Helping horses to help people

Mane Chance Sanctuary near Guildford in Surrey is dedicated to rehabilitating old, abused or abandoned horses and integrating them into the local community. The Sanctuary’s vision is to help horses to help people, and as part of its activities in the local area, it regularly hosts therapeutic visits from terminally ill or underprivileged children, as well as those with special needs.

How does it work?

Mane Chance Sanctuary believes in the healing power of horses and in the humane treatment of all animals. At the same time as alleviating the horses’ suffering, the Sanctuary promotes the idea of mutually beneficial relationships between horses and vulnerable people. Interacting with a horse brings comfort to sick or vulnerable youngsters, as well as ensuring that the horses themselves receive plenty of attention. This important work relies heavily on donations from members of the public.

How we’re helping

Petplan Charitable Trust is pleased to have been able to support Mane Chance Sanctuary with a £7,075 grant towards a new compact tractor to help staff and volunteers remove manure from the fields. This important job has to be done everyday to minimise the risk of the horses picking up worms, and with 47 acres to manage, it’s not a quick task. The use of the new compact tractor has made the job far more efficient and less back-breaking for the team responsible for keeping the fields in optimum condition, ultimately enabling them to ensure good grazing to keep the horses healthy.

The tractor will also be invaluable for other land management jobs, such as preparing and reseeding, topping, harrowing and general maintenance. What’s more, the team are now able to move sand and soil easily around the site, creating different surfaces for the horses’ hooves. In the winter, the tractor will also be used to transport hay around the site, topping up the feeders that supplement the horses’ diet when the grass stops growing for the colder months.

Overall, the tractor has enabled the horse care team to work more efficiently. This has freed up time to spend on caring for the horses, and on carrying out important work with the vulnerable people who come to the Sanctuary to experience the healing power of horses.

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