Please….not for Christmas!

We found the following irresponsible ads on the internet recently advertising small ponies as ‘ideal Christmas presents’ for children. No animal, especially ponies, should be given as  Christmas presents. Ponies, even miniatures, require the same level of care as any other equine, including the bills that go with it! Just because someone has moved into a property  “with room for a pony” does not necessarily mean that they have the knowledge and funds to care for such a high maintenance animal.

For the child who is begging for a pony, why not find a local Centre Equestre and book some lessons, some of the  more responsible ones will include lessons on how to care for a pony too.  They can learn just how much work is really involved! This will also allow the family involved to find out just what they are getting into, and if their interest and finances are up to it.

There are of course good alternatives to living pets these days, why not visit our Amazon store and take a look at Butterscotch, the life-like pony!

 

Huge thank you to one of our members for fundraising..

We would like to say a huge thank you to Janie Feakes, who on October 25th, completed the Great South Run raising over £315  for ERF.

Proudly wearing her ERF T-shirt, Janie completed Britains biggest 10 mile road race in a fantastic time of 2 hours 37 mins and 28 seconds! This annual race held in Portmouth each year raises millions of pounds for various charities.

Janie has a link with French rescue horses as she is adopter of Normandy cob mare Maddie  (previously called Sunrise), initially rescued by ERF President Kathryn and Jon Dobson prior to ERF forming. Janie and Maddie have a great relationship together and have been doing tremendously well with their Parelli work gaining very good marks from the Parelli HQ recently.

Thank you from all of us at ERF!

Finally, something has been done!

For the past year or so we have been pushing the authorities to act in a case of neglect to 4 Shetland ponies feet in the Charente. Their feet had been grossly neglected for years making it extremely difficult for them to walk about.

Strangely though, they were otherwise reasonably cared for with ample hay and shelter provided. We are very pleased to report that the ponies feet have now been attended to and we hope that they see a farrier on a regular basis now and not allowed to get into that state again. Hoof neglect is a large problem in France that  regularly gets reported to us – a neglect that the authorities still do not rate highly enough on their list of concerns. We constantly have battles with the authorities to get help to those equines most vunerable in France. It is a difficult job we have to get someone to listen to our concerns, and we ask that people  please be patient whilst we try and get help to them. We try to do our best on the limited resources we have and our small but dedicated team of volunteers at ERF.

Daisy & Dora venture off to their new home…

Long term donkey friends Daisy & Dora moved down to the Haute Vienne today, to live with their new adopters Shirley and Gordon. These two were probably the most well-behaved donkeys we have come across this year to load and travel. Luckily we got them delivered and settled in before the  before the heavens opened….

 

Daisy carefully steps off the trailer....

The girls head off to investigate their new surroundings!

"I think we'll like it here Dora!"

"ooh look Dora, our house"

 

Thanks go to their new adopters for offering them such a lovely home, and to their old owners for entrusting this special pair into our care to find their forever home.

 

Amazing ponies that guide the blind

Whilst doing some research today I stumbled across an article where a miniature pony was being used as a guide for a blind lady.

I’d never heard of an equine being used in this way before, and, being interested to learn more, found a website called the Guide Horse Foundation . One of the benefits of using miniature ponies over the more traditional guide dogs is a longer lifespan, an average of 30-40 years. Other benefits, apparently, of using these ponies as guides include their wider range of vision, calm nature, excellent memory and a natural instinct to avoid danger. It make’s interesting reading and there’s some great photo’s on their website of these ponies in action!

Maurs Horse Fair

Yesterday was a long and difficult day for us at ERF. We travelled down into Cantal, to Maurs, to monitor their autumn horse fair. It is one of the biggest horse markets in France, with the majority of the equines sold going into the meat chain.

The conditions and treatment of some of the horses was very shocking and disturbing to witness, with no apparent welfare regulations in place for the horses. We will publish our report on the blog once we have collated all our photographic and video evidence. We are more determined than ever to push for improvements to be made at the Horse Fairs such as these. For this, we will need to call on public support, so please watch this space, the misery these animals endure is unacceptable.

A horse yesterday awaiting it's fate...

Use Amazon and help equines at the same time!

It’s only 66 days til Christmas, time to start thinking about presents for our family and friends…

ERF has it’s very own Amazon Store where we have chosen lots of great gifts that we think you may like. Sit back from the comfort of your living room and do all your Christmas shopping in one go…..it’s so easy! And better still, with each direct purchase you make from the shop, ERF will earn commission, so in turn you’ll be helping the horses whilst you shop. If what you are looking for isn’t in the shop you can click on the Amazon logo on there and still earn ERF commission (or tell us and we’ll add the item to the shop to earn a better level of commission).

