A group of exceptionally traumatised horses and ponies who “faced death” at a horror farm surrounded by bodies of dead animals have had their lives transformed.

In August 2015 Bristol-based welfare charity HorseWorld was part of a multi-agency operation with the RSPCA, Redwings, The Donkey Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare, rescuing more than 60 feral horses and ponies from “states of extreme neglect”, at a farm in the southwest.

HorseWorld assistant yard manager Vicky Greenslade said: “I have never seen anything as horrific as the conditions the animals were living in.

“There were hundreds of animals. Those who had managed to survive were starving; the bodies of the ones who hadn’t were covering the ground around us. The horses were running totally wild. Stallions, mares and foals, left to fend for themselves, had formed family groups.”

Vicky said the horses were “totally feral and terrified”.

“We had more than 60 wild horses to try to separate into groups so they could be transported to other welfare organisations. Only then could we start their lengthy rehabilitation,” she said.

“It was vital we didn’t cause any more trauma than they had already experienced, but separating them was essential for their health.”

HorseWorld took in 13 of the horses and ponies, two of whom were pregnant.

“It’s hard to imagine what was going through their minds when they were literally having to fight for survival every day,” said Vicky.

“As soon as our team started to try to work with the group, we knew these were exceptionally traumatised animals. In some cases it has taken years to try to help them feel that being around humans is a good place to be.”

The spokesman said a new chapter had been especially joyful for Enzo, who arrived as a foal with his mother Sierra.

“Sierra was even more fearful of humans than the rest of the herd, so Enzo had no human contact until he was old enough to be weaned. With careful and patient training from the team, he has since been rehomed and thanks to the love and dedication of his new carer has just started being ridden,” he said.

“It’s always brilliant when our rescued horses go on to find loving homes, but when these guys leave us to start new chapters of their lives with fantastic families it’s even more rewarding.”

The spokesman added that Perry, another foal of Sierra’s, was born at the charity and did not have to experience the “horrors of neglect” to which Sierra and Enzo were subjected.

“Perry has developed into a very sweet natured pony so much so she appeared at Your Horse Live as a representative of the HorseWorld herd. She has now gone to her new forever home,” he said.

“Others from the group have also been be rehomed with carefully selected loaners. Finding homes for them has been especially challenging because they have been so affected by their experiences on the farm and will probably have behavioural issues for the rest of their lives, so pairing them with people who have the necessary patience and experience has been essential.”

Article continued below… 

*Warning: graphic image* Owner and charity baffled after foal found dead with major wound

‘His owner is understandably concerned so we are appealing for anyone with information to come forward’

‘People need to see how bad things are’: dumped mare found with ‘severed’ leg *warning: upsetting image*

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The spokesman said for remaining ponies Lexus, Kia, Nova, Morris, and Leyland, the next chapter is “yet to be written”.

“All have made exceptional progression in their training with the team and are now waiting to find families who can understand their past, and help them find the confidence to live a much happier future,” he said.

“Some of the ponies rescued are still so troubled by their experiences there they will never be rehomed, but will live out their days happy and healthy as part of the HorseWorld herd.”

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The London 2012 gold medallist, Rolex grand slam-winner and “one of the best horses there’s ever been”, Hello Sanctos, is to retire at the age of 17.

Scott Brash announced today (29 November) that after an “incredible journey together”, he and owners Lord and Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham have decided it is time to retire the “legendary horse”.

“We can’t thank him enough for changing our lives,” Scott said.

Scott and Sanctos were on the British team that took gold at the London Olympics, and at the European Championships the following year, where they won individual bronze.

The Belgian-bred gelding is also the only horse to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, taking the grand prix in Geneva in 2014 and going on to win the grands prix at Aachen and Spruce Meadows the following year.

“I dreamed of being a showjumper,” Scott said. “I wanted to be able to make a living out of what I loved doing. I dreamed of having a horse like Baloubet du Rouet or Milton, but did I think it was possible for me to have one of the best horses there’s ever been? No, I can’t say that. I’ve had an unbelievable life thanks to Sanctos.”

Scott spoke of the connection the partnership had in competition.

