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APPEALS |
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Trallwm Farm Tack Appeal
Wilbur It all started in Hampshire with a phone call, asking us if we would buy a rescue horse. I explained we don't as this encourages people to sell neglected horses instead of giving them to a charity. The same lady phoned several times saying she had rescued a horse and the price dropped until she said "Can you take him he will be shot otherwise". The horse was very ill and the only man to help me was Kevin Scott, a man used to moving very up market horses. This poor animal was whizzed across the Home Counties to us by Kevin. Although we had horses and were heavily involved in dog rescue, seeing this horse changed the whole course of things. His feet were so overgrown that he needed emergency farrier work so he could stand up, the next problem was that now he could stand, he needed muscle to support him, If you have an under sevens footballer in your home just check out the bony legs and that would be this horse. He had the same rug on for many months so his skin was pretty grotty and once we cleared the gunge from his eyes where they had got infected through being sunken in. We had a 15.1hh, pure white, pink skinned horse called Wilber that could hobble to the amusement of some very posh horse owners who were taking bets on the survival rate of this animal. But he did survive. Two days after he came to us, my daughter’s father died and so Wilber became a very important sponge for mopping up my daughters tears. We started dragging him out for short walks until he gained muscle and flexibility and we had his tomb stone teeth filed so he could start eating again. A year later he had a birthday party complete with carrot cake. By then we were known by our success with Wilber and the horses started flooding in. I figured there had to be a better way of doing this so I started the loan and rescue list on the internet. Any animal needing a home could be matched up to a kind or caring new owner. Any horse risking being shot came to us with the help of Kevin. So then we ran out of space, which led me to buy Trallwm Farm, halfway up a mountain in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in 2001. So at the last count we had fourteen horses, ponies and foals marauding about having fun as part of their own herd! as well as cows and sheep, pigs, geese, ducks, chickens, dogs and cats. The total animal count is well in excess of 100!!” To raise funds, last summer we organised a big auction of promises and items and some supporters completed a sponsored cycle ride from southern scotland to south wales. The only other source of funding is the donations from the animals when they go out. We have an ongoing tack appeal as many owners say "oh yes, (so and so) will come in with all it's wardrobe" but in truth there are VERY few that come in with anything more than a headcollar! so we have to find equipment, not only to go out with that animal (we try to send horses and ponies out with enough tack and rugs that they will be ready to go as soon as they arrive) but enough equipment that we can do things with the animals that are staying for a while or those that are being started at Trallwm. The turnover rate is very high for the tack we have in and so we are always on the look out for donated items however small or large it will be utilised in some way to help the animals at the Sanctuary. Due to the high number of horses and ponies going out to new homes this year, we are running desperately short of tack and rugs to send out with new intakes. More often than not horses and ponies come in with next to nothing in the way of possessions. We like to send them out with at least a bridle and turnout rug, and wherever possible a saddle too (depending on what they are going to do in their new home). So have a sort out of your tack rooms and see what you have lying at the back covered in dust and cobwebs. We can arrange for collection as we are often travelling around the country collecting animals. Saddles must have sound trees and solid stitching, but even those with not so good stitching can be repaired and utilised. We are also in need of decent quality bits (mainly snaffles, but other styles can be used even if we sell them on to put towards our ever increasing feed bills), head collars, bridles and any rugs (we can used ripped ones for patches on the not so ripped ones). For more information or to get an address to send items or even to arrange a collection please email scattymare73@aol.com. |
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