Beili Bedw Farm, Llanddeusant, Llangadog, Carms SA19 9TG

Tel 01550 740661 Email: lluestmanager@tiscali.co.uk

LLUEST HORSE & PONY TRUST Registered Charity 516674

Trust Manager: Adrian Cawdery

Trustees Barbara Metcalfe, Alun Jones MRCVS, Justine Jenkins, Carole Lane, Kathryn Hawkins, Pam Holden.

Tel 01453 844380 email: barbara.metcalfe@virgin.net

Founder – the late Ginny Hajdukiewicz

NEWSLETTER 49 SPRING 2008

www.lluesthorseandponytrust.org.uk

Dates for your diary: Open Day 17^TH Aug 11-4pm AGM 18^th May 2pm

Weekend opening Sats & Suns May 17^th – Sept 21st 2-4pm

From Adrian - Hello again from a very busy time at Lluest. We are hoping that spring is close as the fields are

suffering from the rain and at times we have had all the stables full due to the inclement weather! Whilst we

have been very successful in finding several new loan homes, there are always other poor unfortunate

animals to fill the vacated place, so life sends us daily challenges. As far as possible we make sure new arrivals

settle in and live life as part of a herd before we start assessing them. A big part of this assessment takes part in

our wonderful new school and round pen, making life safer for both the animals and us. With great pleasure I can

tell you that Pryderi is nearly ready to go to his new loan home as a full riding horse. He is very good riding out

both in company and alone, can now be trimmed without restraint, and will also go into the lorry without a lead

rein, and once in, will allow the door to be closed and the engine to run. A completely different horse to the one I

first met 16 months ago!

Many of you will have heard the dreadful news in January of the 30 horses at Amersham (Bucks) some found

too advanced in the state of neglect that euthanasia was the only humane alternative. Lluest as a member of the

National Equine Welfare Council offered to take two of the horses once court proceedings are completed,

although it is doubtful because of the distance involved that our offer will be accepted. It is desperately sad to

consider that horses and ponies such as these would have left the UK shores for abattoirs overseas, and to

consider the long journeys they would have endured; and the trade goes on. We fully support the petition on the

Voices for Horses web-site and ask that you either put your name to that petition or write to Lord Rooker - Minister

of State for Animal Welfare, Nobel House, 17 Smith Sq., London SW1P 3JR demanding the implementation of

the following: Traders and Dealers of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Mules be regulated and required by law

to be licensed in the UK because it is proven that current legislation for the protection of equines is

inadequate.

It was through our links with Emma that we came to hear about little Berry whose young family had lost interest in her. She was living alone in a 10ft square shed with little grazing, severe rain scald and her feet in need of attention. We collected Berry in December and she spent 3 months with us before leaving for a loan home where she is now receiving the care she deserves. Berry is featured on a video prepared by Emma and can be seen on the website voicesforhorses.co.uk

A similar case is Maggie whose previous owner was a local gentleman who purchased her at the age of 4 months with good intentions, but limited knowledge. On the 16^th October she was signed over to Lluest, having grown into a big animal – her feet in need of attention, and needing company of her own kind. Getting Maggie into the lorry, and the way home, was relatively calm considering her lack of experience outside the field she had grown up in. After 6 months at the Trust and now approaching 5 years she is still a handful, but as she has not had any bad experiences during her time with her previous owner she has the potential to become a lovely working horse.

In the late summer we took in 3 ponies who

needed homes as the land at their livery yard

was sold to developers. Shortly after their arrival

at the Trust the decision was made to put

Chrissie and Dinky to sleep. Arguably this

decision should have been taken earlier but as

so often happens owners find it too painful. We

have now decided to offer help for owners in this

situation – one that we face all too often.

Confirmation from the owners Veterinary Surgeon

will be required and once obtained Adrian is

willing to stand by and offer support. However all

Lluest ponies are put to sleep by injection and

we would expect this same treatment for any

horse or pony we tended. Happily one of the

ponies – a dear gelding Barney is still with us –

stealing hearts with his lovely kind eyes. He

does suffer from arthritis but is kept comfortable

at present and we will monitor his condition

carefully.