Continues below…

Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos make history *VIDEO*

The world number one showjumper becomes the first person to win the Rolex Grand Slam by winning the final leg

Hello Sanctos: 5 things you might not know about the world’s best showjumper [PICS]

To celebrate Hello Sanctos topping the FEI WBFSH World Ranking List again, we’ve dug out some facts that you may

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“I understood every single step he was going to make,” he said. “There were things he could do in the ring; he knew what I wanted and just responded.

“I honestly think you’ll go a long way to ever see another horse like Sanctos.”

A retirement ceremony will be held at the CHI de Geneva on 14 December, a show that means a lot to Scott and the horse’s owners, as it is “where his Rolex grand slam journey started”.

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Two dumped mares, one whose leg was “severed” by a metal gate, died in separate incidents in Ireland during the weekend.

My Lovely Horse Rescue, a sanctuary based in Dublin, was notified on social media about a mare who was stuck under a gate in County Meath, Ireland on Saturday (23 November).

Co-founder Martina Kenny told H&H volunteers spent two hours trying to find the 14.2hh mare, whom they named Francesca.

**Warning: very graphic image**

“We found her stuck in the mud under a steel gate. She was wearing a headcollar and tied to a post. We think she had slipped under the gate and got stuck,” she said.

“She was thrashing around so much she made a hole in the ground. The weight of the gate had severed her leg and gone through the bone and tendon, it was awful.”

Martina said a vet was contacted, but was unable to get to the scene immediately due to attending another emergency.

“We were able to lift the gate off its hinges to free Francesca,” she said. “We made the decision to get her on to a horsebox and take her to our farm where the vet met us and she was put down on the box – it was unbelievably sad.

“Someone must know who she belongs to, but no one will come forward. She was wearing shoes and it looked like she had recently had her feet done.”

Martina said the following day the sanctuary received a call about an injured 13.2hh one-eyed mare who had been stuck in a ditch, with a foal at foot, in Dublin at 8pm.

“We took her to the vet hospital but there was nothing that could be done for her and she was put down. We named her Amy; no matter what, we always give a horse a name, it doesn’t matter if they aren’t with us long, we want to give them that last bit of dignity. The foal, who we have named Aaron, is receiving treatment but it is expected that he is going to be ok. He’s very frightened of humans but he’s very sweet.”

‘Her whole life was abuse: filly battered, ‘burned’ and dumped to die *warning, upsetting images*

‘I asked if we needed to bring the horsebox and he said he didn’t think so – that’s when I

Pony with necrotic wound left to suffer ‘needlessly’ for weeks *Warning: graphic image*

The RSPCA inspector said the wounds indicated they had been left for at least a couple of weeks and suffering

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Martina said Francesca and Amy did not have microchips.

“Things like this will keep happening because no one enforces the legislation. We live-streamed the rescue of Francesca on Facebook because people need to see what is going on and how bad things are here,” she said.

“We have almost 80 volunteers working 24 hours a day to help horses all over Ireland. We get calls constantly, we do as much as we can but we rely on people supporting us.”

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HELLO ALL!  Yes, I am still alive!   I’m healing on schedule and all will be fine.  It just takes the time it takes –   However, Saturday Phoblogs are easy (and so many of you wrote to say you missed this the most…) and I can’t make too many painkiller induced mistakes… so …

HERE WE GO!

Pretty much…

Even though fire season is almost over, this list is always good to have.

Love this.

A gorgeous wild one

So sweet, the birds love this wild one.

Gorgeous and free.

Ha!

I could sit here, often.

This is a real place.

My good friend sent this to me… she lives near here.

Another beautiful one with his new winter coat.

I know, I’ve used this before but it makes me laugh every time.

Hubby laughed out loud when I showed him this.

I love that people take the time to spread humor – to strangers… no reward, just doing it because he can.

I love the smile on the pup and the love in the human.

I FEEL BADLY for poor Rooster, our November Bucket Fund Horse!  I’ve been totally out of it and have not been helping him to reach the goal.  We are not quite halfway there… You can go to Horse and Man Jewelry and purchase there or donate directly.  All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Ways to donate to help Rooster:

1.  Donate here.  100% tax deductible
2.  Purchase Jewelry at the below links.  FB and website.

EVERY DONATION COUNTS!

3.  If you would like to well-wish me as I recover from surgery, you could gift me one of the below and I will donate it to Rooster (all donations 100% tax deductible).

Dawn ($5):  Please let me get you a Starbucks since you are immobile and could use the lift!  Click here.

