Blues in the City Festival 6
The good folk at Blues in the City will once again be donating their funds from this year’s festival to Remus. Read on to find out more about the Blues in the City Festival 6 taking place from 30 September to 2 October 2016 and support them to help us…
This is our 6th year and wow do we have a great line up for you to enjoy with many British Blues Award nominated and winners playing and as always all the profits are going to charity and it is the Remus Horse Sanctuary we are happily supporting again for the second year.
We start on Friday 30th September at the Chelmsford Social club where for the one night it is just £15 or for the two nights £25. The doors open at 6.30pm and the music starts at 7.15pm with Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective then at 8.15pm a real special treat with Blues Folk we have the master of the Fender Telecaster Jerry Donahue (USA) will be joining Blue Swamp next is the great Jerimiah Marques & The Blues Aces.
Saturday starts in the pubs which are free to enter we kick off in Moulsham Street at the Black Horse at 12.30pm with Catfish then to the Star & Garter at 1.45pm with Elles Bailey then its the Ale House at 3pm with the Dove & Boweevil duo then to the Two Brewers at 4.30pm for the Saiichi Sugiyama Band. We now are at the Chelmsford Social Club for night two and what a night we kick off at 7pm with Northsyde and then at 8.30pm it is our good friend Nicky Moore playing his last ever electric show with the Blues Corporation and then we have a supergroup at 10pm for you made up from Bad Influence and the Monday Band we have Val Hayes and Richard Hayes with Steve Simpson, Pete Stroud and Sam Kelly, this is going to be awesome.
Our last day and what a day we have again, and all free to enter venues, starting at the Black Horse in Moulsham St at 1pm with the Blues Consortium then the Star & Garter at 2.15pm with the Delta Ladies then we cross town to the White Horse at 3.30pm for Andy Twyman then to Ale House at 4.45pm with Jimi Whitewolf then our two acts this year will play at the Bassment first at 6.45pm is Salvation Jayne then to close the festival is Red Butler at 8.45pm til 10.15pm.
You can buy tickets from any Blues in the City event or from the Bassment, The Hop Beer Shop in Moulsham Street or Intense Records in Viaduct Road. Tickets are for the two nights at the Social Club and are £15 per night or £25 for the two nights you can also buy them online from www.wegottickets.com/f/9810
We must thank our sponsors ADBLY Construction, Sign Masters, Chelmer Web Design, It’s Your Media, Round Tower Brewery and Printwize.
To find out more, read the latest news here, view the poster below or contact Blues in the City via their website, on Facebook or via Twitter.
Learn Equine Complementary Care
Do you have an interest in the use of complementary therapies for your animals? If so, read on to find out about our next equine complementary care workshop with Clair Missen in October.
Equine Reiki is a way of increasing the bond between person and horse. No experience of complementary therapies is needed – all you need is a desire to help. Reiki is a complementary therapy that uses the energy of the universe surrounding us and is used to help clear out a horse’s energy system.
Every day our body and energy is affected by things that happen around us – such as feeling drained by being around certain people or feeling overwhelmed when on a crowd of people. It is exactly the same for horses – they are affected by people, their environment or their relationship with other horses. Reiki helps to clear the energy system from these influences, to give balance back. Reiki can also work on an emotional level by helping the horse to feel that their emotions are being acknowledged by a person which helps them to let go. Horses have a complex emotional system and often if they are treated as a ‘commodity’ rather than a sentient being they do not have an opportunity to let go of these emotions.
Clair had a horse in her life for 14 years called Floss. She was a riding school pony who was used to a structured routine with few opportunities to have fun. When Clair moved her from the riding school Floss had an emotional meltdown because she couldn’t cope with the freedom to feel different emotions. It took a long time for her to feel confident enough to say when she didn’t want to do something. During that process Clair had to learn to help Floss and learning to work with her energy brought them closer together as she knew she had a person she could rely on. Reiki is a way of telling that horse that right at that moment there is no one more important in your life than the horse standing in front of you. By the time she died Floss was able to express her larger than life personality every day.
So whether you want to learn Reiki to help the horses in your life, or you want to start working towards a career with horses, this 1-day course is the starting point to helping you in that journey.
To find out more and book your tickets online, visit the website here.