Barney Barney

Willow

Fred Fred

When Sammy 2 returned from his loan home owing to circumstances beyond the control of his foster Mum, we were asked to take his little companion Fred. Fred has become good friends with Patch.

Willow came to Lluest in January 2008. At 1 yr old she had been taken to Llanybydder sale but did not sell. She was ‘dumped’ in a driveway and eventually found a home with a kind lady willing to take her in. She was well looked after, but with only calves for company and very little handling she had almost forgotten what being a young pony is all about. We were asked to help when a little human life came into the family and time for Willow became even scarcer. Now approx 31/2 yrs old, she is still a little shy about lead reins, but we can pick up all 4 feet and groom her. Willow’s training will continue until she is eventually ready to go on to a loan home, where she can give pleasure to children perhaps through pony club, but most importantly become a happy, loved and fulfilled little pony.

Patch

Patch came to us in Nov from a couple that were moving into sheltered accommodation. His feet, teeth and coat needed attention. Owing to the condition of his hooves after his last bout of laminitis, we have decided that he will remain at the Trust in order that his problems can be sorted with the minimum of discomfort for him. He can stay with his newfound friends – both human and equine, and continue greeting us all with his welcome whinny. He is a lovely friendly animal who always has a hello whinny for you.

We were sad to lose Joy on February 25^th at the age of 39. Joy had been at the Trust for 15 years. The vet was

called as she became very stiff, and she rallied round for a couple of weeks. When she had what can only be

described a fit, we decided it was time to put her to sleep, so no more pain or suffering. Then on March 12th it was

time to say goodbye to little Matilda (aged over 30 years), who had been at the Trust just 1 year, but in that year

managed to win hearts with her welcoming whinny and came to love her little friend Humphrey who like us will

miss her sadly. Making ‘that’ decision is not easy and is never done without soul searching and often tears.

Not least with Mist an ex trotter (whose arrival at the Trust was reported in our previous newsletter) who suffered

problems in her back end, and although tests were carried out to source the problem, these were inconclusive.

We could only assume the uneven gait, sometimes caused pain leading to aggression, both towards other ponies

and staff, therefore the decision was made to put Mist to sleep.

Sam Sam

Champ, Taz, Storm and as mentioned Berry have found loan homes. Darius, Griff, Cinders were returned but have since been re-homed. Winnie, Llwyd, Matilda 1, and Arthur have also been

returned and are at the farm. We always hope that the ponies once loaned have a home for life, but this doesn’t always work. We have

decided that Brandy having had several loan homes will stay at the farm, and is included on our ‘adoption’ list.** She has been in the care of Lluest since her previous owner, who was terminally ill signed her to us in 1986. She is 15hh, 29 years old and enjoyed giving rides at the Easter Open Day.

LOAN PONY SHOWCASE SAMMY 1 by Kath Hawkins

I first met Sam, a lovely skewbald pony when I was 10 and going to Lluest getting to know our future loan pony, Ben. My brother and I were having lessons with Ginny to improve our riding in preparation. Sam was strong but reliable and I learnt a lot from him and enjoyed some amazing rides on the mountain. He loved to be in front on the gallops. He gave me confidence and was very cheeky; often lifting me off my feet with his trademark head rubs.

When Ginny died Sam, like her other trekking ponies were signed over to the charity. Until recently I had not seem him since but always remembered him as a pony I had had a special bond with. I was excited when I was asked to check Sam in his loan home with the Heggarty family. Driving to see him with my mum I had to remind myself that he was now 35 and wouldn’t look the same. I needn’t have worried though. The pony grazing with his companion was unmistakably Sam a bit greyer but looking wonderful. Having suffered with Laminitis and Cushings in the past it is a credit to his loan home that he looks so well. He is still ridden very lightly and is still very strong! He rubbed his head on me just as he always had. He is much loved and doing so well, it was lovely to see. I know Ginny would be delighted that he has such a loving and knowledgeable home

** Our adoption certificates will no longer be laminated as we respect the worldwide concern regarding the un-necessary and over-use of plastic.

