Visitors can learn how to spot a horse in need and how one of the UK’s largest equine welfare charities care for these often misunderstood animals, on the Bransby Horses Welfare Trail.
Officially opening this month, the trail will be a permanent fixture here at our free to visit charity based in the village of Bransby, not far from Lincoln city.
Winding around our 600-acre site, visitors are taken on a wheelchair and pushchair friendly walk where information posters and questions about equine health help people test their knowledge and find out interesting facts about horses’ health.
Senior press officer Maria Thompson said: “We have hundreds of visitors every year, a lot of them are families who enjoy being outside and meeting our rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules (equines). We’ve launched this trail, which takes them around the fields where our horses are, to help raise awareness of proper equine welfare.
“Most people know about the needs of dogs and cats but equines are less understood. We hope the trail will help to engage people with our cause to make sure every equine has a life worth living, promote responsible horse ownership and ultimately reduce the need for our intervention.”
Like many other equine welfare charities we rely on members of the public to report or raise concerns if they see or know of equines in need, as many are in fields and out of sight.
Last year Bransby Horses dealt with 1622 horses as either new or ongoing welfare concerns, underlying the importance of promoting responsible horse ownership.
With around 50,000 visitors a year we hope the trail will demystify the world of equine welfare for both adults and children while raising awareness of the need for charities like ours.
Bransby Horses is free to visit and take part in the trail. There is also a café with special offers on homemade afternoon teas, soup and scones through March, second hand tack and charity shop as well as a gift shop.
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead.
