Parkgate Pony Sanctuary appealing for help after being hit by devastating run of bad luck

Oct 12 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

PARKGATE Pony Sanctuary is appealing for help after being hit by a devastating run of bad luck which has left it struggling to survive.

The much-loved charity, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009, has taken on more abandoned ponies in the past two years than ever before – but donations are noticeably down.

Open days are an important source of income for the sanctuary but numbers were lower at the last event because of persistent wind and rain.

It is also facing a £2,000 vet’s bill after the death of a foal which was born with a deformity.

Corinne Bamford, who runs the sanctuary with her husband Richard, said: “We rely solely on donations but our funds have been right down and we’re struggling.

“It’s not the horses’ fault that they end up with us. It can be that the owners have had ill health or aren’t coping. Some have been neglected. It’s very hard to say no.”

“The foal, who we called Merrylegs, had to have surgery at Leahurst Equine Hospital after he was born. Sadly he didn’t come round after the operation.

“Leahurst is very good to us and gives us time to fundraise for it but it is expensive.”

Running the sanctuary, which was set up to rescue horses and ponies which no-one else could look after, costs £20,000 a year.

It currently looks after 35 ponies, with another 10 in foster homes.

Corinne said: “We have a lot of older horses and it is like looking after elderly people – they need to be kept warm and they need a lot more medication so that costs more.

“We do foster horses out, and that then becomes their home for the rest of their lives. But some have various medical problems and not everyone has the knowledge to look after them.

“Horses and ponies are leisure animals and people want to ride them but you can’t do that with many of ours.

“We’re only a small charity so we don’t have any paid staff or fundraisers – we do it all in our spare time. All our time is taking up trying to look after the horses.

Corinne said the sanctuary’s volunteers are hoping to organise a grotto at Christmas to raise more funds.

But she said it urgently needs help now to help it prepare for the winter months.

Anyone who can help should contact Parkgate Pony Sanctuary’s main office at 16 Springfield Avenue, Newton, CH48 9UZ. Call 07525 612198 or 625 8677.

Donations can also be made through Vodafone’s Just Text Giving.

Text Popny10 and either £2, £5 or £10 to 70070.