Aloe Vera for Animals
The History of Aloe
The use of Aloe Vera is not something that is new. It has been helping humans and animals for over 4000 years. It was used by numerous civilisations of the ancient world from the ancient Greeks and Romans, to the peoples of Egypt, China and India.
Traders first brought Aloe Vera to London in 1693 and throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Aloe remained a popular medicine.
In 1844, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons was founded and due to Aloe Vera being used widely for the treatment of animals, the college chose to have Aloe Vera on its coat of arms. If you look closely, you will see that Centaur, who is known as the mythical healer, is carrying a shield with a picture of Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller on it. The use of Aloe Vera did however, fall from favour for both humans and animals and it is only in the last 30 years or so that it’s many benefits have been recognised again.
Aloe for Animals
Caring for your animals has never been so easy with Forever’s Aloe Veterinary Formula. This product is something to keep handy in your first aid kit at the stables as well as at home for use on your other pets.
This easy-to-apply spray is ideal for soothing irritations, cleansing areas before applying dressings or to achieve a glossy and conditioned coat after bathing.
This gentle formula can be diluted to cleanse irritated eyes or to clean dirty ears.
It can also be used as a soothing leg wash to provide protection after exercise.
Distributor Sandy Cowley says, “my miniature Jack Russell has lots of allergies and I find spraying her with the Aloe Veterinary Formula after bathing her in the Aloe Hand and Face Soap, really helps to soothe the irritation.”
Click for Forever animal products
You can contact Sandy to find out more on tel: 07801 435395 or by email to: info@sandracowley.co.uk.
How Can I Help?
Our team of volunteers are vital to the work of Remus Horse Sanctuary. They help to raise money, care for animals, welcome visitors, highlight our work and even help maintain the premises. Our volunteers go the extra mile and ensure that all of our animals, large or small, live a long and loving life with nothing asked of them.
If you would like to support the Sanctuary by volunteering, please complete an Application Form and send it to the Sanctuary or contact the office to discuss volunteering on tel: 01277 356191.
Here are just some of the things you can do to help us:
Fundraisers wanted to organise events, street collections and raffle ticket sales.
Event Volunteers are essential to ensure our events run smoothly throughout the year. Can you help us to promote the event through leafleting and distributing posters? Perhaps you could help out at our Open Days and other events, run specific projects, sort bric-a-brac, maintain merchandise stocks and pricing. (You can also visit our Fundraising page to find out how you could organise your own event.)
Volunteer Coordinator needed to help develop and oversee our volunteer programme including recruitment, selection, training, allocation of duties, setting up of and maintaining a social calendar.
PA or Secretary wanted to assist in busy office, managing diary, note taking, handling paperwork to a high standard. We also need people to help stuff envelopes at least twice a year.
Enrichment Volunteers wanted to help provide enrichment to the animals including socialisation, toys, games and observation.
Gardener wanted to care for the Sanctuary garden, such as mowing the lawn, keeping the troughs planted and watered.
Conservation Officer to oversee the upkeep of the Sanctuary conservation areas including the hedgerow, ponds, maintaining wildlife area, keeping a list of birds and wildlife seen and erection of bat boxes. Many BTO red and endangered birds have been seen on site.
Graphic Designer to assist with posters for our events, online graphics and the occasional leaflet. Will be fully briefed by our Marketing Expert and should be able to work remotely.
IT or Computer Expert wanted to maintain office computers and laptops ensuring backing-up and maintenance.
Photographer to take good quality images suitable for advertising, PR and print work, and website. To document what happens at the Sanctuary, how the animals progress and equally the cute and cuddly shots to help with our fundraising. Video would be a bonus!
Drivers wanted to collect and drop off items in the local area.
Maintenance Person to help oversee the upkeep of fixtures and fittings with some bigger projects, such as concreting. Additionally, people required to help clean and paint the stables and buildings before winter.
Groundsman wanted to help oversee the land ensuring weed control and fencing kept in good repair.
Please note that due to the demand from youngsters to help at the Sanctuary we have a very long waiting list and it can be quite a lengthy process to get children onto the Young Volunteer Scheme.
Hoofs, Paws and Claws Crossed at Remus Horse Sanctuary
The animals and staff alike at Remus Horse Sanctuary in Essex are crossing everything that the weather before and during their next Open Day on Sunday 7 August will be fine and dry, unlike the three previous dates.
