Many horses live at the sanctuary, the exact number fluctuates, usually increasing although there are three occupants who are very elderly or have failing health.
It would be nice to go through all the histories of all the horses but here are the ones staying here at present.
Meet The Horses
All of the animals taken in by the Alternative Sanctuary will remain here for life unless specifically put up for adoption on our Adopt An Animal page.
Billy
I am a big gentle giant and not very clever so can be a bit confused when I have to do something new. I broke my neck and couldn't be ridden so needed a long rest. I love Tippy and can't bear it when I can't see her even for a short time.
Blarney
I was used in a riding school when I had a bad back, they thought I was badly behaved when really I was in a great deal of pain! I have had to have some time off as I have also had problems with my feet. Now my back is fully heeled I like being ridden again. I am pretty calm although if you want me to go my competitive nature will give any other horse here a run for their money!
Blitzen
I am one of the biggest and can be a bit of a bully I can also climb hills very well especially if there is grass on the other side.
Bluey
Bluey was owned by two children and like with a lot of small ponies he
was too much of a handful for them as despite their size they are often
more difficult to ride than horses! He is eleven years old and quite a
bright little pony who is begining to fit in well with all of the
others.
Chalky
I came with Beauty I don't really have a special friend at the moment. I have been rather ill which could be from when I was young I didn't get wormed often enough so that my liver is now damaged. I like the children and going on rides but sometimes I need to be rested if I feel ill.
Cinders
Cinders is 35 and her owner was no longer able to keep her and as she is elderly and cannot be ridden the large sanctuaries would not take her as she cannot be rehomed. She seems to be attracted to Chalky which is good as he did not have a strong pair bond.
Conté
I have been worked very hard in my life and also been hit, so I am quite nervous. Now I am getting older I have slowed down a lot. I do like people if they are gentle with me and I hate to be separated from Luther.
Cuddles
I came with Sooty, I had been bought from the side of the road in Scotland by a man for his daughter. I was just too young and strong for them so I came here. I really miss Sooty because we lived together for so long.
Elvis
I am the smallest of the group of foals all brought at an auction for a £1 Each (because we were going to be slaughtered). Now I have caught up with the others but I am still the most nervous.
Flymo
I was found outside the field gate wanting to come in and I have no fear I am only very young and tiny but the big horses don't scare me! I had a piece of string and lawnmower instructions attached to me when I was found hence my name. I also had a terrible cut on my side but it is all healed now.
Folly
I am the most distinctive foal because I am the only chestnut. I love Flymo and I am getting more used to people now.
Fonze
I looked a bit like a mule when I was young but now I am very handsome and I look more like a Thoroughbred than a Dartmoor pony.
Hatty
Hatty came via the same sanctuary as Henri as they cannot take any more at all. Her owner was moving and didn't want her but Hatty has a problem with a front leg so she couldn't be sold and was likely to be shot. She came shortly after Georgie died and Poacher and her fell immediately in love. She is a very moody mare but hopefully will settle in, in time
Henri
Henri came to me via a sanctuary in Devon who had been contacted about him. He had been dumped in Wimbledon and was at a riding school at the moment who didn't want him but the sanctuary in Devon was overflowing with cases and he was only a few months old so it was a long journey for him to make. Luckily he adopted Cuddles as his new mother and she loved sharing her stable again as she still desperately missed Sooty.
Jessie
I had a bad injury to my leg that was very painful and I needed surgery. After the operation I needed to be kept in for a long time which made me really angry. My owners wanted to put me down because they said that I was wild and dangerous. I am fine now, I just needed some time off and space to relax.
Lady
Lady was brought from a dealer by a lady with little horse knowedge as
is often (although not always) the case that he was not honest about
her, he lied about her age and the obvious injury she has to her flank.
As a result she became very dangerous to ride as she is in pain and so
the owner was advised to have her put down!
Luther
I came from Denmark and cost a lot of money but then couldn't do dressage any more as my tendons are damaged. I am very popular as I am lovely to ride but I am stubborn and don't like being told what to do. When I came I hadn't lived with other horses so Conté showed me the ropes.
Mervin
I am the ringleader of the foals as I am not scared of anyone or anything. I love people and I would like to follow in Jack's footsteps when I grow up and keep an eye on everyone else! It takes too long to grow up though, as I want to be ridden and do things NOW! I don't want to have to wait even though I am not even two!!
Morris
I am getting quite friendly now but I can get cross if you want me to do something I don't want to.
Poacher
I am only fifteen but I have worked hard in a riding school for five years and now THREE of my feet have been damaged so I was no longer wanted as I cannot be ridden. For the moment I will just have to rest in the field but maybe sometime in the future I can be ridden again. I have made friends with Georgie and I look out for her. I have settled in well but am not carrying enough weight at present. I'm working on that though!!
Pugwash
I am very cheeky and I don't like doing as I am told. As nothing had been done with me before I came here I had to get used to people riding and handling me, its not so bad now.
Robin
I am pretty well behaved but I am quite stiff as I hadn't had anything done with me before arriving at the sanctuary. Sultan and I had such bad feet when we came here we could hardly walk, we were about to be put done but after some love and care we are much better now.
Rommel
I was born nearby at an Arabian stud but I hurt myself when I was young and couldn't go out with the other horses so I was quite unhappy and came to live here. I have two bad years as I lost both my old friends but Troy, Calipso and Jack let me be in their gang now.
Santos
I am the quiet one who keeps out of the way. The others push me around a bit especially Blitzen! But someday I will get my own back
Simon
I hadn't been ridden until I came to the sanctuary, I had only been driven but I had a bad accident and was too scared to go in a carriage after that. For the first couple of years I was very nervous on the roads but I feel much more confident now.
Sultan
I am rather naughty but also nervous I don't always understand what people are telling me but usually I just follow Robin as he knows how to behave and we like to be together.
Tippy
I was brought for a lot of money because I shared a field with Billy. We can't bear to be parted as we have shared so much of our young lives. I can be very stubborn and sometimes naughty so I have a lot to learn still!
Torus
Torus came in 2006. His owner could no longer afford to look after him and said he could not be ridden as he suffered with bad arthritis. He was only 11 but had been raced and also schooled a lot and both forms of exercise put tremendous pressure on horses limbs. He absolutely loves people and can be gently exercised on hacks occasionally if he feels up to it, which he is more than happy to let you know about! He doesn’t have a strong friendship as yet sadly and suffers a bit from being the odd number in the herd. Hopefully this will change in time and there are quite a few of the horses he likes.
Troy
I came because two unsuspecting children had brought me from a dealer who had given me painkillers so they didn’t know that I was lame. When they tried to ride me it hurt too much, they couldn’t afford to keep me because of the vets’ bills. In my life people have worked me hard and beaten me so I am very nervous of strangers and I need a lot of time to get use to people. I tend to look nasty because I am scared that someone will hurt me. Really I would like to be loved and someday maybe I will trust people again.
Woody
I have had a lot of problems I would like people to like me but I can't always control myself. I can be very unpredictable so it is better if I am left alone as I need my own space!
Home |
Diary |
Contact |
Education |
Sponsor Us |
Adoption |
Rehomed |
History |
NTD Equine / Canine Braces
Volunteers |
The Gallery |
Horses |
Farmyard Animals |
Cats |
Dogs |
Small Animals |
Terrapins |
Birds
