Urgent funds needed to keep horse rescue charity open

Noelle Finegan

Published: Fri 24 Mar 2017, 10:27 AM

Last updated: Fri 24 Mar 2017, 10:43 AM

An urgent appeal for donations has been made by a local horse welfare and rescue charity which has been forced to close its doors to new intakes and can no longer respond to emergency calls because of a funding crisis.

The Leinster Horse and Pony Rescue (LHPR) based at Kiltoome, Trim, held an emergency general meeting on Sunday and its current bleak financial situation because of the increasing demand for its services forced the charity to take tough decisions. Reluctantly they have had to stop taking in any new horses and to close their emergency welfare line until the situation improves.

(You can help LHPR by making a donation here)

It means LHPR will no longer be able to respond to emergency situations like a recent case where volunteers spent 12 hours working to rescue a horse which became trapped in a ditch and was drowning just outside Trim.
“When rescuers got to the scene they were horrified at what they found. A black and white pony aged roughly 10 was collapsed in a ditch and quickly sinking. Immediately the rescue team began to free and pull her out,” explained LHPR founder and chief welfare officer Joseph Quinn. Joseph organised for a veterinary surgeon to come to the scene along with local farmers with tractors.

Volunteers spent 12 hours trying to rescue this horse which became trapped in a ditch

“The pony was pulled from the ditch after four hours where her lifesaving treatment began. Our wonderful vet from Athboy administered IV drips, painkillers and various other treatments. The rescue team wrapped her in foil blankets in the hope the ponies condition would improve. Scores of volunteers arrived on the scene to assist in the operation and a rota was drawn up for night checks in case it was needed. Unfortunately the pony, named Ariel by the first volunteers on the scene, lost the fight for life at 22.29pm, 12 hours after the major rescue operation began. She died surrounded by loving people.
''It is simply unacceptable to leave equines unattended in fields with such dangers. This field in particular has several open ditches, metal bars sticking up from the ground and broken concrete pipes. LHPR have now worked with the owner of the remaining seven horses to have the ditches fenced off and the other horses removed to a more suitable location.”
This is just one welfare case the charity has responded to in recent times and there are many more.
“So far this winter has been the busiest yet on record. We have rescued eight equines so far, compared to three in this period last year. Last year our welfare officers responded to 50 welfare calls and rehomed six equines, “ explained Joseph.

Vet listens to the horse's vitals

“We had an emergency general meeting on Sunday and we had to make a few tough decisions. We have had to close to new intakes and we won't be able to respond to calls to the welfare line until further notice.There is nothing we can do, if we don't have the funds to respond. Hopefully it won't be for too long,” he said.
“We are not going to disappear. We can still take calls to the landline number and offer advice but we wont be able to take in any more horses or respond to any emergencies.”
LHPR relies on public generosity to operate with 99 per cent of their funding coming from donations. The only state funding they got last year was a €4,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture, and a €1,000 grant from Meath County Council.
There are no wages or administration costs and the organisation is manned entirely by volunteers such as Joseph, who has his own full time job and devotes almost all his free time to LHPR.
Joseph explained that 90 per cent of volunteers have other jobs and come in after work or weekends to do shifts. The charity has seen a marked increase in demand for its services this winter.
Donations can be made through www.leinsterhorseandpony.com or by calling (046) 9450512. The public is also being encouraged to support LHPR's annual walk and open day on Easter Monday, 17th April, which is its main fundraising event of the year.

The walk starts from Trim Fire Station at 2pm. The Garda Mounted Unit will this year lead the walk. Registration is €10 and children under 12 are free. Afterwards. there will be an open day at their Kiltoome yard (behind Supermacs) with barbecue, bouncing castles, face painting and Easter Egg hunt.

Participants can also get sponsorship cards and registration is free for anyone who raises €50 on their cards. For more information see www.leinsterhorseandponyrescue.com/ or find 'Leinster Horse and Pony Rescue' on facebook.
“We are also appealing for people who are looking for a horse or pony to consider adopting one instead. Our horses come with a safety net that if your circumstances change he or she can be brought back to us. All our animals are microchipped, vaccinated, wormed, deliced and have a passport,” said Joseph.