The Horse Trust holds 125th anniversary horse parade and unveils plans for the Home of Rest

The charity urgently needs to do maintenance work to the stables, barns and buildings and also plans to enhance its equine facilities.

Planned enhancements include: • A new clinic including a pharmacy and “mini” laboratory. The laboratory will be used for various purposes, including worm analysis and education. • An isolation and quarantine block – this will be a major upgrade to the current isolation paddock. This facility ensures that new arrivals do not pass on infectious diseases, such as Strangles, to other residents. • Intensive care boxes – these will be used for horses that are seriously ill. The boxes will be more equipped for procedures and will include CCTV to allow 24-hour monitoring of horses that are ill. Last year, Spindles Farm rescue horse Duke was seriously ill with colic for a number of weeks and received treatment in his stable as no intensive care box was available. • A Horse Walker – this will be used for a variety of ailments, including horses that have arthritic conditions and benefit from gentle movement, horses that are on respite, and elderly horses that have gained weight. • A large sand paddock for laminitics – the charity’s current sand paddock is only suitable for donkeys and ponies. The paddock enables staff to manage laminitics by limiting their consumption of grass. • Classroom, teaching aids and training facilities • New loose boxes – within five years, The Horse Trust will need to replace all of its 86 loose boxes. The original stables were only expected to last for 40 years and require regular repairs as they are at the end of their lifespan.

To find out more about The Horse Trust Home of Rest Appeal, please contact 01494 488464 or info@horsetrust.org.uk