Long gone are the days when Amazon just sold books…you can now also buy:

Dvd’s/Videos/music – electrical items – toys – clothing/shoes – DIY – beauty  items – computer items – jewellery – home & garden- horse wormers and equestrian equipment

Amazon have an excellent reputation as an online store, shipping items all over the world. New items are being added to the ERF shop all the time so keeping checking in.

Thank you Professor Knottenbelt….

We just wanted to say a big thank-you to Professor Derek Knottenbelt , for taking the time to offer his advice to us recently with a difficult welfare case we are dealing with.

Prof. Knottenbelt is a highly respected leading expert in equine oncology and dermatology and we appreciate him taking time out of his very busy schedule to offer such rapid email assistance to ERF.

The newly married couple…Brandy & co.

We couldn’t resist posting some photos of Brandy (formerly Gucci) and her new pal enjoying the sun this week.

(P.S Brandy is the one with the bigger ears!)

"errr...what are we supposed to be looking at?"

"Did someone mention food?"

"I think this must be the bar....?"

"What does a donk have to do to get served at this bar?"

Home needed asap for Cairanne

The beautiful Cairanne has been on our website looking for an adopter for a few months now. Although she is 22 yrs old, she is in good health and could be lightly ridden by a competent person. Being good with other horses means she would also make a very good companion for a lonely horse or as a nanny to youngsters as she has been a broodmare herself in the past.

She is papered, microchipped and vaccinated and ready to be rehomed now.

Please contact us if you are interested in adopting Cairanne.

A visit to see the girls….

After delivering Brandy (Gucci) yesterday I called in to visit Maddy, Ellie and Poppy -  the 3 donkeys that were adopted by Tracie and Dave back in April. These 3 donkeys are just the funniest threesome and follow each other around everywhere. They are an absolute credit to Tracie & Dave and look fantastic with their very shiny coats!

Poppy, Maddie and Ellie...treble trouble!

The beautiful matriarch, Maddie

Gucci the donkey…new name and new home!

Yesterday we moved Gucci the yearling donkey to her new adoptive family near Bellac, where she is to be companion to another lonely donkey, Phebus. We were thrilled that she found a home so quickly after coming into our care as she had been yearning for a donkey friend for some time with her previous owner. Not only did she get a new home yesterday,  Gucci also got a new name and is now called Brandy (after the Cognac region where she lived).

Phebus heard her braying from the trailer and could hardly wait to see what was going to come off…

"Could it be ........a donkey for me??"

Brandy was put in a separate area so that her and Phebus could sniff and say hello…

"Wow, you've got big ears like me!!"

To say Phebus was excited to see a new friend is an understatement…..Brandy on the other hand was playing it cool (like every good looking girl should) and soon wandered off in search of food!

Last night they were allowed in together, and after Brandy initially telling Phebus who was going to be the boss, they soon settled down. This morning a friendship has already been struck up and they were spotted nuzzling each other at daybreak….a happy ending for two, what were, lonely donkeys and reiterates why so important that donkeys aren’t kept alone .

Meet our latest four legged friends…….

Today we were out on the road collecting 2 equines thats have come into ERF’s care. Princesse is a little grey pony who suffers from arthritis so is not able to be used as a riding pony any more. Her owners contacted ERF after hearing about us from a friend of theirs, who happened to be  Ossie’s old owner. As chance had it, Ossie’s new adopter was looking for a companion for Ossie and so agreed to adopt Princesse from us as well. Both Ossie and Princesse have the most wonderful temperaments and are so good around the children. I think we now have a love affair going between these two ponies and next week they’ll be moved to their new home, a stones throw from the field where they currently are at Trinas.

Princesse (right) with her new companion Ossie

Our other new arrival is yearling donkey Gucci, who was very lonely after her owners bought her as a pet from a local market and contacted ERF realising that she needed donkeys friends. We may have somebody coming to view her this week so fingers crossed she’ll get a nice new home soon with some donkey company that she’s so desperate for.

Beautiful little Gucci!

Update on reported case in dept. 82

Earlier this month we were told of a couple of horses in dept 82 in bad condition. The person who went out to the location reported that one horse had apparently vanished, and the other was indeed very skinny, tethered and being fed mouldy hay.

We immediately alerted the DDSV whilst the horse was kept horse under surveillance from a local volunteer. Thankfully the hay was soon swapped for better quality hay. Today we heard back from a DDSV inspector who had been out to visit the horse and spoken to the owners. His assesment was that the horse had access to water,  good hay and was tethered on a long line. Apparently the horse is extremely old, has no illness and does have a stable that they use to bring him in to.

