Exciting Spring Events at Remus Horse Sanctuary

As spring approaches, Remus Horse Sanctuary is gearing up for a vibrant calendar of events, offering something for everyone ahead of their much-anticipated Open Days, which begin on the first Sunday of the month from May through to October (weather permitting). With a diverse range of activities, supporters can learn, create, shop, and dine – all while raising essential funds for the Sanctuary.

March has some fantastic fundraising events to enjoy:

On Friday 8 March, put your knowledge to the test at our Quiz Evening at Stock Village Hall. Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start – gather your team and join us for a fun and competitive evening.

On Saturday 16 March, there are two great opportunities to support the Sanctuary. First, our Online Auction via the Remus Facebook page starts at 11am, offering a fantastic selection of items to bid on. Later in the day, join us for the Curry Club at Nirvana Indian Restaurant in Ingatestone. For £22 per person, you’ll enjoy poppadoms, dips, a main course, side dish, and rice or bread. The event starts at 2pm for a 2.15pm sit-down, and advance booking is required. (These two events will also be repeated on Sunday 27 April.)

April kicks off with an Elderly Horse Workshop at the Sanctuary on Sunday 6 April, running from 11am to 3pm. This insightful session is designed to help horse owners understand how to support their equine companions in their later years. Attendees can enjoy tea, coffee, and homemade cakes while gaining valuable knowledge. The workshop costs £40 per person, and booking is essential by calling 01277 356191.

On Saturday 12 April, creative minds can take part in a Cake Decorating Workshop at the Billericay Reading Rooms from 11am to 2pm. Participants will learn to ice a cake with fondant and develop basic modelling techniques to craft their very own Easter Bunny cake! The workshop costs £45 per person, including sugarpaste, modelling paste, and a cake board. To secure your place, call the office on 01277 356191.

Look out for details on our website of our Fashion Show on Saturday 17 May and Enrichment Workshop on Sunday 25 May.

Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary, said: “Spring is an exciting time for us as we prepare for our Open Days, and we’re delighted to offer such a wonderful mix of new events for our supporters.

“Whether you’re learning, bidding, or dining with us, every event helps to raise much-needed funds for the animals in our care. We’d love to see as many people as possible getting involved!”

For further information about the invaluable work at the Sanctuary, visit www.remussanctuary.org or call 01277 356191.

From Tragedy to Hope: Why Remus Horse Sanctuary Still Needs You

A Tragic Beginning

Whether Remus Horse Sanctuary is a new name to you or you’re a seasoned supporter, you may not know the story of why and how we were formed.

Not long after arriving in Essex from London in 1983, Sue Burton witnessed first hand the horrors of more than 100 horses abandoned on the bleak, flooded marshlands of Rainham. Thirteen were trapped by rising waters, left to drown in the most appalling conditions.

The Story of Remus and Pickles

Shortly after, the charity’s namesake, Remus, was found dumped outside a livery yard – tied to a lamp post in a pitiful, emaciated state. He had been stolen and starved in a dispute between two people over just £50. His suffering was too great to survive, and in an act of kindness, he was put to sleep.

Not long after Remus, Sue and her friend Pat heard about another desperate case – Misty and her foal, Pickles. Misty had sustained a fractured skull, possibly from a kick while on the Rainham Marshes during the flooding. Incredibly, her plight became known not because of her suffering, but because Pickles, left to wander, was attacking people on a footpath.

Misty, tethered and unable to reach her foal, was beside herself. Tied by her neck to the ground despite her fractured skull, she had no way to care for her baby. There was nothing more that could be done for Misty, and to end her suffering, the vet made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep.

Sue and Pat found themselves with Pickles – and an urgent need for land where he could live. But walking away from what they had witnessed wasn’t an option. And so, in 1983, Remus Horse Sanctuary was born.

Why Our Work is Still Urgent Today

We wish we could tell you things have dramatically improved in the last 40 years. While some progress has been made, it is simply not enough.

Even today, horses and ponies suffer the same horrific neglect and abuse. It’s estimated that there are over 7,000 welfare cases in England, with numbers rising every year. That’s why we launched our #BornToDie campaign on our 40th anniversary – to raise awareness and fight for real change.