Unfortunately, the charity has had to cancel its three previous Open Days due to either very wet weather beforehand or devastating flooding, as was the case in July. Losing such prominent dates in the fundraising event calendar has been financially crippling for the Sanctuary who rely on the Summer events to boost their finances ready for the Winter.
Sue confirmed, “To lose half of our major Summer fundraising events is a very hard blow indeed. These events are essential to us in order to replenish our depleted coffers to help fund the Sanctuary through the rest of the Summer and most essentially the Winter season.”
On Sunday 7 August, the gates at the Sanctuary will open to the public for the first time this year from 1pm to 5pm. Visitors will be able to meet all 200 animals – including the new born and rescued foals from 2014 and 2015 – enjoy refreshments, musical entertainment from Midnite Blu and, for the children, there will be lots of activities and games. Admission for adults is £4, children £2 and dogs are more than welcome if kept on a lead.
Due to the Sanctuary’s location, which is on green belt land, it can only open to the public six times a year, and has already lost out on May, June and July. The Open Days, which are the Sanctuary’s primary source of fundraising, along with membership sales and animal sponsorship, help contribute to the annual running costs of £440,000.
Sue Burton, the Sanctuary’s founder says, “Our Open Days are a great way of introducing the public to the escalating plight of horse welfare, currently in crisis in the UK, and for them to learn more about animal husbandry.” Sue went on to say that not everyone mistreats an animal through malice, but that sometimes it is through sheer lack of awareness or education, “the Open Days are a fun way of introducing young and old to animal welfare and we’re all looking forward to opening our doors for the first time in 2016!”.
For further information, browse the website – www.remussanctuary.org – or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.
Schools Out!
Support Remus when shopping for School’s Out deals!
Did you know that you can raise money for Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary when buying items for the new school holidays, without it costing you a penny extra?
Well you can, just by shopping online via Give as you Live.
So, this summer, whether you’re buying games to keep the kids entertained, attraction tickets or booking a last-minute holiday, please remember to shop online through Give as you Live and raise money for Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary, at no extra cost.
Get the best school’s out deals from 4000+ online stores!
Shop now >>
Heart of Essex Awards 2016 – Vote for Remus
Remus Horse Sanctuary was featured inside the Essex Chronicle and Brentwood Gazette ‘Heart of the Community’ supplement, printed on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th July in respect of the Heart of Essex Awards 2016 and its time to vote for us!
The 20 groups with the highest number of public votes will go forward to a judging panel. The panel will decide who will win a share of the £9,000 prize money and/or a year of editorial support!
We really need to replace our shelter that was destroyed earlier in the year! You can read more on that here. So please vote for us to ensure we get through to the next stage!
How to Vote for Remus in the Heart of Essex Awards:
BY COUPON – Voting coupons will be printed in the Brentwood Gazette on 13th, 20th and 27th July and in the Essex Chronicle on 14th, 21st and 28th July, collect as many as you can from friends and family, local shops and companies and send them to the address on the coupons.
BY TEXT – Simply text, EC HEART, the four digit voting code for Remus below, plus email address and postcode to 85100. (Eg. EC HEART 9999 jo.body@aol.com CM1 4PF) Texts will cost £1.00 per text plus one standard network rate message. Don’t forget the spaces!
Our four digit code is: 1032.
Voting will close at midnight on 8 August 2016.
Download and share our poster here.
Thank you for your support, we really need your help! Please vote for Remus in the Heart of Essex Awards 2016!
Appeal From Horse Charity Following Devastating Flooding
Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary is appealing to the public for their help and support after what has been a disastrous start to the charity’s fundraising efforts this season. The recent flooding has left the Sanctuary short of funds and struggling to cope.
Sue Burton said “We had to already cancel our May and June Open Days due to the wet weather and, to make matters worse, after spending two days under up to 5ft of flood water last week we had to take the desperate measure of cancelling our July Open Day and Dog Show too, another huge major fundraising loss.”
This year the Sanctuary has been extremely busy working to and succeeding to help horses in Essex that are in distress through neglect and starvation, whilst of course still giving all the care needed to the 200 animals at the Sanctuary.
