Sunshine turns out with horse lovers for Blue Cross opening event

Sunshine turns out with horse loversfor Blue Cross opening event Visit websiteLocal animal lovers turned out in force forthe opening of The Blue Cross Rest andRetirement centre in Northiam on Saturday (5thApril). Around 100 people turned up to enjoy anunexpected bout of sunshine and an afternoonof horsy entertainment.Picture: left to right: Kerstin Alford, Blue Cross Director of EquineWelfare, two members of staff from the Northiam centre with oldestand youngest equine residents; Dee Dee (2) and Garlic (27).Highlights included a re-enactment of the charityʼs history with equine residents taking the starring roles. Chestnut pony Cheri gavea good impression of a nineteenth century working horse on the streets of London, while Shire horse Dee Dee was a ʻtrace horseʼ,helping smaller horses to pull heavy loads up Londonʼs steep hills. And grey mare Starlight was particularly impressive as aninjured war horse on the battlefields of the First World War.Blue Cross pony Cheri pretending to be a nineteenth century working horseon the streets of London.Blue Cross horse Dee Deepretending to be a trace horse inlondon.Blue Cross pony Starlight pretendingto be a war horse on thebattlefields of the First world War.Children went wild for the hobby-horse gymkhana, running inthe bending race, relay race, egg and spoon race and thecarrot race - always a favourite with the horses! Four teamsof young ʻjockeysʼ were cheered on by Blue Cross poniesGarlic, Franny, Cassie and Martha.>Eight-year-old James Phillipsfrom Platts Heath said:“Iʼve had a nice day. Ilike horses a lot, almostas much as dogs.Harvey is my favouritepony because he licksmy hand.”picture: Visitor, James PhillipsSee next page >>>>

Spectator Cat Bray from Battlesaid:“The re-enactment was agreat effort. The poniesand dogs were really wellbehaved and the catrescued from the Blitz wasa nice surprise!”Visitor Keith Talbot from St.Leonards said:“Weʼve enjoyed lookinground at the horses and thelittle Shetlands are reallycute. Itʼs great that somethingis being done about thehorses that otherwise wouldhave nowhere to go.”Picture: Cat Bray (left)Picture: Keith Talbot (left)At midday, the Rest and Retirement Centre was officially declared open by Kerstin Alford, Director of Equine Welfare at The BlueCross. Kerstin said: “Iʼm delighted to declare The Blue Cross Rest and Retirement Centre open. The newcentre will be a permanent sanctuary for our older horses where they can live out their days in beautifulsurroundings with the special care they deserve. It will also allow us to focus on bringing on our youngerhorses, teaching them the essential skills they will need to eventually find a loving new home.”The Northiam centre will work in support of The Blue Crossʼs two dedicated rehoming centres which take in horses and poniesthat are no longer wanted for a variety of reasons, such as behavioural problems, financial difficulties or a change in the ownerʼscircumstances.27-year-old Shetland Garlic is currently the oldest pony at the Northiam centre and has been in the care of The Blue Cross forthe last 16 years. In his younger days he was placed in loan homes where he was ridden regularly and competed successfullyat many shows. Garlic is now retired at Northiam and spends his days in a quiet paddock with his little companion, fellow ShetlandFranny.Pictures: left; A Blue Cross groom pretending to find an injured cat in the Blitz.Right; The Oast HousePictures: above and below left; visitors at the centreAnimal lovers are encouraged to visit the horses and ponies atthe Northiam centre, which is now open to visitors throughoutthe summer and other peak seasons. The Spring openinghours are from 11am to 3pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridaysand Sundays. All visitors should report to reception and lastvisitors are asked to arrive by 2.30pm.Several of the ponies are available to sponsor as part of TheBlue Cross sponsor-a-pony scheme. For a minimum donationof just £15 a year, sponsors will receive a welcome pack, updateson their chosen horse or pony and the opportunity to visitthem at the centre if they wish. Funds raised will go towardsthe care of all the horses and ponies at The Blue Cross.The Blue Cross is Britainʼs pet charity providing practical support, information and advicefor pet and horse owners. Through its network of animal adoption centres it rehomesthousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for pets of peoplewho cannot afford private vetsʼ fees.