Current Stories

 

Here at the Sanctuary we would like to thank everyone for their support following Mondays episode of Animal 24:7. With donations that have been promised and received, our aim for 2010 is to be able to buy more unfortunate ponies and foals from the pony sales at the end of the year. If you would like to view the programme again, then please go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072238

 

 

On Monday 22 Feb 2010 at 9.15am BBC One will be showing Animal 24:7. In this programme they will be featuring our foals that were bought from the pony sales in 2008. You can read all about their story below but please watch the programme to see how these poor foals came to be at the Sanctuary. If you miss the programme then you will be able to watch it again on the BBC i Player. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072238

 

 

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR THREE LAST CHANCE FOALS

 

Since the Christmas 2008 Newsletter, we have saved three foals from a very uncertain future and we wanted to give the friends of the Devon Horse & Pony Sanctuary some good news for the beginning of 2009.

The ponies of Dartmoor are rounded up each Autumn and kept in pens until being taken to livestock markets, in the area for the October sales. This happens again at the beginning of December with last sale taken place on the 5th, in a pretty market town called Tavistock.

A friend of the Charity who has been a benefactor for many years asked me to buy two such ponies on her behalf to ensure that at least two could be saved. A friend from the BBC said that they would be interested in making a film, so in company with Ellen who has been with us for many years, and two relatively new staff, Madeleine, an experienced horse woman and Emily, who has just completed an equine management course attended the sales with a film crew.

There were two hundred and twenty three ponies to choose from - How do we choose?

To describe the scene:

The livestock pens consist of heavy steel enclosures with concrete floors and clanging metal gates. The wild ponies are herded down ramps from transporters in the pens. Very few of these frightened animals have had any contact with humans. They immediately go to the corners of the pen all trying to hide in the centre of the group, with foals trying to find their mothers. What a sad sight to see. One by one, they are chased into the sale ring, where they are met by a cacophony of noise and surrounded by people. The Auctioner, from a load speaker, tries to get the best price and their future is then decided. We viewed the ponies in the pens, so many needed our help, but sadly we do not have the resources to take them all....To read the full story and see the pictures, please Download the pdf.

 

MEET ROBIN & ROSIE
 

Last year, a call was received at the Sanctuary from a lady asking us to take two small ponies as she was unable to care for them anymore for a variety of reasons. We get many calls and emails every day like this call and are unable to help everyone as we just don’t have the room or resources.

But there was something about these two adorable little ponies that stood out. Robin is slightly lighter in colour than Rosie and is on the right of this picture. He is blind in both eyes and relies totally on Rosie his constant companion as his look out. They are inseparable and it only takes Robin to make a small whinny and she is at his side in a moment. Both are very calm and quiet ponies, a pleasure to look after. At the moment they are up at Southcott enjoying the summer grazing, but when the cold weather approaches they will be brought back and given a warm stable. Download pdf...
 

 

MIRANDA NEEDS A COMPANION

 

Can anyone help us?

Miranda, our lovely old donkey – albeit, very noisy donkey is lonely and sad. Last year she lost her faithful donkey companion Sammy to cancer. She had seemed to overcome her grief when she teamed up with a small Dartmoor pony called Faith, but unfortunately in the last few weeks Faith became ill and we had to take the difficult decision to have her put down. Since then poor Miranda has been on her own and none of our other ponies seem right for her to put her out of her misery. It is a very sad sight to see her standing in a field on her own, lonely and depressed.

We need help to locate a donkey male or female that the Sanctuary could give a good and special home to and of course make Miranda’s life complete again. Download pdf...