blog

'We' are still here :-)

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:19:26 +0100

Yesterday I received a very unexpected donation from The Netherlands for On Horses for Horses to give to World Horse Welfare and it really made my day. Our total raised for this great charity in two years now stands at £3746 and that is more than any one of us could donate alone. That is the idea and beauty of On Horses For Horses (If I say so myself).

This donation also was a wee kick up the bum I needed. As my beloved 'uncle dad' very sadly died last November I have not been as much of a driving force behind On Horses for Horses as I want to be and also my ozone blanket project slowed down a bit. Partly due to my circumstances and partly because people are reluctant to back an alternative medical treatment which I understand and respect. I have recently placed an order for On Horses for Horses pens and am selling them at £3.50 plus postage so I can donate the difference (£1.22 per pen) to this blanket project. This should give me an extra £30.50 to donate, making my modest contribution just over £50. I think getting enough money together may take a while but I am stubborn and will go on until I can help Highveld Horse Care Unit and their horses.

Of course this does not in any way, shape or form replace my support for World Horse Welfare. As long as they keep doing what they are doing I will keep supporting them.

I think (hope) that the current horse meat scandal has put a spotlight on the situation that horses to slaughter find themselves in. I know some people have asked me what the problem was and I highlighted the transport situation .. the DIRE transport situation... and have pointed people in the direction of the campaign World Horse Welfare has been fighting for about 85 years. Just in case you are not aware: please read this and if you care do speak up and sign the petition attached http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/help-tomorrow/horsemeatscandal

Now I know it is only February (just) but here a reminder that our quest to Ride Around The World And Raise Money for World Horse Welfare does continue in September this year :-) I think I may still be in the UK for that time but wherever I live in I know I will be adding some miles and cash to this cause. I hope you will join us... again.

Feel free to leave comments here - I think I have added the possibility to be interactive here :-)

Hugs x

It is Summer in Africa - we need your help!

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 12:44:46 +0100

I am copying 2 posts and a picture from AHS The Equine Challlenge facebook page: Just so you know why I think it is important to do something to help. The thought of loosing my Chabzo like that breaks my heart and this is Summer for the people and their beloved horses in South Africa - every year... :-(

****Jack Sparrow 3 years. 24th December 15h00 no swelling cantering with Gibson in the camp. 25th Dec 20012 10H00 found with difficulty breathing, shaking, NO swelling, temp 38.5. Treated with MMS, Blocked for biliary, 10.15 temp 37. but cold ears and muzzle dripping sweat. Put sweat rug on 10.30 temp 39, liquid started dripping from nose. 10.30 gurgling and pouring from nose, started fitting 10:45 dead huge volumes of foam. Blood drawn at 10.10

***Please DO NOT move horses in or out of the East London area. Kei Mouth, Morgans Bay 17 fatalities within last few days. Komga reported 1 ill this morning

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:45:50 +0100

It has been a bit quiet here - it usually is around this time of year - but let me take the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas
and a

all the best for 2013

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I wish you happiness and good health

I do hope to hear from you guys when we get the next round of rides in for World Horse Welfare - September it is again!!! - and fingers crossed 2013 sees better legislation on long haul transport for horse to slaughter, better treatment for African Horse Sickness, grass sickness and all other dreadful equine diseases, and here is hoping that 2013 finds many good new homes for horses in care.....

From The 3 stooges, John, Chazbo and myself: cheers to a very POSITIVE 2013 xxxx

One of Project for the African horses -

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 16:58:48 +0100

On Horses for Horses Months is over and although there are still donations to come in, no more miles will be added to this year’s totals – this means it was quiet enough, for long enough, for me to come up with another plan to improve some equine lives and keep me out if mischief at the same time…

Perhaps I am writing this blog a bit prematurely as the plan is in its very early stages and I do not have much more than a rough outline. However, this is me and ‘me’ cannot sit in a corner and plan in silence, much to the dismay, I am sure, of many people in my life…

In previous blogs I already wrote about AHS, African Horse Sickness. I had never heard of it before I started On Horses for Horses. Then one lady in South Africa contacted me and said she was considering organising a ride for me and World Horse Welfare. This ride never materialised, for several reasons, but we stayed in touch. One day a post on her Facebook page about AHS caught my attention. It sounded very serious and seemed to involve horses so I wrote to her asking what AHS stood for. She responded by sending me a powerpoint presentation about African Horse Sickness. Well.. that answered that question. I found it terribly hard to see the graphic pictures showing these suffering horses. I could only imagine the suffering of these poor creatures…and their owners.

