The H.A.C.K. Horse Sanctuary Newsletter Update March 2004

This winter has seemed to be the longest ever, although not very cold, the rain and the mud has taken it's toll, still perhaps we have seen the worst of it now and can look forward to the coming Spring and Summer.

Already we are organising and booking fund-raising events, although this year I would like us to raise enough funds for the never ending "sudden emergencies" that always seem to come our way. It is mentally exhausting to keep having to cut corners and raise that extra funding whilst struggling with the winter months and lack of day light hours

Again we have had telephone calls about abandoned horses, calls from the police, Flintshire Council and numerous members of the public all wanting our help. We are kept so busy.  I wish we did not have to worry so much about funding, so we could get on with the job, but sadly No Money means No Sanctuary means No Horses.

I would just like to thank everyone who to us, so thank you again to has supported us over the winter period, It means a great deal to us so thank you again.

Pamela Bluck

The HACK Office Address:-

The Woodturners Cottage, Lavister, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0DF            

e-mail pamela@hackhorse.fsnet.co.uk

Web site:- www.hackonline.org.uk

Telephone:  01244 571524

Urgent - Bailey Needs your Help

Bailey is in the large animal hospital waiting hopefully for an operation that will remove a painful bone cyst from his shoulder joint, but this is going to cost £2000 and time is running out, so how can we raise this money? see our webpage for more details

Last Autumn Errol along with Burt and Merlin were involved in an incident, where all three horses got injured, they had been chased by persons unknown, and suffered nasty cuts and severe bruising, Burt has recovered well, although at that time his injuries were thought to be the worst, Merlin has recovered in body but has not completely returned to his normal self and is unusually impatient and nervous which has taken it's toll on his weight. Errol needs to have an operation to try to mend and straighten a tendon sheath that covers his knee, that has been ruptured by injury. otherwise he may not be able to continue his life as a show horse, Errol is only 2 and a half  years old so he has his whole future ahead of him

   The estimated costs of this operation is £500

Buster is doing quite well, but will have to continue his medicine for the under skin reoccurring abcesses, although the majority are being well maintained, he is enjoying his life and seems very happy and content.

Albert and Lenny will be on the Alyn Waters Park, Llay Side on April 3rd for the Opening of      the Meeting Place at 2 pm on 3rd April 2004.  

These two little ponies have done extremely well with their fund-raising adventures, just before Christmas they attended Tesco in Wrexham for a collection.  During last summer they were in the parade at Coedpoeth and they went to the Oswestry Show.  At the present time they have been turned out for a well earned rest on the Top Park, with George the Donkey, Ffion Haf, and Bailey before he became poorly. They delight many visitors to the Alyn Waters Park and enjoy all the attention they are getting. 

Soon they will be back working hard for the Promotion of H.A.C.K. and it's good works.

Gracie-Jo is the granddaughter of Pamela Bluck and just like Granny Pampam she is very hardworking, at just 2 and a half years old this little girl already gets involved with the welfare of the horses.  Last Saturday she could be seen mucking out the fields with her little yellow and green wheelbarrow, rake and shovel, along with the Saturday afternoon clubs girls, she helped to make up all the feeds, put down a new bed for Buster (had a little rest on it herself) and then helped to groom him until he shone!  To help Bailey, Gracie has decided to do a sponsored ride on Buster, she will share this task with Sophie also 2 and a half, who will be riding her bike after a circuit of the bike paths on the Alyn Waters, the two little girls will then swap over and go around again.  Anyone who would like to sponsor the little girls can get in touch with H.A.C.K. or send the sponsorship money via the post to the H.A.C.K. office.

All In A Day's Work

When our phone rings, we never know what is in store for us, and to be honest we have had many different things we have had to deal with, so a call from the Chester Chronicle did not surprise us very much. Maria a journalist wanted to know if we would accompany her to Beeston Horse Sales for some undercover work, she wanted to get some views on the thoughts of British horse owners and dealers on the possible loss of crucial British legislation (Minimum Values Act that was established in Britain in 1937).  Maria seemed quite shocked that British horses were slaughtered for meat, a fact that she did not realise and she wanted to bring this to the attention of everyone. The minimum values act is supposed to make export of live horses to the continent for slaughter uneconomical from British shores, but the EEC look on horses as being Agricultural animals and not to be treated any different from other farm animal.

In Britain the horse is classed as a luxury item, a pet, a companion, (try apply for planning permission for stabling etc. the costs are horrendous compared to that of Agricultural buildings, we know this by experience). 

The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) is campaigning for the protection of this act and have been organising a petition for such for quite some time, and have been trying to get people to lobby MPs into supporting it.   (Write to your MP to help).

For a horse to be exported it has to have a vets certificate but like everything else rules are broken and it is likely that export of live horses for meat is already taking place. But we can only demand as a caring nation that our minimum values act is kept for the protection of many.

However having said all that, there is a need for horses to be slaughtered, I would much rather see all export meat slaughtered in this country. And that we should still continue to say No to Live Export. This article was a two page spread in the Chester Chronicle (20 Feb), and many people gave their views.

