Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society 

Charity Registration No: 297893

~~  SANCTUARY DIARY - JUNE 2010 ~~ 

29 June 2010

WELCOME TO THE WORLD CHEROKEE!

Most of today has been spent "ooohing" and "ahhhing" over our new arrival, baby colt Cherokee.  Poppy foaled down in the early hours of this morning and both mare and foalie are well.  Cherokee is HUGE - little wonder Poppy looked as though she was carrying an elephant during the latter stages of her pregnancy!   Poppy is a wonderful mum - she's obviously done this many times before.  At 22 years of age, we can assure you Cherokee will certainly be her last now she is in our ownership.   Photos show proud mum (and rightfully so) with Cherokee and groom, Mike Pugh.   What amazes us is that when Poppy came into our care she was extremely defensive around people.  Within a few weeks she has come to trust us all, so much so that she runs up to greet the staff every morning as we arrive.  Poppy has no problem at all with Mike fussing the little one for this photo opportunity.

Poppy was placed with us by the RSPCA, along with Elijah, following their successful prosecution of her owner.  Luckily for Cherokee that the RSPCA did their job so well - he is safe and loved.  We dread to think of what happened to Poppy's other foals over the years.  

27 June 2010

THE SCRUFFS DOG SHOW RAISED A GRAND TOTAL OF £503!

We would like to thank everyone who attended the Show today - given the exceedingly hot weather, our lovely Judges, from The Billericay Dog Training School, wrapped the classes up pretty quickly to save the dogs hanging around in the heat for too long.  What a hard job they had as all the dogs were beautiful - and beautifully behaved too.

Supreme Champion was 8 year old Blue Greyhound "SHAUN" owned by Mark Wilson.  

Our friends from the Ockendon branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust were at the show selling some gorgeous wares.  It was great to see them there - and what a wonderful job these folk doing in finding "forever homes" for these gentle creatures.   Quite a few of us at EHPPS have greys - 3 of our Trustees have 4 greyhounds between them, and one of our grooms has recently taken on a rescue greyhound and become totally smitten too.

We are having another Scruffs Dog Show on 12 September.  So please remember ... any dog rescue/welfare association is more than welcome to come along and promote their work on the day as they all do sterling work.  All we ask for is a £10 donation from each Charity which goes towards our resident horses and ponies.  

Our grateful thanks to all who made this day possible, with a special mention for our Dawn Lofthouse, who kindly organises the two Scruffs Dog Shows that we hold each year.  Talk about dedicated to our cause - the next one (12 September) falls on Dawn's first wedding anniversary and she's STILL doing the show - we're sure hubby doesn't expect anything less!

On another note, Tango (who is actually called Barney) has been claimed by his owners.  They had only purchased him a week ago in order to give him a good life, and the little monkey managed to break the fencing down on his field and escape!  Barney IS good at fence breaking as he managed to demolish one of ours within the first day of being with us.  Barney's owners are boarding him with us for another couple of days while they re-erect and strengthen the fencing before putting him back in the field, along with a companion.  All's well that end's well eh?

25 June 2010

DON'T FORGET OUR SCRUFFS DOG SHOW BEING HELD AT THE SANCTUARY THIS COMING SUNDAY
ENTRIES TAKEN FROM 11AM UNTIL 12NOON

Kasia thoroughly enjoyed a much needed bath yesterday afternoon. although, much to Groom Mike's dismay, she went straight out into her paddock and rolled ... and rolled ... and rolled ... in the dust!  We've got an inkling Kasia could be in foal - we certainly hope so as she needs a strict diet otherwise!  Our vet took the usual blood tests earlier in the week to test for strangles, so we've asked that a pregnancy test is also done at the same time.

On the subject of "fatties", Poppy looks fit to burst as she is due to foal down at any time now.  Poppy was VERY defensive when she first came into the Sanctuary, having been signed over to us by the RSPCA who successfully prosecuted her owner.  Goodness knows how many foals she's had to have in the past to keep her ex-owner happy - bit we can assure you that this little one will be her last.  This little mare has responded very quickly indeed to all the fuss and cuddles she is getting from the staff and volunteers and has become really friendly.

The staff are racking their brains trying to think of original horsey names for the new arrival - so if you've any ideas drop us an email.  A filly name AND a colt name please.  

22 June 2010

We're busy getting ready for our Scruffs Dog Show to be held this coming Sunday.  Looks like we're going to be busy as we've got lots of pre-entries already for the day.   Now don't forget - you don't have to own a dog or be showing one on the day  -  you can always come along and enjoy seeing the pooches strutt their stuff!

We have a new resident in the form of Black Shetland mare, Kasia.  Kasia is currently in isolation awaiting the results of her blood tests, which all new intakes have to undergo before they are allowed to join the other horses at the Sanctuary.   Kasia was found running loose on the road last week.  Essex Police asked us to collect the little mare and keep her safe until an owner came forward.  He did - four days later.  As he wasn't prepared to pay our call out fees and stabling for four days - he told us to keep the pony as she wasn't worth it.  Oh we do meet some wonderful and compassionate characters in our line of work at times!  At the end of the day, it was his loss and Kasia's gain.  She's a proper little sweetie and, in time, we shall be looking to place her in a foster home as a lead rein or companion pony.

3 June 2010