It stayed with me and I just couldn’t turn my back on it, simply because it doesn’t happen in my back garden. It is a bad situation that needs to improve and I want to be part of that process. I've been keeping track on developments and discussions regarding AHS and I have come to understand that the current ‘default vaccine’, which is mandatory, is not sufficient to protect horses. There seems to be developments in this vaccine and a new one, apparently more effective, has recently been released. It is a territory I am not comfortable reporting on as I do not have all the facts nor the knowledge. What I do feel comfortable doing is stand up to support alternative treatments that have been tried and tested with success to help horses through their ordeal. Treatments with a combination of herbal remedies, a mineral solution (MMS) and ozone blanket seemed to have great success.

On learning this I contacted Highveld Horse Care Unit in South Africa – who have ties with World Horse Welfare – and asked if they had such a blanket and/or of they were interested in using one to help the many horses who come in their care. They didn’t have one and the center manager discussed it with the center’s vet who seemed keen to give it a go. So… this is my plan: To get them an Ozone blanket. In the words of this meerkat who manages to be cute and terrible annoying at the same time: Its Simples! Now all I need to do is raise the money… (**)

Ah well… as some people have already donated VERY recently, and others been avoiding me, or the subject of horses, in the past weeks when I was fundraising for WHW, this may be a bit tricky. So my new plan has to include a way to provide people with ‘something’ they will buy and which will give me a profit, all of which will go this project. … …

I contacted World Horse Welfare if this could be something they would support and if I could use the Justgiving link already set up, which means the donation would be made via them. Naturally they want to learn more about the blanket first so I am currently collecting as much information as I can, from several independent sources, to present to them

That’s the plan. Now if WHW sees merit in this idea and gets behind me, it will be easier. If they don’t, which is their good right, I will find a way and do it anyway. Thankfully I still have all my own teeth and they have been firmly ‘sunk’ into this plan. My thinking cap is being dusted off and after dinner I will ponder some more.. Suggestions welcome.

So how did we do this year?

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:46:23 +0100

After a round of emails I just received the last donations of miles ridden in September and more pledges for donations for this years On Horses For Horses and it is looking goooood.

The last 3 riders just put us over the 2000 miles mark (Dance of joy) and I have to admit I will let one lady cheat as she will be riding some miles for us in October. 'She' is Nicola, who made a great contribution last year by getting a large endurance ride in Glastonbury on board who donated all their ridden miles and donated £1 per rider. All the rides she meant to go on this year, and for which she was to donate, were cancelled due to the horrid weather down South. naturally she was very dissappointed with that. Her next ride is 21 October and no way will I say no to those miles.
I hope she gets to go.

Quite a few people are still sending emails or messages to donate their miles but I need to draw the line somewhere and it is with Nicola - So unfortunately these enthused riders will have to hold that thought until September next year and we will make it a date again... I will stick the kettle on :-)

Regarding money donations, there were 2 donations sent directly to World Horse Welfare again which makes that the total on the Justgiving website does not match the totals on this website. I can guarantuee that it has been double checked and is accurate. One of the donations was a payment of £308 which Robinsons Equestrian raised at the car boot sale they organised for On Horses for Horses on Saturday 15 September. When I sent an email to find how it went, I did get a reply that £308 was raised but unfortunately I never received the donation. Several emails and phone calls later to find out what happened to it I still had no response from my contact person or head office at Robinsons which was very frustrating. Thankfully, as I had an amount and I knew the name of the donator I was able call world Horse Welfare and asked them to check; they have confirmed that the money was paid to them - and it had come with a note that they raised it during an event on the 15th. So frustrating noone at Robinsons bothered to reply to me to just let me know. And it is very disappointing that they failed to credit this to On Horses For Horses as they did organise it for us. I have included the £308 to our total and World Horse Welfare confirmed today that they will credit this donation to our account. It is true that the bottom line is that the right charity got the correct amount but to me this is a matter of principle....

There is also still another £320 to come in, I have received the pledges but some of the donations are to come in as cheques from abroad so it will be added to the justgiving page in drips and drabs.

So in 2012 we stopped the clock at 2106.25 miles making it 5501 as a running total and we have received £1233.85 so far this year - (pledges NOT included, I wont add them until they are in the bank) but it means World Horse Welfare should have another £1500 to spend wisely on horses in need wherever they are....

We did it with love for the horses and with great enthusiam and by combining our forces we
raised more then any of us could have done alone
so
I thank everybody from the bottom of my heart
and
I would love to team up with you guys again next year

Sunday is the last day of the challenge this year

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:45:21 +0100

This Sunday is September 30th and the last day we can ride on horses for horses in 2012.