By the way, Pickles went on to thrive, finding a wonderful home with Remus member Sue Tredget. He lived a long, happy life, passing away in his 30s.

How You Can Help

Sue and the team work tirelessly – raising awareness with councils and authorities, fundraising for change, rescuing animals in need, and providing care for the many residents at the Sanctuary. But we can’t do it without you.

The cost of running the Sanctuary continues to rise, just as your own expenses do. Every donation, no matter how small, helps us rescue and care for more animals in desperate need.

👉 Please support our work today.

In memory of Remus, Misty, and Pickles, and for all the animals who still need our help today and in the future. Please click the link to donate or learn more about our #BornToDie campaign. Together, we can make a difference.

Support Remus Horse Sanctuary in Benefact Group’s 12 Days of Giving

The festive season is a time for giving, and Benefact Group’s 12 Days of Giving programme is the perfect opportunity to help Remus Horse Sanctuary secure vital funding to care for our animals.

Starting on 5 December, Benefact Group will draw the names of ten charities each day over 12 days, with each charity receiving £1,000. That’s 120 charities supported and a total of £120,000 donated to good causes across the UK!

If you’ve already nominated Remus this year, then we are already in the draw. If you haven’t nominated yet, it’s just a few clicks away. And the more nominations we receive, the greater our chances of being chosen.

How You Can Help

We need your support to nominate Remus Horse Sanctuary for this incredible opportunity. It’s quick and easy to take part:

Visit the Benefact Group 12 Days of Giving website.
Complete your details.
Submit your nomination – and encourage others to do the same!

The more nominations we receive, the greater our chances of being chosen.

Why This Matters

At Remus Horse Sanctuary, we provide a safe haven for animals who have endured neglect, abuse, or abandonment. A £1,000 donation would go directly towards the care of our animals, from essential feed and veterinary treatments to maintaining warm and secure shelter during the harsh winter months.

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to help make a difference – without spending a penny. Your nomination could help us give our animals the love and care they deserve.

Spread the Word

Please share this campaign with friends, family, and your community. Every nomination increases our chances of success, and together, we can make this holiday season brighter for our Sanctuary’s residents.

From all of us at Remus Horse Sanctuary, thank you for your kindness and support!

People’s Fundraising Platform Launch New Features

The fundraising platform called ‘People’s Fundraising’ has revealed a number of new features to help you plan and host your fundraising activities for Remus Horse Sanctuary. The new tools are all designed to help simplify the fundraising process and to help you achieve your goals.

The Fundraising Hub is your new launch page. It presents the different fundraising options available, the current fundraisers created by yourselves and other supporters, and your contact links.

The website link for you to visit and bookmark is: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/hub/remus-horse-sanctuary.

In addition to People’s Fundraising, Remus Horse Sanctuary utilise a number of different fundraising platforms, so you can choose the one that works best for you, including:

JustGiving
Give as you Live
easyfundraising
PayPal
and Enthuse as our main donor partner

Together we can bring an end to horse cruelty and ensure that no animal is born to die.

At Remus Horse Sanctuary in Essex, we work tirelessly to care for animals and raise awareness of animal welfare and we can only do it with your generous help and support.

Remus Horse Sanctuary is funded totally by public donations and our own fundraising and event activities.

Thank you for your support.

Harmony Brass Celebrate at the Village Hall

The popular Essex-based brass ensemble Harmony Brass are preparing for their next visit to Stock Village Hall on Saturday 8 June at 7.30pm, when they will be celebrating the ensemble’s 40th Anniversary by presenting a special concert for the occasion.

The event will include the usual eclectic and popular mix of music for all tastes, and will feature a selection of audience favourites enjoyed by the group’s supporters over the past 40 years.

Regular visitors to Harmony Brass concerts will also see popular and humorous compere, David Hurrell, seizing an extremely rare opportunity to take over the conductor’s baton for this special occasion.

To mark this important milestone, Harmony Brass have chosen to donate all of the profit from the evening to a well deserving local charity, Remus Horse Sanctuary, which celebrated its own 40th anniversary in 2023. The Sanctuary has approximately 200 animals in its care at their wonderful home at Buttsbury, and never turn away new arrivals who may be suffering from abuse, abandonment, injury or non-coping owners.

