Almost a year after their purchase of 800 acres of land at Barlings in Langworth, local equine charity Bransby Horses has started using the site for rehoming training. At the end of April, Chelsea and Emma, trainers in the Riding Barn at the charity, took Solero and Darcy for a two-hour trek on the land to try out 2.2 miles of the 20 miles of riding routes to choose from. This is the first time the charity has taken horses to the site.
The rehoming journey is a long one and something that requires time and patience, being able to take horses off-site and practice transporting them from Bransby to a new location is all part of this important training. The horses can get used to loading and unloading from a trailer, tack-up and riding. It also gives the horses a chance to walk, trot, canter and gallop on different terrain and within a variety of rich habitats, with no biosecurity restrictions.
Bransby Horses bought the land last year to secure the future of the charity for the next 50 years and provide more space for the equines the charity helps. The site is intended to be an additional safe haven for equines but also provide new space to ride. Having celebrated their 50th anniversary last year, Bransby Horses wanted to make a move to safeguard their future and the future of the animals they rescue for years to come.
With almost 1,000 equines currently in their care; 400 animals at the Bransby site and 500 out in foster homes through the rehoming scheme, the charity is almost at capacity and have recognised their need for more land in recent years. There has also been additional recruitment to futureproof the team on board and provide additional support to help the charity to continue to run at a professional level.
Jo Snell, Bransby Horses CEO said:
“I am so proud and pleased to finally have welcomed two of our horses out onto this beautiful land at the Barlings site. It is the start of a long journey for the charity and has no end of opportunities. Our team work so hard but we could not have helped the thousands of equines we have in the last 50 years without the love and support of the community close by and further afield, and for that we are so grateful.”
Following the purchase of the land in July 2018, Paul Williams, Assistant Estates Manager, has been working on the land, to make it secure and fit for purpose with some additional support from an ecologist. His job list has been long, but initial works have included boundary and border work, fencing of some fields, grass cutting, bridleway care, habitat protection and creation, planting, monitoring of ecology on the site and general land maintenance.
The land will be used by the charity for more riding training in coming months with the site expected to be suitable to keep horses, donkeys and mules there, as a safe haven, in 2021. The charity is looking for volunteers to help look after the site with the first position, Nature and Land Management Volunteer, being advertised on their website now.
Bransby Horses relies entirely on the generosity of the public, with no statutory funding. Rescuing horses, donkeys and mules has been the mission of the charity for many years and each animal saved is made a promise by the charity, to be there for them for the rest of their lives.
