BRANTOME POLICE HORSES
WINTER 2013
As we look back over the last twelve months we can’t believe how quickly the year has passed and how much has happened. As we constantly have to remind ourselves, we have to adapt to a changing world, so many small charities in the UK or Associations as they are known in France are struggling in this economic climate. It is no longer the way to shake buckets under people’s noses anymore and as such Brantome Police Horses has taken a very different route and hopefully we will not only be ableto survive but have also been able to expand the work that we do and in so doing have reached a far larger number of people to help and support us.
What a busy year it has been; January through to April are busy times for us, not with visitors but Winter is hard physical work, keeping the horses and ponies hard fed and hayed three times a day. They need vast amounts of water sothat can be a task on its own, if the water has frozen and all the pipes to the water feeders have also frozen it is a nightmare trying to get enough water into buckets before the hosepipes freeze again. We invested in good pipework and made sure that it was thoroughly well insulated, but sometimes it is just too cold. All through the first part of the year we were building a new barn of which half was to be a visitors meeting place and the half put over for the new hydroponics centre. But as this developed and because of the wet Spring conditions into early Summer, hay was in abundance, we changed our minds totally. We kept to the idea of a meeting and greeting area where the talks could be held but also thought it would be a great idea for local artists who normally wouldn’t get the opportunity to exhibit some of their works, whether it be great masterpieces, sculptures or beautiful photographs. We also use the buildings to host the cream teas in inclement weather which is an absolute bonus - no more sitting in our kitchen and dining room which created a wonderful atmosphere but Alison was so worried about cobwebs and dust she might have missed, being seen by all our visitors.
The Cream Teas started on the 1st May and continued through to the middle of October. We have been lucky to have so many lovely people attend, some obviously having been dragged along by their other half but all went away feeling like they had learnt something even if they were not terrible enamoured with horses and we felt we had many new friends. The CharanteLadies Club or as they liked to call themselves the ‘Fun Group’ came on the 7th May and what a lively fun bunch of ladies they were. They will be welcome back anytime, we all had a good laugh.
We were contacted by an Agricultural College in Perigueux by one of the teachers, who thought it would be a good idea for his students to come to one of the talks and see what we were about. We were a little apprehensive about it as all the students ranged from 14 – 16 years old, and having had experience in the UK where students came along for an easy day off from school work we thought this may be the same. But no! Debbie and Chris who were in charge for the two days in June they were here were pleasantly surprised by how polite, charming and very interested in the work that we do. We have been asked many times if we will have schools here and as long as everything is in place health and safety wise by the beginning of next year, we think this is a very good idea.
On June 18th we were very pleased to welcome the North Eastern Dordogne Womens Association (NEDWA). We set up a marquee up on the top lawn and entertained 55 ladies and gentleman, yes there were men as well, which was a first for the Association to a five course lunch. It all went spectacularly well even if the weather was not at its best. They have told us they wish to return again next year and we would be delighted to have them.
A friend of ours Susan Rainbird, has an amazing way with horses, she intuitively knows what is going in their heads, held Horsemanship courses throughout the summer. These courses were fun, wells structured and informative and were well attended. All the children and adults alike really enjoyed themselves.
Our biggest fundraiser of the year is always the Summer Ball, which this year was held in the grounds of Le Trepart an imposing and grand old house owned by some good friends, who didn’t mind the fact that 165 people would be walking around their gardens. The house is set in a spectacular location beside the River Dronne. The evening started with a glass of bubbly on arrival and then followed a plastic duck race which was great fun
To recap on last year’s news; after an extensive search for new premises to take the large horses which are by far the biggest drain on charity funds, we purchased a farm in the Southwest of France, situated inthe beautiful Dordogne. Since then the retired Police Horses have been incredibly popular and have featured in a documentary, magazine articles and visited by hundreds of people at their new home. Because of this popularity they are becoming self-funding and in 2014 we would expect this to continue to grow. If you would like to see and read more of this please take a look at for the full story.
But this is all well and good for the big horses, what about the ponies and the horses that cannot make the journey to France. The Devon Horse & Pony Sanctuary has continued not only to provide a wonderful home for the more permanent residents, mainly Dartmoor and Shetland ponies that were saved from the meat trade but we have also acted as a safety net for animals that have been out on loan and for no fault of their own have had to return. Our loan scheme which was set up by my mother Sylvia many years ago has been incredibly successful and because of rigorous vetting, very few equines that have gone out to loving loan homes have needed to return. We would rather take fewer animals and make sure that they go to good permanent homes. This policy has ensured that our animals are not being pushed from pillar to post and if for some reason as in the case of the Police horses, or some of the hill ponies who are too difficult to re-home, we would rather keep them at one of our sanctuaries.