I have a gentle second ride planned for after work - yes, that was a bit of a mishap, that working bit, as was me cracking my rib during a loading incident on my 1st On Horses For Horses ride on the 9th. First time I cracked anything other than a bad joke and it was rather uncomfortable at times. (I can see how my cracking bad jokes could've been uncomfortable to others) Fortunately, nearly 3 weeks on, I am much better. I haven't ridden much and took it easy when I did but the planned ride is gentle and only about 6 miles. I think there will be 5 of us and so we should be able to add 30 miles. The weather forecast is pretty bad I think but in solidarity with the people having to live with African Horse Sickness I will ride in my NON water proof red jacket (Ride in Red is an initiative of the AHS Challenge). I have the ingenious idea to wear this jacket OVER my waterproofs - YAY

On the same day there should be a few more rides, one of which near Geldern in Germany (Thank you Denise!), 2 more in the Oban area and I beliee some members of SERC Argyll are donating their miles of their ride near Spean Bridge. I think there are also a few solo riders out there, one of whom is Hannah Pedley who is adding up - and donating - all her ridden miles throughout September - aiming for 100 miles - and seeking sponsorhip. Yay Hannah.

I am keeping a running total of 2011 & 2012 and to date we have received £2920.15 - I think that is great - What is even better is that I am still expecting donations of 3 rides already ridden AND I have been informed that Robinsons Equestrian raised in the region of £308 in their car-boot sale for On Horses for Horses which I have not received yet either. I think that is not bad for a bunch of horse lovers -who are mostly skinnt and thinking in plurals of livery costs - and who are having fun for a good cause :-)

So far we stand at 4272.25 miles. I think that is great. I was hoping for 4000 and we have passed that so I can't but smile in thanks for every single individual who donated their miles to the cause.

If you want to get your miles in: there is still time
and donations can be made via
http://www.justgiving.com/Onhorsesforhorses

miles and pounds keep trickling in....

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:29:35 +0100

3/4 into September and several rides have taken place and fun stories & photos are getting posted on my facebook page or in the On Horses For Horses group. I have updated the mileage and donations as I have received them and at the moment we stand at £2695.15 and 3746 miles. I aim to reach £3000 and 4000 miles this year. It is still feasible as I have yet to get the miles and donations from 3 rides that have taken place last weekend and there are more happening next week. The Fort William team seem very keen to ride the miles and keep adding to the total for us and they have already made their monetary donations too.

And a thank you to all the organisers so far: With us for the 2nd year: Jessica Smith of the Great Glen Equestrian Club (Try saying that 4 times in a row!!!), Charlie Madeley, Frauke Jurgensen and Julie Moore. New to the challenge: Hannah Pedley and Shela Ann Ryan and Bill Shaw..... and thank you Robinsons Equestrian for their carboot sale on the 16th -Although I haven't seen their donation yet??)

La Fiaba, also a 'repeat offender, promised to report next week and she says it is good news :-) and next weekend has 2 more rides on the planner as far as I am aware :-) Fingers crossed we will make it - DO IT FOR THE HORSES

Royal Opening New Belwade

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 21:18:21 +0100

Just back in the door after a short break in Aberdeen. John and I decided to have a 3 day holiday combined with my invitation to the opening of New Belwade. New Belwade is one of the centersof World Horse Welfare and I was quite keen to see the facilities, and yes, I admit, excited about being invited to 'a royal do'. I don't get a lot of opportunities to dress up....

Our cottage was half an hour drive from Belwade and I arrive 25 minutes early (yep, pigs can fly). I report at the desk, get the badge with my name and thankfully immmidiately spot a familiar face; the retired owner of the yard my Chazbo lives and at not long after Jim, the 'local' field officer & his wife - I get introduced to some people and kind of tag along until we start the tour around the farm and get introduced to the horses. I am pleased to meet Spencer, who features in the 2012 video and who, to me, represents World Horse Welfare in the same way Ditsem, to me, represents AHS.

Back at the visitor center itself I practise the art of having conversations with total strangers until I feel too much like a fish out of water and escape to do what I like best: hang out with the horses and take pictures.

I make it back time for the presentation in the conference room were 2 field officers, Dougie & Jim, provide some back ground information about WHW and the Mains of Green farm case - which has me in tears.... especially when they tell how they found a youngster in a bad way, in severe pain and suspected to have been attacked by a stallion - as this was mentioned to the owners husband he said he was aware of it and that it 'usually takes 24 hours for them to die'. (sob - no words!!) The field officers of WHW gathered photographic evidence as well as video's and have successfully taken the farm manager to court who received a life long ban for keeping animals....

After the presentation we are asked to go outside for Princess Ann to unveil the plague commemorating the newly improved center. It is done with one swoop and a sever lack of speech before everybody retreats back inside. A bit anti-climatic I must admit - an opinion shared by the grumbling lady to my right and no doubt several others.