Sue further explained, “To lose our major Summer fundraising events is a very hard blow indeed. These events are essential to us in order to replenish our depleted coffers to help fund the Sanctuary through the rest of the summer and most essentially the Winter season.”
Recently Minstral, one of the Sanctuary’s rescue horses, had a severe eye problem. Her eye effectively exploded, which ultimately meant very expensive surgery by a leading eye surgeon from Newmarket to remove the eye completely. Sue said, “We cannot plan for these sorts of problems and therefore need to have the necessary funds in place to make sure that should the animals need urgent help that we can provide it for them and maintain the high standard of welfare that they deserve.”
“We would be very grateful for any help that the generous public can offer us by way of making a donation, organising a fundraising event to raise money for us, sponsoring one of the animals or by donating to one of our appeals.” There are lots of ways to help the charity through this very difficult time and Sue would love to hear from anyone who can help and will be so appreciative of anything that be done to assist them care for all the deserving animals at Remus.
To make a donation click here, to contribute to our appeal click here or, for more ways to help Remus, click here.
And the animals went in two by two…
And the animals went in two by two… alongside is Amber and Blossom slowly making their way to shelter following the horrific flooding experienced at the Sanctuary recently.
For those unfamiliar with the Sanctuary, there are no lakes within the grounds (or at least not normally!).
On Thursday 23 June, all three roads into Buttsbury were flooded and the road direct to the Sanctuary was 5ft deep! Our muck heap collector lorry got stuck in it! The staff all had to walk across fields to get in. The cows shelter was under water and the cows and some of the ponies needed to be moved to the back fields for safety. One of our volunteers was up to his chest in the flood water on the road and nearly floated away!
Five days on and the road into us was still flooded and the water on the fields lasted for a further three days. In addition to our own problems, a large fish was left flapping in a field and was rescued and returned to the river by Charlotte, and Alex, whilst taking one of the horses out heard screaming and rescued a woman who had fallen into the ford!
This is an extreme situation. Once again we will have to cancel the Open Day, now for the third time in a row. The last time we saw it this bad was in 2012. We are so proud of our staff who walk in and out before and after work and continue to care for the animals and still smile.
We need to get ourselves back on our feet and we can only do that with your help. Please contribute to our Cry For Help Appeal today! We will also be holding a Summer Sale at Stock Village Hall on Saturday 2nd to help raise funds following the floods and cancellations. Full details here. If you can’t donate, please visit us on Saturday and vice versa!
Thank you!
Pony Days Return to Remus Horse Sanctuary
The long-awaited children’s Pony Days organised by Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary in Essex, will return for the summer holidays. Priced at just £45 per person, the Pony Days are suitable for boys and girls aged 9 years and over. The day will last from approximately 11am to 4pm and the 2016 dates are as follows:
- Wednesday 3 August
- Wednesday 10 August
- Sunday 14 August – Adults Only
- Wednesday 17 August
- Wednesday 24 August
- Wednesday 31 August
For anyone thinking of getting a pony or horse for their child or for those who just love being around them, this is the perfect day. Places are limited to just six children per date and bookings can be made via the website or by contacting the Sanctuary on tel: 01277 356191. Children will need to bring a packed lunch and refreshments for the day.
Each day, children attending will be ‘loaned’ a pony, to make up its feed, be taught how to groom and turn it out into the field, shown how to clean out the pony’s stable and make a nice new bed for him or her to come back into later. There’ll also be lots of tips, information and fun throughout the day.
Unfortunately, the Sanctuary has had to cancel two vital fundraising events recently due to wet weather. Events and fundraising play a vital part in raising much-needed funds to keep the Sanctuary going and Sue Burton, Founder, says, “We are delighted to welcome children and horse lovers back to the Sanctuary for our Pony Days this year. The work we do here is vital and these days are both great fun and a great way of educating the kids on animal welfare”.
For further information and to book, visit the website here or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.
Pictured in the first image are three of the Remus rescue animals including foal Dante (middle) who was dumped at Remus’ gates back in February 2015; he was just skin and bone, had clearly only recently lost his mum and didn’t even know what hay and food was. He was terrified and depressed. Talking to Dante on his left is Charlie and on his right is little Stix.
Other Appeal
