Summer 2011

NEWS AT THE FARM

Spring finally arrived at the IHWT Farm! It was a long winter and the farm was full to capacity at all times. Unfortunately there were cases where the IHWT was unable to help as already inundated with horses and ponies. Many mares that came into care were also in foal. The first little arrival was born on 5th May - a healthy chestnut colt and both mare and foal are thriving. Midge the pony mare has certainly taken to motherhood and she is enjoying showing GoGo Gadget around and introducing him to his neighbouring ponies. Midge was rescued in March 2011 from waste land that she had been roaming on for many years. With plenty of much needed care and time she has truly settled into her new home and is enjoying her new found security and

of course daily treats. Gadget is doing well and has been vaccinated by our vet and micro chipped. He is the first of many new foals the IHWT is expecting this year so it is an exciting time for all. With your help and support we can give these new beautiful little foals the best start in life that they deserve and hopefully they will find loving new homes down the line.

IHWT staff member Murt Bolger with a lovely family type cob - one of many at the IHWT looking for a new home! We have 11 yearlings which were born at the IHWT farm last year. Re-homing young stock is always difficult due to the time commitment required. They are all of sport horse breeding with great temperaments and all are well handled and leading. Also the dams of these foals remain looking for kind homes. Unfortunately their average age is 10 years old and most are unbroken so only suitable as companion horses. Other rescue cases mentioned in the last news letter such as Chelsea and Esther have not found homes yet. Sadly fewer people are taking on extra horses in these tough economic times but we hope that as summer gets underway that re-homing will improve. 1

Midge and Gadget

EX-RACEHORSES
Zag, Chapel and Woody, some of the IHWTs wonderful thoroughbreds are all back in training after a well deserved break. Hopefully they will soon be out and about at some local shows. All three have shown good potential for jumping and with a bit more work and experience they will soon be ready for re-homing.

Beryl from The Rug Hub

THANKS!
Beryl Power from the Rug Hub has done a marvellous job of cleaning, repairing, labelling each size and wrapping all our rugs. She has very kindly discounted all of her services to support the work of the IHWT. More details on www.rughub.ie County Dublin in March. He is a dark bay gelding pony with a very spunky personality. Once you get to know him he will follow you everywhere you go and is very gentle. Ottis is another lovely young cob looking for a new home. He was rescued in March 2011, suffering from starvation and dehydration. Two months on and he is thriving and with a little bit of grooming he now looks to be quite a handsome fella indeed.

Zag

RE-HOMING
There are many horses and ponies on the farm looking for kind new homes as always. Some are suitable as companions and others as childrens ponies if broken-in for riding. With a bit of time and patience these would all make excellent addition to any family. Mr. Biggins is an example - he is a great little character. He was rescued from wasteland in North

Mr. Biggins 2

Ottis

Quasi - As we all say on the farm What can we say about Quasi, what a wonderful little character he is. He has the most heartwarming features and temperament of all ponies. His personality is so kind and gently cheeky that all have fallen in love with him. He was rescued in the worst imaginable weather conditions Ireland has experienced for some time and he survived. He was left abandoned in woodland suffering from pneumonia, an ulcer and with only one functioning lung. He is an adorable little guy that you couldnt help but fall in love with. He would thoroughly enjoy if someone could come and spend some time with him, lord knows he needs plenty of grooming with his furry fuzzy coat and if you have fun sized red apples in tow he will love you all the more! He deserves a very special home which we hope he will find soon.

Quasi

I LOVE MY PONY COMPETITION

A big congratulations to Abigail Quinn and the wonderful little Samuel Odd Socks who are the winners of the IHWTs I Love My Pony competition. As you will all agree it is a smashing picture of them both and it is well deserved Also a big congratulations to our runners up: Aine Kelly and Rocket Fiona McKiernan and Echo Kate McKiernan and Midge All had sent in terrific pictures so well done to all! Abigail Quinn and Samuel Odd Socks

Aine Kelly and Rocket

Fiona McKiernan and Echo 3

Kate McKiernan and Midge

ALFIES STORY by Alison Cotter

Alfie was rescued by the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) on the 12th January 2011, he is approximately 1 year old. When most were waking up to another winter wonderland and recovering from the Christmas festivities the staff of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust were on the road to yet another rescue of a horse in distress. Upon reaching their destination they found little Alfie. He was tied up in a field, knee deep in water, his head hanging low. His tiny frame was emaciated, his body covered in ringworm, his mane full of lice and he was too weak to move but above all his eyes showed such sadness and a loss of hope in life. Thankfully that was the last moment Alfie would ever feel unloved or alone again. He was brought to his new home; a warm comfortable stable was waiting for him, a yard full of people to care and comfort him and to hold his hoof every step of the way on his long road to recovery. Three weeks on and Alfies progress is remarkable. He has a new lease of life, a spring in his trot and a new found love affair with carrots! His gentle personality is beginning to shine through more and more each day. He has a Welcome Whinny for all each morning, maybe as his little way of saying Thank You.

What this poor little pony has been through we will never know, unimaginable cruelty and abandonment with no protection in the worst weather conditions Ireland has ever experienced. He SURVIVED. To see him now he is a true testament as to how the simple things in life can make all the difference, through the time, love and affection given to him by the Irish Horse Welfare Trust Alfie can live again and enjoy his life. He will be able to run again in green fields, play with other ponies and most of all he can find the happiness he deserves. His eyes no longer show sadness, they show a sparkle that will never fade. It is now the month of May and Alfie has been recovering at the Farm for almost five months. What a truly remarkable recovery he has made. He has surpassed all expectations and has a zest for life that is so heart warming for all to see. He also has found himself a new girlfriend in his fellow pony Cupcake. Both bonded with each other immediately and have great fun in the sun together. Although Cupcake is most definitely the boss of the relationship, Alfie is quite content to follow her lead. Alfie has blossomed into a magnificent little guy, possessing all the qualities you wish to find in life, he is kind and loving, trusting and honest, he leaves you with nothing left to ask for in your dream pony.

