Equine & General Car Boot Sale 30th August 2008

We will be hosting an Equine and General Car Boot Sale at our fields in Brinnings Lane in Moretonhampstead on 30th August 2008. The event will be signposted from Moretonhampstead and will start at 12 noon.

Stall Holders will be charged a fee of £5 for their stalls and businesses are welcome for the same fee.

All money raised will go to the DPTC, we are trying to raise funds to renew our public liability insurance.

There will also be a cricket match taking place - more players needed (of whatever level!)

We will also be selling cakes and cream teas as well as a BBQ which is in aid of Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship CIC. (www.sironacic.com) Sirona offers Therapeutic sessions with horses for local young people experiencing problems. In the evening there will be a nature walk and storytelling around the camp fire.

For more information please contact Natalie on 01364 654609 / 07802 218169

Here's some info from Jayne Leigh on her wonderful Dartmoor.

I have owned a Dartmoor pony for seven years I had her when she was a filly I have to say I have had horses & ponies for 32 yrs & the Dartmoor is the best pony anyone could ever wish for; ours has been champion many, many times including this season. Here is a picture of our champion getting 1st again !!

Brooke Animal Hospital Show

I attended the Brooke Animal Hospital Show on Sunday for the third year running, sadly I could not take Merry & Trixie as we had no trailer available for the day but myself and friend Mo went along to chat to people who were interested in what we do! It was as always a brilliant show with lots of rescue horses and dogs parading around showing what wonderful work so many organisations do.

I was asked to judge one of the horse classes "best child handler". It was a very hard decision to choose who came first as all the entrants were fantastic!

About Brooke
The Brooke is the UK’s leading overseas equine welfare charity and our aim is to improve the lives of horses, donkeys and mules working in the poorest parts of the world. These animals form the backbone of the economy in many developing countries, supporting countless poor communities where many people earn less than a dollar a day.

The Brooke’s mobile vet teams and community animal health workers, and our partner organisations worldwide, provide free treatment to animals and train animal owners, local healers, farriers, saddlers, feed sellers, harness and cart makers. We currently operate across nine countries in Asia, Africa, Central America and the Middle East.The enormous difference the Brooke makes is thanks to the kindness of our supporters and the dedication, care and compassion of our local vets and community workers. Our work is underpinned by unique and proven methods developed with Bristol University Veterinary School. We have over 750 highly-skilled staff working directly in the field.

Our vision is that by 2016, Brooke will have increased the number of working animals we reach from 650,000 to the five million suffering horses, donkeys and mules who need our help most in the world.

Below are some photos of the day:

Story of Juno

I went out a month or so ago to see a pony called Juno. Below is his story and also a lovely photo of him. Natalie

Juno was found on the road close to us in June 2007 as he was trying to find water. He was on 3 legs with the off fore hanging. He had several bites and scars and appeared to be an ungelded 2yo colt. It was clear that he had been chased and attacked by the moorland stallions and he was put into a field on his own to allow time for him to recover. Whilst there was the risk that his leg was broke it was felt there was sufficient chance that it was paralysis and after 2 or 3 months of being alone he came totally sound.

The commoners advertised him in the paper but no one claimed him, the person who found him bought him and he came to live with us. It was thought that he had been purchased as the sales as a cuddly 4 month old foal and by the time he had become a stroppy 2yo cold the owner could not cope and turned him out onto the common. He was extremely wary of people, very protective of his near side and totally neurotic about contact with his head. The best guess was that his owner had tried to halter him and it had gone wrong.

We struggled on for nearly a year and made a lot of progress in taming him but were unable to get a headcollar on and he seemed very wary of the headcollar. We met Natalie whilst out riding one day and she offered to call and help with him. Fortunately Juno is total pig and had no difficulty in eating out of a bucket.

Within half an hour Natalie had managed to get the headcollar and a lead rope onto Juno and spent time letting him drag this around the stable. Having learnt the technique as to how to do this we are now at last able to make some progress with him and hopefully will be able to get him gelded in the Autumn. Many thanks to Natalie for all her help.

Smartie home visit

I visited Smartie yesterday, have a look at our re-homing blog to find out how he is!

http://dptcrehoming.blogspot.com/

A big thank you to Anne Doodson!

We would like to give a massive than you to Anne Doodson from Plymouth who did a walk on the 28th June to raise money for us and the Alzheimers Society in Plymouth. She raised £152.50 for each organisation - WELL DONE ANNE AND THANK YOU!!

Below is a photo of Natalie (left) accepting the cheque from and Anne.

Anne Doodson - from Plymouth. She did the walk on the 28th June and raised 152.50 for us and the same amount for the Alzheimers society in Plymouth.

A big thank you to two of our supporters

We would just like to mention two organisations who throughout the year have very kindly been raising money for our ponies. It is very much appreciated and we could not exist without people such as themselves:


Compass Works
http://www.compassworks.co.uk/

"We provide an innovative and enjoyable approach to developing your navigational skills: no matter what your level of experience we know we can meet your needs.

Based in the south west, we deliver a wide range of high quality training courses and events that have been carefully designed to maximize your learning and enjoyment. What’s more, we’ll provide all the navigation equipment that you’ll need, including compasses and GPS receivers. If that’s not enough, we even include lunch and refreshments in the price during most of our events!"

Torbay Mods
http://www.torbaymods.com/

"Torbay Mods Scooter Club is based in the South Devon area of the UK and was formed by Paul, Mike and Stan in 2007 for riders of Lambretta or Vespa scooters.

We would like to meet anyone with Mod Style scooters who are interested in shows, ride outs and rallies. Membership is free so come and join in the fun and show off your scooters to people who remember them as an iconic symbol of the 60's"

Our Herd as it currently stands....

I thought I would post an update as to our current herd as it stands! I will start at the top and work my way down!
Photo 1. Tigger – Kathryn’s 3 year old Dartmoor pony
Photo 2. Hazel and Rosie -these are Nat's ponies
Photo 3. Trixie one of the sponsor ponies
Photo 4. Woody one of the foals taken on last year, now a yearling and looking for a home
Photo 5. Maia a 9 year old mare taken on wild from the moor, is now being ridden
Photo 6. Lily is Kathryn's riding horse
Photo 7. Merry smiling for the camera - our other sponsor pony
Photo 8. Milo another foal taken on last year, now a yearling and in need of a home
Photo 9. Pippin - originally a sponsor pony but it was decided his slightly nervous temprement meant he was not suitable to tour shows and be petted! He is now 3 and is going to a home in Gloucestershire in September with Finn, the home already have 2 of our ponies Jet & Harry
Photo 10. Rona our gorgeous unexpected foal from Bonnie, also able to be sponsored
Photo 11. Amy and her as yet unnamed colt foal, they are wild but getting braver by the day!
Photo 12. Beau - Nat's horse - sadly I didn't have a closer photo of him, here he was getting up from a roll!
Photo 13. Bonnie the gorgeous new mum - she will be looking for a home once Rona is weaned, we are probably looking to do this next spring so they can be together over winter to help Rona through her first one!
Photo 14. Finn one of the foals taken on last year, he will be going with Pippin to Gloucestershire
Photo 15. Leo also a foal taken on last year who our volunteer Ro fell in love with and so is now loaning and keeping him with out herd.