You shall go to the ball! Charity buys rescue horses new rugs for special show

RSPCA rescue ponies who were taken to Equifest horse show this month (9 - 13 August) looking for new homes were kitted out in beautiful new rugs and headcollars, thanks to the RSPCA Cambridgeshire Mid East branch.

Visitors and competitors at the famous Peterborough horse event flocked to the RSPCA’s stand to learn about the charity’s work and meet the rescue horses, with some people being so taken with the ponies, they reserved them on the spot!

Graham Rouse, who has been treasurer at the RSPCA Cambridgeshire Mid East branch for two years, visited the event to meet the ponies looking for homes.

He said: “The branch is honoured to be a part of the RSPCA’s presence at Equifest, it’s a great horse show with so many lovely people, and to see how kind and interested visitors are in the work of the RSPCA is fantastic.

“An ‘Animal Project Welfare team’, under the chairmanship of George Hammett, was set up with Trustees Val Fountain, Eileen Lowe, Hayley Brooke and I with some funds ring-fenced to help RSPCA horses. When the idea was mentioned about providing these formerly neglected ponies with brand new rugs and head collars so they could look smart for the show, we couldn’t say no! The fact that they’ve now been adopted by people at the show is just wonderful.”

Graham, who owns three rescue dogs Jazz, Ace and Theo, joined the branch following his retirement.

He said: “Becoming a trustee of the branch added a new dimension to my life, I’ve never looked back. To be able to make a real difference to animals who have suffered neglect and cruelty is very rewarding, and I really enjoy being involved in varied projects like Equifest, as I know it will really make a difference.

RSPCA chief inspector Cathy Hyde who heads up the RSPCA’s equine team said: “I would like to say a huge thank-you to the RSPCA Cambridgeshire Mid East Branch who provided our rescue ponies with the most beautiful RSPCA branded blue headcollars and rugs for the show. We are extremely grateful for the branch’s kind donation, and the ponies looked absolutely stunning. The RSPCA relies on donations from the public to cover daily costs of rescuing and rehabilitating animals, and so to have such a generous ‘treat’ from the branch allowing us to kit our ponies out in something a little bit special, is just wonderful.”

As part of the equine project, the RSPCA Cambridgeshire Mid East branch has also recently provided a state-of-the-art ‘horse walker’ for RSPCA Gonsal Farm equine centre in Shrewsbury and jumping poles to RSPCA Felledge equine centre in County Durham.

The branch has also made a significant contribution towards the RSPCA’s international work, in particular a major long-term animal welfare education project in China, and supported the refurbishment of the treatment and medical facilities at RSPCA Block Fen animal centre in March, Cambridgeshire.

To support the RSPCA Cambridgeshire Mid East branch, you can visit the charity shops in March High Street and Market Hill in St Ives.

For further information or to find out about giving a home to one of the branch’s rescue cats, please visit www.rspca.org.uk/local/cambridgeshire-mid-east-branch.