Click to send Dawn a Starbucks (that she will give to Rooster!)

Dawn ($10):  Please let me get you some yummy cake since you’ve been barely able to eat and need the calories.  Click here.

Click here to send Dawn Yummy cake that she will give to Rooser!

Dawn ($20):  Please let me get you a bucket of Flowers since you have no way to go outside and look at the flowers for yourself.  Click here.

Click here and send Dawn a bucket of flowers that she will send to Rooster!

Dawn ($25):  Please let me get you an hour of someone coming over and grooming your horses since you cannot even go outside or see them.  Click here:

Click here and give Dawn a groomer for her horses – that will be donated to Rooster!

Dawn ($50):  Please let me get you an unlimited supply of the pain killers that are helping you get through this so you can one day soon, stand steadily beside your horses and ride again!  Click here:

Click here and give Dawn that dreamy face that she will donate to Rooster!

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

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Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!

US equestrian coach George H Morris’ appeal against a lifetime ban from equestrian sport has been unsuccessful.

The ban was handed down by US Center for SafeSport on 5 August following the investigation of claims of sexual misconduct involving a minor. At the time Mr Morris issued a statement stating he contested the findings “wholeheartedly” and was in the “process of disputing” them.

An independent arbitration took place on 7 and 8 November in New York, and Mr Morris’ status on the SafeSport’s website has since been amended from “pending appeal” to “permanently ineligible”.

The US Center for SafeSport told H&H while it would not be commenting on the matter itself, chief executive officer Ju’Riese Colón, made the following statement:

“No matter how big a figure is in their sport, or how old the allegations, nobody is above accountability. Athletes and other sport participants must be empowered to stand up for what’s right and speak out against what they know to be wrong.

“The center’s fair process is a critical part of making that a reality because it gives participants confidence they will be heard, which is essential to making wellbeing the centerpiece of sport culture.

Mr Colón said the center conducts “thorough“ investigations before rendering a sanction such as a lifetime suspension.

“The victims in these matters not only suffered the abuse they first report, they often bravely survive countless attacks, even in their sport, for having the courage to speak up,” he said. “Such a response is wrong on many levels, including the fact that it re-victimises those who already suffered more than anyone should. We cannot allow this behaviour to continue as it undermines all that’s great about sport participation.

George Morris: Make Omaha a bigger deal *H&H VIP*

Horse & Hound’s guest showjumping columnist on maximising potential and the need for homework

US showjumping chef d’equipe to retire after Olympics

The United Stated Equestrian Federation has set up a search committee to find a jumping chef d’equipe, to take over

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“While the center does not comment on specific matters, it wants all survivors, including those who came forward in this instance, to know that the SafeSport code is in place to prevent abuse, provide a voice for those who need one, and hold abusers accountable. The decision to restrict an individual’s ability to participate in sport is not taken lightly, which is why the process is exhaustive and includes many provisions to ensure fairness so both claimants and responding parties are given amble opportunity to speak for themselves, provide evidence, seek counsel and be heard in front of another independent body.”

During his competitive career Mr Morris won a silver medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He became the US Olympic showjumping chef d’equipe in 2005 and led the team to triumph in the 2005 Samsung Super League series. The team also won silver at the 2006 World Equestrian Games, gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and team gold, individual gold and silver medals at the 2011 Pan Am Games. He moved from the US team after the London 2012 Games to lead Brazil’s efforts for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Mr Morris did not respond to H&H’s request for comment.

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Top showing producer Rory Gilsenan has been given a special award in recognition of his top performances at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).

Rory was named 2019 winner of the Roger Stack Award at Hickstead’s showtime ball on Saturday (16 November). The award is presented in honour of former Hickstead showing director Roger Stack, who died in 2016, in recognition of the “standout showing performance of the season”.

A spokesman for Hickstead said Rory was an “extremely worthy” winner, having completed the HOYS and RIHS double by winning the supreme working hunter title in July, while undergoing treatment for an aggressive brain tumour.

“The popular Irishman had celebrated winning his first working hunter title at HOYS in October 2018, when his diagnosis came just a few weeks later. Following months of arduous chemotherapy treatment, Rory showed his tenacity by returning to the saddle in time to win the championship at Hickstead,” said the spokesman.

“Following a period of remission, unfortunately the tumour returned and Rory has recently undergone another operation.”