Alfie before

Alfie now 4

SPONSOR A HORSE PROGRAMME

We will soon be launching our new Sponsor a Horse programme. This will allow members of the public to sponsor a horse or pony that is either a permanent resident on the farm or a temporary one until they are re-homed. This enables us to continue the work that we do but also to encourage the public to come and visit the farm and their sponsored equine. They will be able to follow the story of each equine from their rescue to their current condition and how they are progressing. The treatment that they receive and what they get up to on the farm. We have plenty of little rascals so we are never short on stories to tell. Meet some of our current residents. Holly is an old ex-racehorse and one of the few permanent residents on the farm. Holly is a beautiful horse with a strong character but he is very kind natured and loves attention and treats. Tammy is a beautiful mare and a permanent resident on the farm also. Her confirmation is quite poor and in time this will only deteriorate. She was rescued over a year ago in a terrible state. She needs to stay on as a resident so we can keep a close eye on her and ensure that she is comfortable and healthy at all times and ensure that she has a good quality of life while she can. Tammy would love someone special to sponsor her!

Holly

Tammy

FUNDRAISING
Join the African Safari Riding Challenge

A big thank you to the Golf Classic committee for organising the event which raised over 8,000 and to everyone who entered a team or donated prizes for the auction or raffle. Also thanks to the many individuals, clubs and organisations that held fundraising events for IHWT over the past few months. Visit us in the main exhibition hall at the RDS Horse Show in August where we will have a new stand and lovely calendars for 2012 on sale. IHWT has never been needed as much as it is now and it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep funds coming in. Please consider organising a fundraising event or sending even a small donation.

and help raise funds for the IHWT

We can also accommodate non-riders.

12-21 Nov 2011

3,500 all inclusive cost. 30% goes directly to IHWT

OTHER NEWS
For information and booking please call (01) 440 7477, info@zarasplanet.ie or go to www.ihwt.ie for brochure and video.

The National Equine Welfare Seminar & Workshop was hosted by IHWT in May and was very successful. Representatives from industry, government bodies and welfare charities attended and it is hoped that an equine welfare council of Ireland will be established as a result and an International Equine Welfare Conference is planned in November. 5

DUNSINK RESCUE

The Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT) working with Fingal County Council and responsible horse owners from the Dunsink area succeeded in rounding up and identifying over 70 equines in the area over a two day period during the week. For the first time ever all the horses were rounded up from the old dump site and corralled. They were then checked over by the IHWT veterinary surgeon, micro-chipped and treated for parasites. Passports and micro-chips for all the equines were sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland. Just 12 horses or ponies were found to have no owners and these were taken into care by the IHWT where they are now being rehabilitated and will then be re-homed. One mare (Seatbelt) that had been running wild on the dump for over 12 years with a seatbelt around her neck was among those removed by the IHWT and she along with her young foal (Teddy) are now settled at the IHWT centre. It was a huge operation to get the round-up done says Sharon Newsome of the IHWT However we achieved or objectives and the success is due largely to the fantastic co-operation of responsible horse owners from the area along with the help and support received from Fingal County Council.

Ruairi ODulaing spokesperson for Fingal County Council said We are committed to sorting out the horse issues in the area for the long term and are grateful to the Irish Horse Welfare Trust who have come in behind us and helped us to find and implement solutions. Horses and ponies that are owned by members of the horse club will be allowed to continue to be kept in the area, whilst plans are underway to have a designated area provided with facilities built to accommodate the equines. The IHWT will continue to monitor the welfare of horses on the dump with the help of horse club members in the meantime and any new horses arriving into the area will be immediately removed. The next phase of the project is to have stallions castrated to help reduce further breeding and this is to commence over the coming weeks. Educational courses will also continue to be run by the Irish Horse Welfare Trust in the area which are part funded by Fingal County Council but the Charity is seeking other sponsors for the education programs stating that Education is vital for young people that are growing up in the area with an interest in horses.
In association with

Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT)

Ballinamona,Woodenbridge, Co.Wicklow Tel: 0404 45720 Email: info@ihwt.ie www.ihwt.ie

2011 APPEAL
Please give 5 a month to help horses in need. Thats just 1.25 a week, less than the price of a take-away coffee or a bottle of juice.

Please help.
Just fill in the Direct Debit form overleaf and return it to IHWT.
More and more horses and ponies are ending up in trouble in Ireland and the IHWT - Irelands leading Equine Welfare Charity - is finding it increasingly difficult to raise funds in these difficult economic times. The Charity continues to care for over 80 horses and ponies at any one time at its Equine Rehabilitation Centre but funds are desperately needed to continue this work.

DJ shortly after arrival at IHWT

DJ recovered

SUPPORT OUR 2011 APPEAL

Simply fill out this form, tear it off and send it to IHWT at the address below. We will look after the rest. Name: Address:

Date:

To the Manager: Bank: Address:

I hereby authorise and request you to debit my / our account number: with the sum of 5 per month

Starting Date: Signature: and credit: Irish Horse Welfare Trust Charity Number: CHY 14634 Account Number: 12015188 Sort Code: 93-35-54 AIB, Church Road, Greystones, Co.Wicklow Send to: Irish Horse Welfare Trust Equine Welfare Centre, Ballinamona,Woodenbridge, Co.Wicklow