The income needed to fund this magnificent work comes solely from donations and sponsors and, after a reduction of both during COVID, income has not yet returned to pre-Covid levels. As you all know, the cost of everything has rocketed and Remus has had to deal with serious increases in veterinary costs and winter feed, as well as general running costs.

Please, if you can, come and join the fantastic and friendly Village Hall audience on the 8 June. If you have not yet been to a Harmony Brass concert, it is a great night out. The band are all happy and talented human musicians (no AI), who will do their best to ensure that you return to your homes with at least one of these same characteristics. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Tables for up to eight are provided for club-style seating arrangements.

Tickets £20, are on sale now from: The Box Office, telephone 01277 622456.

Fundraising Fashion Show and Bargain Sale in aid of Remus Horse Sanctuary

Enjoy a unique afternoon of fashion at Stock Village Hall in Essex on Saturday 11 May in aid of Remus Horse Sanctuary. The fundraising fashion show will feature over 100 individual styles made up of timeless wardrobe essentials from leading high street fashion stores* such as M&S, Wallis, River Island, Mango, H&M, New Look, DKNY, Guess, White Stuff, Next, Dorothy Perkins and Oasis.

After the show guests will have opportunity to browse the rails and try on those items they’ve seen on the catwalk and purchase them at heavily discounted prices – generally at least 50% cheaper than the in-store price. A range of matching shoes and accessories will also be available to complement the clothes. And, in the event you change your mind, all items purchased can be returned within 14 days of the event for exchange or refund.

Catering for all shapes and sizes, the styles will be available in a range of sizes* from 6 – 22 ensuring there is something for everyone. During the show, the compere will describe what each model is wearing, the sizes available, and both the original and sale price.

Guests will have opportunity to win a £50 Colours Gift Voucher in the raffle, and refreshments will be available during the afternoon including tea, coffee, soft drinks, homemade cake and savoury snacks.

Doors open at 1pm for the Fashion Show to commence at 1.30pm. The fashion show itself will last approximately an hour and a half, followed by plenty of time to try on and purchase the items of choice.

Tickets cost just £6 per person, or three tickets can be purchased at the discounted price of £15. Tickets should be purchased in advance either by telephoning the Sanctuary on: 01277 356191 or via the website. Book your tickets online here for the Remus Colours Fashion Show and Pop-Up Shop.

The fundraising fashion show is being organised by ‘Colours’ a leading provider of professional fundraising events.

For further information, please contact Dee Shadforth at the Sanctuary via email: funding@remussanctuary.org.

*Subject to availability.

Benefact First £5,000 Draw of 2024 is Here

The Benefacts Movement for Good animals and wildlife special draw is here and they have 10 awards of £5,000 to give away – and we’d love to be one of them!

The nomination window opens for five days only from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd February 2024. Please mark the dates on your calendar and visit the Benefact website this week to get Remus in the running.

Visit the Benefact website to find out more about the Animal and Welfare Special Draw.

Additionally, we’d love you to nominate Remus for the next Benefact £1,000 draw!

The next £1,000 draw is Monday 18th March, so if you haven’t already done so, please do get involved and nominate Remus Horse Sanctuary today. Don’t forget, it’s one nomination per charity per person and we would be beyond delighted if you could choose Remus.

Once you’ve nominated, use their tools to share and get your network to support us too – it only takes a minute and the more nominations we receive, the greater our chance of winning.

Please note: if you’ve already nominated Remus in the £1,000 awards this year, your nomination will automatically be carried forward to all of the remaining £1,000 draws. Nomination for the £5,000 draw, however, is a separate requirement.

Benefact Group is a diverse family of specialist financial services businesses, driven by a shared ambition to do right by their customers and clients, and united by a common purpose to give all available profits to charity and good causes.

Thank you so much for supporting Remus Horse Sanctuary in the Movement for Good Awards!

Welfare Update

We’ve had many welfare calls so far this winter both from the floods and then the severe cold. We dealt with a particularly bad case of a whole flock of sheep in a field in Boston, Lincolnshire, where the field was so wet and boggy (this was prior to the countywide flooding) that the sheep were black as they only had wet mud to lie on and one ewe was stuck up to her knees in thick mud.