The spokesman added that “sadly” Rory was unable to attend the ball in person but his close friend Lee Middleton from Equine America accepted the award on Rory’s behalf.

Hickstead director Lizzie Bunn said the organisers could not think of a more deserving winner of the award.

“Rory’s performance this summer with Atlantic Slim was pure perfection, especially considering how he beat the odds just to compete at Hickstead, let alone pick up one of the most coveted championship titles of all,” she said.

Profits from the showtime ball are put towards improving the showing faciltiies at the venue, with a total of £9,150 raised during a fundraising auction.

This year, it was agreed that the £2,000 proceeds from a raffle would go towards the #RootingforRory fund, started to help Rory Gilsenan during his treatment.

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It was a testing weekend for Cheltenham and the loss of the Countryside Day was sad for them. It is hard to imagine that racing at Cheltenham in early November could possibly be waterlogged when, most years, we are praying for rain at this time of year.

The day is one of the Countryside Alliance’s biggest fundraising events, so to miss out on all the hard-earned money when the countryside and its pursuits are so much under threat was devastating. Thankfully, the racecourse was able to run on both the Saturday and Sunday.

Yes, I made it out of surgery!  Hubby is taking great care of me…  I cannot sit at my desk, so posting blogs has been difficult (and I’m pretty druggy) so Hubby brought in my laptop and …

HERE WE GO!

I love this shot. The horns, the eyes, the bird…

Big, healthy, wild baby!

Gorgeous

I don’t know what this is (pic, painting…) but I love everything about it.

Well, that’s one way…

Sweet!

yup

Wow!

Probably photoshopped – but I like it.

Probably photoshopped, too, but I love it

Not something you see everyday…

Gorgeous, candid shot

Wow. Is this real?

From Black Jaguar, White Tiger Foundation. Gorgeous.

Amazing shot from my hometown.

I wanted to remind you all of the November Bucket Fund horse, Rooster, and his amazing, ground breaking new protocol for wounds that won’t heal!

You can read his story here – (and the new protocol)

Please donate, if you can, your Starbucks money to help purchase all the bandages, wraps, vet visits, Xrays and other necessities one needs to keep a very wounded horse – I know from wrapping Mama Tess twice a day every day for 3 years, how very expensive it can become...

The post SATURDAY IS PHOBLOG DAY! appeared first on Horse and Man.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!

When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Horse And Man Inc.



Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!

You all know that we are helping Strawberry Mountain Mustangs with a revolutionary skin grafting protocol to save Rooster, the gelding with a year long unhealed wound!  SMM was given a life ring for Rooster – a last ditch effort to save him – via Kerecis.

Kerecis Omega3 is intact fish skin rich in naturally occurring Omega3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. When grafted onto damaged human tissue such as a burn or a diabetic wound, the material recruits the body’s own cells and is ultimately converted into living tissue.

So far, we have one graft that failed…(application error) and one that has worked!!  We need to continue the grafting every 5 days. This is expensive.  Let’s help Rooster – AND EVERY OTHER EQUINE WHO NEEDS THIS GROUNDBREAKING TREATMENT.

Thank you so much for helping Rooster!  It means so much.  Please let’s help continue this revolutionary SUCCESS!  For Rooster and for all horses after Rooster!  All donations are 100% tax deductible!

  If you receive this post via email, click here to donate!

This is Rooster with his 2nd graft in place and wrapped. This was the successful one. Only onward from here!

Here are some comparisons for you – these are three weeks apart. The over all diameter has shrunk about 1/2 inch.  A HUGE SUCCESS!

MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN MY PERSONAL HEALTH RIGHT NOW AFTER MY HIP REPLACEMENT LAST TUESDAY.  WELL… what would make me happy is to help Rooster…. SOOOOO….

For those of you who wanted to send items to me (Thank you!!!!!), here are very helpful choices, all to be donated to Rooster!  All 100% tax deductible!

Dawn ($5):  Please let me get you a Starbucks since you are immobile and could use the lift!  Click here.

Click to send Dawn a Starbucks (that she will give to Rooster!)

Dawn ($10):  Please let me get you some yummy cake since you’ve been barely able to eat and need the calories.  Click here.

Click here to send Dawn Yummy cake that she will give to Rooser!

Dawn ($20):  Please let me get you a bucket of Flowers since you have no way to go outside and look at the flowers for yourself.  Click here.

