on his teeth and specialist eye drops. To have to get their weight on, but slowly and safely, they are being fed hourly. Even now we don’t know if little Milo will pull through but we certainly want to give him every chance possible and already, despite only a few weeks at Remus we are starting to see their characters emerge and Milo now feels safe enough to come out from the corner. With specialist eye drops his sore eye is now open. He has antibiotics and pain relief for his mouth and he just loves someone sitting with him and gently stroking and soothing his face.

I find it hard to believe that people can still do this to such innocent animals and every time you see them it tears you apart that they should have suffered as they have. Toffee and Milo are just two of the many thousands of horses and ponies out there suffering daily and these two are the lucky ones who have found sanctuary and some help.

Please help us to help Milo – we need to raise £5,000 for his care including his operation on his mouth and sinuses, a visit from specialised ophthalmologists to see if they can help his eye and of course the ongoing care of food, warmth, medications etc.

If you can help Milo this Christmas by giving  us the chance to give him a chance of life we would all be so grateful, If you can make a donation towards the Milo Appeal please do so by:

Sending a cheque to the Sanctuary or telephoning to make a donation by credit card.

On behalf of both Milo and Toffee I thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for any help you may be able to offer this little pony.

Horse Owners Beware of Sycamore Seeds

Remus Horse Sanctuary is warning horse owners to be aware of the dangers of seeds from the Sycamore Tree as vets in Essex are reporting cases of illness and deaths in horses. A typical Myopathy is an often-fatal illness usually found in grazing horses — mostly in the Autumn and Spring.

A study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal revealed that toxins from the seeds of the acer tree (Sycamore) are the likely cause. The disease is not contagious and affects horses of all ages. Outbreaks are more likely to occur in the Autumn and horses can die from it. The onset of the disease can be extremely rapid, with some horses being found dead in their fields. The illness weakens the muscles of the body and can present with sudden stiffness, muscle tremors, collapse and colic-like signs, with a low temperature. Often dark urine is seen. The fatality rate is around 70%.

Owners are advised to carry out the following actions wherever possible:

• Fence off areas where Sycamore seeds and/or leaves have fallen and regularly inspect fields to ensure seeds have not blown in from nearby Sycamore trees.
• Supply extra forage (hay or haylage) especially where pasture is poor.
• Reduce stock density, so there is enough good grazing for every horse.
• Turn out horses for short periods (ideally less than 6 hours).
• Pick up and remove sycamore seeds, if possible.
• If concerned contact your vet immediately.

Sue Burton, founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary said, “Thankfully we don’t have any Sycamore trees at the Sanctuary, but we’re conscious that many horse owners may have them in paddocks. We want people to be aware of the very real dangers these seeds present”.

Caring for your Elderly Horse Seminar

The seminar was a huge success on Saturday – great venue, superb speakers and a wealth of knowledge to be gained by the delegates on so many different subjects.

 

Special thanks to all our speakers:
• Equine Orthopaedic Surgeon Mark Murrell
• Tracey Hammond Equine Nutritionist of Dengie Feeds
• Dr Jo Ireland from the Animal Health Trust
• Rachael Grundon, Clinician in Ophthalmology, of the Animal Health Trust
• Dena Schwartz from The Holistic Approach.

Our thanks also to Tom Blacklock at Boehringer Ingelheim, Rowe Green Pet Crematorium and Intelligent Worming for their sponsorship of the event, and to Sandy Cowley for her Forever Living stall.

The Holiday Inn looked after us so well! We can’t wait for next year’s seminar – watch this space, we’re planning for September!

Elderly Horse Seminar

Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary’s , one-day informational seminar will be taking place this Saturday 15 November at The Holiday Inn, Brentwood, to educate horse owners on the differing care needs as their equines advance in age.

A host of experts will be presenting during the day including Equine Orthopaedic Surgeon Mark Murrell, Tracey Hammond Equine Nutritionist of Dengie Feeds, Dr Jo Ireland and Rachael Grundon, Clinician in Ophthalmology, both of the Animal Health Trust and Dena Schwartz from The Holistic Approach.  Their talks will cover the orthopaedic management of both the laminitic and elderly horse; fibre and the veteran horse; PPID, EMS and Laminitis; general equine ophthalmology with a special emphasis on issues more commonly seen in the older horse, and the benefits of offering plant medicine in the form of plant oils, extracts and herbs to the ageing horse including animal aromatherapy and body language.

Tickets cost £30 and can be purchased online from Eventbrite here:  http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/elderly-horse-care-seminar-tickets-12999843883or from the Remus office by contacting tel: 01277 356191 or by sending an email to: info@remussanctuary.org.  Tickets will include light refreshments and a seminar handbook.  The day will commence 10am, ending 3pm.

Like humans, horses are living longer than their predecessors are and, equally, as they start to age, will show signs of grey around the eyes, ears and muzzle, possibly deep lines and depressions on the face and some muscle degeneration.  What may not be so apparent is difficulty eating, Laminitis, Arthritis, Cushing’s disease and Cataracts. The Remus elderly horse seminar will alert horse owners to these issues, providing information, tips and advice on what to look for and how to detect and address any developing problems early, with a view to minimising any discomfort to the horse and prolonging its life and wellbeing.

Sue Burton, founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary, said, “the speakers we have lined up for the seminar are all experts in their fields.  We’re really looking forward to the day and all pony, horse and donkey owners will find this a really enjoyable and informative event.”

Mardyke Horses – At Risk Again

These horses have the potential to be at risk again and need our help and protection. If the land floods again, yet more horses will die needlessly. Horses died on this land earlier in the year and plenty of others have been dragged out of the mud in conditions far less wet than at present.

You can read our two previous blogs:

• Our Campaign for the horses on the Mardyke Plains in January 2014 highlighting the situation
• What’s going on at the Sanctuary in March 2014 reminding readers of the issues faced by tethered horses

This situation has clearly not ‘gone away’ nor been resolved and we don’t want to see a further repeat this winter.

Please continue to support this campaign, raise awareness with your MP’s, friends and family and, if you’ve not already done so, please sign the petition here.