At the moment all we can do is keep an eye on his condition, especially with winter approaching. Hopefully now the owners know that the authorities are aware of their horse they will start to be a bit more attentive

World Animal Day – October 4th 2009

Next Sunday (St Francis day) is World Animal Day or in French, Journée Mondiale des animaux, a day to celebrate animals and the relationships us humans have with them. Events are hosted throughout the world in recognition of animals, how they enrich our lives and most importantly what we can do to help them. Have a look on the WAD website to see if there is an event happening near you. It is also a day when villages and towns throughout the world hold ‘animal blessing’ services.

The WSPA take this opportunity to run World Animal Week from October 4th – 10th. If you want to get involved in one  of their activities have a look here.

At ERF we would like people to take some time to think about the equines here in France, and ask yourself if there is anything you as an individual can do to improve the life for equines over here. Maybe now is the time to consider reporting that equine you’ve been concerned about, signing a welfare petition, adopting an equine needing a home, organising a fundraising event, donating or just spreading the word on correct equine management.

Click on the banner above to learn more about World Animal Day and how you can get involved in it.

Interested in equestrian history?

Tomorrow, Saturday, 26^th September Caroline Anns-Baldock will be riding her bright chestnut racehorse down Whitehall at 11.15 to arrive at No 10 Downing Street at 11.30 in the guise of Lady Godiva, whose legendary naked ride through Coventry took place to champion the cause of the local downtrodden peasants. Caroline’s dramatic act is to publicise the need for an official Museum of the Horse for the UK.

Caroline will be accompanied by Mrs Christopher Boyd and Lucinda McAlpine and her committee, including Colin Henderson, ex Head Coachman of the Royal Mews.

Caroline is a unique phenomenon in the horse world. She was one of England’s first three professional female flat jockeys. She has worked in the horse world all her life. She was the antiquarian equestrian specialist at J.A Allens’s, The Horseman’s Bookshop and was literary assistant to Monty Roberts. Her quest is to set up a Museum of the Horse here in the UK. We are the only European country without one to honour the contribution of horses to our society, and yet we are known throughout the world as the home of horse-loving people.

Caroline’s determination to create a museum of the horse has a practical application – she has for many years been collecting fascinating equestrian artifacts from all over the world. She now intends to displayed them in the museum for all to learn from and enjoy. Some of the unique artifacts are from the racing industry and have already been displayed at Bourne Hall in Ewell, Surrey. Caroline has established a committee whose purpose is to fundraise and establish the museum.

Have a look at her website for the museum which is a fascinating mixture of fact, poetry, storytelling, research and travel writing. We wish Caroline all the very best in her quest and hope the weather is not too cold in London tomorrow!

In France we are very fortunate to have the Musée Vivant du Cheval at Chantilly, a museum which is one of the most visited equestrian places in the world.

Homes sought for our lovely equines

Please take a few minutes to look at our equines that are still waiting for their forever homes to come along.You can see their their photos on the right hand side of this page or go to our rehoming page for more info on each of them.

If you do not have the facilities or experience to take on an equine yourself, maybe you would consider donating something towards their costs whilst in our care? Mimi has now been with us 8 months awaiting for an adopter to come forward. Leon is still receiving treatment on his leg injury that he came to us with and so will not be able to be rehomed for some time. Our aim is always to rehome equines into permanent homes as soon as we can, but in cases like the above it sometimes isn’t possible. With the onset of winter just around the corner, and potentially more equines than ever needing our help this winter, please help us so that we can continue to help them.

ERF attends business fair in Riberac

ERF were exhibitors on Saturday at the Angel Traders business fair, held this time in the grounds of the beautiful Chateau Le Mas de Montet.

These fairs offer the public a chance to meet English speaking businesses and learn about what they offer and how they work. We had the chance to show some examples of the welfare cases we deal with and explain how the animal welfare system works in France. We had some great feedback and support from the general public which makes our job even more worthwhile. ERF are always happy to talk to anyone about equine related problems and will advise wherever  we can.

Thank you to Amanda and Mel for inviting ERF to attend.

We’d like to introduce our latest arrival…

Today we went and collected Ossie, a 20 yr old New Forest gelding, who has come into ERF to find an adoptive family to live out the rest of his days with.

He is a very spritely chap who still enjoys hacks out, but he apparently isn’t a childs 1st pony. We’ll keep you updated on his progress over the next few weeks and if you’d like to be considered as an adopter for Ossie then please email us – admin@equinerescuefrance.org

Poitou donkeys arrive at Philadelphia zoo

Two female Poitou donkeys, that are native to our region here, have arrived at The Philadelphia zoo in Pennsylvania. Nike and periwinkle will no doubt be a great visitor attraction at this popular zoo, which is home to many rare and endangered species of animals.

There are only about 400 true Poitou donkeys left in the world and so it is very important that the breed is preserved with the help of associations such as SABAUD

Poitou donkeys at our local Romange horse fair