The sheep were all trying to lie as close to the fencing as possible, to keep out of the wet mud. It was pitiful to see so many animals affected. All animals are entitled to somewhere dry to lay down, and food to eat.

In the photo there is a line of electric fence between the sheep in the thick black wet mud and the soft grass which would have given her somewhere dry to lie down and something to eat, but the electric fence prevented it and everything on the field had been eaten as the animals were starving.

Thankfully we were able to get these sheep moved onto better more drained land.

As we have said repeatedly in our Born to Die Campaign no one wants to take responsibility and often authorities don’t know issues are their responsibility. It took us over 4 hours on the phone going round and round in circles to try to get help for these poor sheep, and we knew who to contact! What on earth does a concerned member of the public do?!

There are many ways you can help us through 2024 and beyond:

Make a regular donation. Can you spare even just £5 a month?
If you are clearing out your wardrobe, please do consider donating your clothes to the Sanctuary as they have become a very good fundraiser for us, we can also take shoes and handbags.
If you aren’t close enough to drop them to us you can use the i-collect clothes website and they will collect from you. So long as you click on the Remus logo all funds will come directly to us.
If you have any unwanted gifts after Christmas or items that might just sit in a drawer unused, we would love to have them to help raise funds for the animals.
Let your love for animals continue in your memory, with a legacy. Do consider leaving a donation to Remus in your Will, if you are able.
Do make a donation towards our winter hay appeal and general winter feed, bedding and vet costs.
If you have any jewellery or even broken jewellery, we can turn that into funds for the animals.
Organise an event to raise funds for the Sanctuary and/or support our events.

And finally, thanks so much to everyone who purchased tickets for our Christmas Draw last year. Our congratulations to the winners were: John and Brian from Rayleigh, Philip from Billericay, and Mrs Jeffery from Chelmsford. Our sincerest thanks go to Bridgit Tappin for all her hard work and effort in producing these amazing hampers for us at her own cost.

Thank you so much Bridgit, and to all our supporters – your help is so very much appreciated.

Winter Hay Appeal and Two New Events

Remus Horse Sanctuary has launched an appeal to help raise extra funds for hay this winter.

Unfortunately, the Sanctuary has been facing a shortage of hay due to the extremely wet weather conditions. As a result of the sustained flooding from over the last 3 months, they have had to use much more of their hay supplies than usual to ensure their rescued and elderly residents are kept well fed.

As Remus’ work is 100% funded by donations from the public, the extra spend has put further pressure on their already tight budgets, which have still not recovered: first from the impact of the Coronavirus lockdowns and second by Storm Eunice which caused £40,000 worth of devastation when it blew entire field shelters over fences, crashing and smashing them, and taking roofs off the buildings.

Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary, said: “On average, we spend around £6,000 on hay and feed every single month. As you can imagine, we plan our supplies carefully, but each winter we see prices increasing made worse by the weather, which obviously has an impact on us here.”

“We would like to urge anyone who can consider making a donation, to do so now to ensure we can purchase the extra supplies we need to continue to provide the very specialist care for our rescued horses, donkeys and ponies.”

To donate to the Remus’ hay appeal, please visit their JustGiving page or telephone the Sanctuary directly on 01277 356191.

The Sanctuary is hosting two new events this year:

New Hall Wine Estate’s Tour & Tasting – as featured on James Martin’s Saturday morning show – Saturday 16 March 2024
Colours Fashion Show & Pop-Up Shop – Saturday 11 May 2024

Remus Winter Hay Appeal 2024

When grazing is not possible on our site in the winter months, hay is even more vital for feeding the 200+ equines at our Sanctuary, like little Mopsey, Dickie and Clementine pictured here.

With so much mud and waterlogged paddocks during the winter months, hay is even more vital for feeding the 200+ equines at our Sanctuary. It costs us a minimum of £6,947.49 in Hay and Feed every single month, and that’s before the snow starts!

How can you make a difference?

We are asking our supporters to consider a gift to help us to buy more hay to feed our four-legged residents over the coming winter months.

Your gift will be used to buy hay that will help our residents, like those pictured and many more, through the rest of the winter until they can enjoy the spring grass when it arrives.