Click here and send Dawn a bucket of flowers that she will send to Rooster!

Dawn ($25):  Please let me get you an hour of someone coming over and grooming your horses since you cannot even go outside or see them.  Click here:

Click here and give Dawn a groomer for her horses – that will be donated to Rooster!

Dawn ($50):  Please let me get you an unlimited supply of the pain killers that are helping you get through this so you can one day soon, stand steadily beside your horses and ride again!  Click here:

Click here and give Dawn that dreamy face that she will donate to Rooster!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!  Prayers, great thoughts and donations are all greatly appreciated!

The post AMAZING UPDATE ON OUR GROUNDBREAKING NOVEMBER BUCKET FUND HORSE, ROOSTER! Please help him even though I’ve been off the radar!… appeared first on Horse and Man.

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

Your purchase with R.W. through this link helps the Bucket Fund!

When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Horse And Man Inc.



Supporting The Bucket Fund through Amazon Smile is HUGE for the horses. Please choose HORSE AND MAN when you make your Amazon purchase through this link. THANK YOU!

2019 has seen several equine stars emerging – here are seven big names that you may not even have heard of before the start of this year.

1. Sintano Van Hof Olympia

This nine-year-old son of Sandro Hit has been with Gareth Hughes for some years, but it has been in 2019 that he has really made people sit up and take notice. The talented, bouncy bay, whom Gareth describes as an “out-and-out athlete”, caught the eye when beating Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Valencia to the national inter I title in September, and he has been unbeaten at small tour at his two international shows since.

2. Erlentanz

Having made his grand prix debut in 2018 with owner Sonnar Murray-Brown, this 12-year-old Latimer gelding became the principle top level ride of Charlotte Dujardin during the first half of 2019, as she took over the reins while Sonnar recovered from a broken leg. Charlotte thinks very highly of this little gelding, and it’s no wonder — having won at Bolesworth and Windsor, they then turned in super results at CHIO Aachen in July, finishing third in the grand prix special with over 80%. Sonnar will be back in the saddle next year, and it will be exciting to see how far Erly can go when reunited with his owner.

3. Midnight II

There’s a good chance many people would not have heard of this 10-year-old black mare before this year, nor perhaps her rider, Georgia Wilson. But the talented pair were responsible for Britain’s sole gold medal from the Rotterdam European Championships in August, scoring a euphoric victory in the grade II para dressage freestyle, as well as winning individual silver and playing a huge role in helping the British team secure team silver. Georgia and Midnight have remained unbeaten since, sweeping the board at the national championships and the Keysoe CPEDI in October.

4. Headmore Bella Ruby

Alice Oppenheimer has many exciting horses in her string, but this Belissimo M daughter may not have caught your attention until this year. In April she won her first national title, taking the winter elementary gold title under Alice, before going on to scoop numerous other wins throughout the year. Her fast progression through the levels was confirmed when, just five months after her elementary title, she won the advanced medium gold at the summer nationals, aged just seven. This is definitely a mare to keep an eye on in 2020.

5. Mount St John Valencia

Charlotte Dujardin has claimed the national inter I freestyle title for the past three years, on three different mares, and in 2019 it was the turn of the fiery Vivaldi nine-year-old Mount St John Valencia. The mare competed very successfully under Michael Eilberg, but it has been during her first season ridden by Charlotte that she has turned the most heads — “she is my type of horse,” says the double Olympic champion.

6. Keystone Dawn Chorus

This Dimaggio daughter did very well under Beth Bainbridge at novice and elementary, but when she was bought by para multi-medallist Natasha Baker early in 2019 it seemed a perfect match. Natasha has had a stellar first season with the eight-year-old, whom she plans to campaign for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020. Their successes in their short time together include being reserve national champions at novice silver, and wiping the board at their first international para competition in October.

7. MSJ Charmer

Charlotte Dujardin often seems to have a never ending stream of fantastic horses, and early this year she debuted the exciting MSJ Charmer. The five-year-old Charmeur gelding is owned by Charlotte, along with Verity Jenner, but had been competed up until this year by Rob Barker, who rode him in four-year-old classes and qualified him for the regionals. He and Charlotte wasted no time making an impact together, winning at regionals and going on to become novice gold winter champions. “Cookie” has had a quiet 2019 since this success, but look out for him in 2020.