Whilst we were at Beeston we saw many young colts going for meat, 13 colts and a stallion had been shipped over from the Isle of Man, none of whom had ever been handled, and were not in a good condition, and huddled together, they had been at the market for two days before the auction. They reach a measly £25 each so hardly worth the effort of bringing them over, why didn't they have them slaughtered there, why put these sad little animals through all that distress. The stallion as far as we know did not go for meat, but to see him standing in the ring just looking and wondering what was going on, was a very sad sight indeed. He was a beautiful little man, I only hope he will be well looked after. But,  there is too much unnecessary breeding going on as it is, there are far too many horses and ponies and breeding should be for a purpose and in my opinion licensed. The sale holds many broken down and problem horses all being passed around, if my horse had a problem or was ill, or lame, I could never disguise the fact and send her to auction.  If her quality of life was poor or I couldn't afford to keep her I would have her put down at home, limiting her distress. Sadly this world of horses in money orientated and there are many who just don't care.

I recently tried to advise a young lady on her horse's feed requirement and a quick and easy way to work it out.  Her young 15hh cob needed a diet of high fibre to sustain her condition and keep her warm when living out.  This horse needed approx 30lbs of hay a day, not 3 slices as she was being given and standing in a field with no grass for 23 hours a day without food.  The girl could nots ee that her horse was losing weight and I was told to mind my own business!!

Saturday Afternoon Club 

We have started the kids club up again, where a limited number of kids over the age of 12 can come along to the sanctuary, and learn about horse welfare, they are taught all the necessary parts of what good horse owners need to know, from mucking out fields and why we do it, to basic first aid, illnesses, dental care, hoof care, making up feeds for different horses and their needs, handling horses and ponies the correct way, in fact everything we can, so at least they will know the basics if they ever decide to own their own horse. The kids seem to love it and are taught by Janey who has been with the sanctuary for 10 years and lives in the village of Llay, not far from the H.A.C.K. yard. Janey, who works full time at a well know hotel sometimes has to rearrange her shifts to accommodate the Saturday afternoon club.

Most of the kids are also from Llay and we have up to 10 that attend on a regular basis. They also want to help with the Open days and shows that we have.

The Future. 

It is quite stressful running a sanctuary, we have a huge responsibility of trying to keep the place open and taking care of the horses. I am often kept awake at night trying to work out the next fund-raising event, or the continuous worry of never having enough money, the sudden disaster that hits us, having to make the decision of having a horse put down, the never ending phone calls, unreasonable people, and those who expect too much. 

However we try to be positive and look to the future , it is our intention to provide an education room, with an area for making light refreshments, this room would be a multi functional room and serve many purposes. It will have toilets for the disabled and a reception area for visitors. This would benefit, both H.A.C.K. education and visitors alike, but it is finding the funding for such a project 

We are also trying to raise funds from a different angle, to provide pathways for disabled wheelchair users to enable them to get around the paddock and enjoy hands on experiences with the small ponies. This is not covered by horse welfare and also needs a different approach. 

If we had better facilities for visitors it would enable us to open up the sanctuary to schools, and those with special needs etc. It is a shame that these people are disadvantaged by the lack of proper access and needs. We are constantly being asked for help in this area, so if anyone knows of someone who can help then please let us know.

Can You Help Us.

We are constantly looking for fund-raisers, and different people to sell raffle tickets, hold coffee mornings, bake cakes and/or donate goods that we can sell or add to our tombola. Hand made crafts can be sold in our mobile shop when we visit the big shows and fetes. Donations are always gratefully accepted.  We cannot survive without your help.  Please Help Us.

Kid's Corner 

This section of the newsletter is for our junior members. If you want to write a poem or draw a picture we may include it in the next newsletter, or you may want to tell us about your own pony or a pony you ride.

 The H.A.C.K. Horse Sanctuary is set in a small valley on the outskirts of Llay and Bradley. It is a rescue and rehabilitation centre for horses, ponies and donkeys that have been mistreated and neglected, which sadly is a common problem. The sanctuary provides a safe haven for these poor horses and ponies, a place where they can feel safe and cared for. We have many horses and ponies and George the donkey, there are miniature Shetland ponies called Scamp, Albert and Len, there is a standard Shetland called Buster "Super Star" an ex race horse called Rosie and a big horse at 1 7hh called Burt, he has very sad eyes.  Others include Merlin, Sonny, Dolly, Berrick, Errol, Bailey, Lottie, Poppy, Tiggy, Ffion, and many more. 

The sanctuary is run by a handful of dedicated volunteers, who not only look after the horses, but have to fund-raise too. We have Open Days when people can come a see the horses, Horse shows, Dog show's, sponsored walks, rides, we sell raffle tickets, and collect outside of stores with our little ponies, Albert and Len.

A Holiday
 
Albert, Len, Buster, Ffion, Bailey, Scamp and George the donkey are having a rest from the never ending rounds of fund-raising, they are up on H.A.C.K.'s parkland, that is close as possible to their natural environment, and will stay there until the Spring when once again they will start work promoting the Sanctuary and it's good works.

Can You Help Us ?

To keep the sanctuary open, we need more people to help us fund-raise, to do sponsored walks, (If anyone wanted to do a sponsored walk around the Alyn Waters Park, Albert and Len could go too with one of H.A.C.K. carers).  Perhaps a picnic during the summer when the ponies can join in.  How about a sponsored spell, or silence or bike ride, providing there is a responsible adult in charge or perhaps your mum, or Granny would hold a coffee morning for us.  What do you think, can you help us raise funds?  For everyone who organises a fund-raising event, we shall award a special H.A.C.K. rosette and certificate and feature their success in our news letter.

Just a reminder - you could share your birthday with your favourite friends and some of our favourite ponies!  Please contact Pam on 01244 571524 for details and see our webpage for more details.