We have always honoured Sylvia’s pledge to any animal that comes to DHAPS that they will have a ‘loving home to the end of their days’. So on the rare occasion and for whatever reason their loan home cannot continue to look after them. DHAPS will always take them back and continue to give that animal the attention and TLC that it needs.
Herbie, a Shetland, came to us from the RSPCA, after he had been rescued from a horrible breeding stud where he had received terrible injuries during stallion fighting. He was on a drip for 3 weeks and not expected to live, but what a strong little character he is. After a period of recuperation and rehabilitation with us, he went out to a lovely lady who needed a companion for her old horse ‘Captain’ They make a very unlikely couple as Herbie is small and hairy with a very big opinion of himself. Captain is very tall, elderly, distinguished and elegant thoroughbred with impeccable manners. They have become inseparable and have developed that special bond that equines can sometimes establish. Sadly Captains owner became very ill and was unable to look after them. So Herbie came back to Southcott and of course so did his big friend.
Jess (Gizelle) a 12.2 Arab Cross, came back to us, we were amazed to find out that she is38 years old but doesn’t look it,she came to the sanctuary right back in 2002. My Mother found her a fantastic home with Rose Boon who ran a small riding school for children, Jess taught many small children to ride, but in later years was only expected to give a half hour lesson once a week, as she enjoyed keeping her ‘hoof in’ and loved being with the children. Rose decided to retire and asked if we could take her back. Of course we were delighted to say yesand she soon teamed up with the other ‘oldies’ Lucky and Robin (yes they are still going strong). She is visited every week, for grooming and cuddles by a young girl also called Jess who learnt to ride on her. This lovely girl has gone onto competition jumping and dressage but she has never forgotten old Jess. Needless to say Jess (the pony) will stay with us for the remaining few years that she has left.
Bonnie a 12.2 hands, welsh mountain pony and has now reached the grand age of 25 has also recently returned. She came to the sanctuary with another pony (who has now since passed away). The welfare officer for the Thames Valley Police asked Sylvia to take them as ‘neglect cases’. They arrived emaciated and with overgrown hooves, but after two years of dedicated care Bonnie was able to go out on loan.
She went off to a wonderful home to be a companion to a riding horse and a family pet. After ten happy years her companion died and wasn’t to be replaced, she couldn’t be left on her own, so she came back to Southcott and has also joined up with the ‘Oldies’.
As usual we cannot thank our volunteers enough in particular Karen and Ann who come up in all weathers and work really hard to look after the animals. Karen who had no previous experience of horses has become a real outdoors person, most days up to her knees in mud and really enjoys working with the animals.
Ann has worked very hard to help ‘Fi’ our rescued trotting horse who was abandoned on an industrial estate in Guildford, overcome her fear of people after the terrible life she had before DHAPS. She had been covered in cigarette burns and was lucky to survive, why would she trust people again? Through kindness and perseverance, Ann has again established that special bond between human and horse. ‘Fi’ needs constant reassurance to maintain that bond, but her progress is remarkable.
Sian aided by her little girl Lola does a wonderful job of looking after all the horses and ponies. Sian really cares and worries about the welfare of the animals and looks after them quietly and without drama. The animals respond to her quiet ways and we can always depend upon her, whatever the problem. Last year in the snowy conditions,and Dartmoor does it get its fair share, Sian managed to get her car to within two miles of the sanctuary and then walked to Southcott to make sure that the animals all had enough hay and hard feed. Even though the next door farmer had insisted that he would help. If she had Lola with her she then resorted to pushing (or dragging) her in her pushchair – that is dedication for you.
Without our supporters none of this would be possible and any donations are gratefully received. We are a very small charity and realise that there are so many charities these days,especially in Devon, with only one pot of money to go round but any small amount makes a huge difference.
So what for the future of DHAPS? Well the future we hope is bright; we have two new enthusiastic trustees who are bringing in lots of ideas. DHAPS is run entirely from its premises at Southcott and there is plenty of work going on there to improve facilities. In the spring we will welcome visitors back. However, our work is becoming more important and we need to expand on what we do. There are many more horses and ponies in need, more now than there have ever been. Every day in the press or television we learn of new, terrible cases of neglect and abandonment, in fact as I write this letter, I have just taken a phone call from a lady who has found today a malnourished and obviously neglected pony in one of her fields, dumped by who? We will probably never know. We do know that we will never be able to save them all, but we can make a difference, for the ones that we have saved and for the ones that we save in the future and to do this your support is vital. DHAPS is working hard to do what it can, as the saying goes ‘watch this space’.
We have changed our address to Southcott so please see below
From all of the animals and humans at DHAPS we wish you a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Roland, Alison and Debbie
DEVON HORSE & PONY SANCTUARY
THE OLD BARN, SOUTHCOTT, MANATON, DEVON TQ13 9UW
Tel: 01647 221209
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