NUNEATON riding school owner Sandy Sandon is again opening up her stables to raise money to help sick, elderly and abandoned horses.
All proceeds from her annual Open Day at Caldecote Riding School on Bank Holiday Monday will go to Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
The sanctuary at Oxhill in Norfolk is facing more demands on its services as an increasing number of horses are abused or deserted.
In some cases like the incident at Spindle Farm in Buckinghamshire dozens of them were neglected and others had starved to death in one of the most shocking cases the RSPCA had investigated.
“The problem is growing all of the time,” said Sandy Sandon, the British Horse Society welfare officer for this area.
She added: “People buy horses and ponies with no idea how it much it costs to feed them and look after them.
“We have even heard of people buying ponies in pubs for a fiver and then finding out they cannot afford to keep them so they just let them starve or abandon them.
“Every week I get offered a free horse, but if I took them all in I would be a welfare case myself.
“That is why I hope people will come along on Monday and support my Open Day, just like they have done so generously in the past.”
The riding school off the A444 at Caldecote will be open between 11am and 3pm.
Attractions include a parade of horses, riding displays and a chance to see some elderly horses, many of them rescued by Sandy, enjoying life at last.
There will also be a grand raffle, many side-stalls and refreshments.
Two BHS road safety examiners will also be there for the first time to demonstrate horse road safety which is vital to anyone who has a horse or pony or is thinking of buying one.
“It is a great day out for all of the family and helps such a worthy cause,” said Sandy, who can be contacted on 024 7638 3103 for further details.