Brandy

MORE SOUL SEARCHING Taking telephone calls from owners such as a lady who rang recently is not easy. The

conversation went similarly:- Hello – I bought a horse only a year ago and he’s developed laminitis, I cant ride him any more and I cant afford to keep him – if I cannot find a home for him he will have to be put down.’ In other words – he is no longer any use, so like an old car or an old sofa he’s on the scrapheap – unless we or another similar charity takes him. Much as we would love to, charities cannot possibly take every case such as this, so maybe owners should, when purchasing a horse consider how they will cope if such a situation arises. Maybe the phrase ‘’a dog is for life not just for Christmas’’ should be adopted by horse owners. Obviously the kindest thing is to personally provide for the horse until the end of its comfortable days, if that is not possible then the option should certainly not be, to take him to a market or to an unscrupulous dealer, but to have him put to sleep at home.

LLUEST IN CRISIS APPEAL – UPDATE Thank you so much to everyone who responded to our autumn newsletter (which highlighted the worrying financial situation we find ourselves in) with generous donations both by cheque and through the Charity Choice web-site for on line donations. At the time of writing we have just seven months running costs, with our monthly income still not matching that figure. We are still therefore appealing for even more of our supporters to help us with standing order donations – even 50p per week (£6.50 a quarter) from all of you would be a tremendous help. Winter 2008/09 seems a long way off, but of course we must plan for that most expensive time. To help with Veterinary care for 2008 we are running a raffle and tickets are enclosed with more being available from the farm to anyone wishing to help in that way. The prize money has been donated.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP For those of you who shop on line – some retailers donate a percentage of the amount you spend to a charity of your choice. Go to easyfundraising.org.uk to find out more. If you use the search engine everyclick.com – each time you click – 1p is donated to Lluest. Every Penny Counts!! Small forgotten amounts of SHARES can be donated to Sharegift (reg charity 1052686) that pools shares, sells them and donates the proceeds to UK registered charities. When people donate their shares they are encouraged to nominate a cause or charity they support. More information at sharegift.org.

Thanks to:-

Thanks to the Pettifor Trust for donations of £2,000, to The L & D Seccombe Charitable Trust for £500, to Julie

Roberts for a car boot sale £54 and Dot Heckler for a coffee morning £36, to John and Helen Small for £100 – plants sales and a sponsored 26 mile marathon, the Amman Valley School of Dance raffle £73, and Pam Holden and friends (2 and 4 legged ones) for raising £145 Carol Singing. Val Slingsby from the Gloucs Support Group has retired and we thank Val for her many years of work for Lluest. Also a BIG THANK YOU to our staff, and team of volunteers who work both at the farm and in the background with administration. During this difficult financial time our volunteers are not only giving their time but also donating expenses, such as travelling, postages, stationery etc. costs which add up considerably, ensuring even more, that the money you donate goes directly where it is intended.

Do you have, or know the whereabouts of any Lluest collection boxes please. If so please contact Pam Holden on 01269 826319 as we are anxious to update our records. We do not send souvenir leaflets with our spring newsletters to save costs. However souvenirs are available and for more information please contact Carole Lane on 01453 844970

We end with our very latest intake who we have named Bobby after one of our most faithful and long serving volunteers. Our 4 legged Bobby came to us on March 26^th from a lady who rescued him from some young people in Swansea where he was suffering abuse. This is the 4^th colt foal to come from such circumstances within just over 2 years and we shall be investigating as to how we can help limit this treatment of colt foals. More in the autumn newsletter about little Bobby.

With best wishes and thanks for your support from Adrian, Barbara, Justine, Alun, Carole, Pam and Kath – and all the Lluest ponies

Bobby