Back inside we get divided into 4 groups to meet the HRH Princess Royal. I feel a distinct urge to hide as I have seen a list where some people were marked 'for the princess to speak to' and others who weren't. I wasn't.. However, next thing you know Princess Anne fixes her gaze on me, strangely friendly and stern at the same time (I wonder if that comes with being born in authority) and asks me what I do for a living. 'I am a hotel manager'. I say. 'Oh have you been busy?' 'Yes, we were' (panic -sets in, WHY am I here?) '...but I am here because I set up this little 'organisation thing' to raise money for WHW (I make a strange hand gesture as if I am making a snowball as I say 'little organisation thing'....) 'Hmmmm' she says and moves to the person on my right...and I remember to breath!!

Time for another escape to outside - fresh air - horses. As I descend the stairs I spot STV filming their reporter on said stairs and not wanting to intrude I quickly look around and climb over the fences keeping my skirt and tights intact (It is a MIRACLE!)

I return to the visitor center in time to hear Roly Owens and Princess Anne's speeches to everybody present. Mr Owens tells the story of how the center came about in the first place; via a phone call from Hamish John Lochore who simply informed WHW that he was going to 'build a shed'... The man seems quite a character and his idea of 'a shed' is quite impressive... Princess Anne, yes the mother of Zara Philips, explains the importance of the visitor center, the center is open to horse lovers and non horse lovers alike, to generate visitors and income, to educate and with the hope that people who arrive not caring about horses will once they leave, and she thanks everybody for their support...

A buffet follows, a bit more chat and a sneaky escape to the car park and back to the cottage where I report to John how impressed I am with the whole set up of Belwade, how pleased I am that I managed to get my AHS file to Mr Owens and how I am convinced I back the right horse charity....... I am..... and I hope you are too..........

In overdrive.....

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:01:16 +0100

OVERDRIVE:
Here is me glued to the laptop again at all stupid hours of the day - and night - checking for updates on On Horses. A tad silly because like, for instance, right now it is Monday just before 6pm - and nobody will be out riding for On Horses... still..... I just can't walk away (I have tried, trust me) So I have edited the home page about 20 times and I hope it is an improvement.

WHY NOT JOIN?
I had asked the question on a few forums, and in conversations, recently why some people decided not to join our efforts; I was genuinely interested in the reasons; was it that the message was not clear, did they understand what I was asking, did they not approve of the charity, was it because there was no competitive element, no rosettes to win?...Whatever reason. I received some honest - and therefore useful - responses: someone said she didn't like horses being used to raise money for other horses. I find that a valid concern. I don't quite share it because I don't ask people to do anything they wont already do with their horses but I do take the point on board. Several people said it would have been easier if I had provided posters or sponsor sheets, I did and I do so it obviously meant that their presence had to be more prominent on the website as they were being overlooked (DONE!). Others again didn't realise it was okay to ride alone and donate miles only if money wasn't an option. I addressed the issues as far as I could, I think, but if anyone has any other concerns or advice to give to me please do. Your feedback is most welcome.... this is a work in progress....

SINGLE PROJECT:
If you read previous blogs you may remember Ditsem, a horse who suffered from, and thankfully survived, AHS; African Horse Sickness. It wasn't that long before I heard about Ditsem that I first heard of AHS and I didn't know that much about it. When I saw pictures of that poor horse and his struggle for survival it really hit me hard. God, if it was my Chazbo suffering like that it would truly break my heart. I had not long before joined the group AHS African Horse sickness - the equine challenge when I saw the first pictures and was deeply moved by the struggles for these horse owners in South Africa and their concern & dedication for the horses and each other. It became clear to me that, just because I live in safe Scotland I could not stay on the side line. I want to do something to help. I wrote to World Horse Welfare and found out that at some point they were part of the governments AHS Working Group after which they set up the Disease Coalition and that they recognize that one critical issue is owner awareness. The group AHS Challenge is working hard to gather information which they can use to help raise awareness and offer advice on treatments to horse owners. One of the conclusions they have drawn from the records they kept is that alternative methods can have great results, better than the available vaccins. As far as I can gather treatments with ozone blankets and herbal remedies had the best results with the Ozone blankets providing the best survival chances. I am currently thinking very hard about setting up a singular project to raise money for an ozone blanket so it can be donated to an animal health center in South Africa. I understand the cost will be about £2100. I have taken the first steps and will keep you posted...

By the way, there are still plenty of days left to ride and participate in On Horses For Horses..... :-)

Carefully hoping for 4000 miles and £3000

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 11:04:54 +0100

Sure we can do that......??

The running total of the donations passed the £2500 mark and we are not that far of the 4000 miles.... so I think this should at least be feasible..... and then it is only 2096 to go :-)

There are still several rides on the horizon this month and with that more donations too.

This weekend CHARLIE MADELEY has her ride in Rochdale (GO Charlie!!) on Saturday the 15th
and
ROBINSONS EQUESTRIAN is having a car-boot sale at their Superstore in Basingstoke on the same date.....

What a team we make - now if we put our minds to it... :-)