The Horse Trust is in the fortunate position of having its cake and eating it, according
to chief executive and resident veterinary surgeon Paul Jepson.
Speaking at the charity's annual meeting, attended by Patron HRH the Princess Royal, Mr Jepson
said that rebranding the former Home of Rest for Horses as The Horse Trust, while retaining the
original name for the Trust's sanctuary for retired working horses had been a "masterstroke".
"We have three themes underpinning our operation - welfare, science and education," he said.
"Horse welfare is our raison d’etre and science and education are the (blunt) tools we use
to achieve welfare.
"Education permeates almost everything we do," he added. "Every one of our 50,000 visitors
each year is being educated in the responsibilities that go with horse ownership. And
although the working life of horses is getting longer, the difference between a working
life of up to 20 years is still far short of the 30 years that is the natural lifespan of
a horse. What happens in those last years is a dilemma that the horse owners in this country
struggle with and is an area on which we spend increasing amounts of time and money."
The Horse Trust, said Mr Jepson, had become the leading player in non-invasive research into
equine ailments which were as applicable to the racehorse as to the children’s pony,
show-jumper, riding horse, Shire or mounted police horse.
"Our contribution to welfare through science in the form of research and clinical facilities
has raised the bar in terms of access to knowledge, but we are no longer just a milch cow
doling out funds," he said. "We are fast becoming a proactive focus of expertise, as is
demonstrated by our lead in combating African Horse Sickness which threatens to devastate
the UK horse industry."
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| HRH The Princess
Royal with The Lady Somerleyton (President), Major
General Sir Simon Cooper (retiring Chairman), Brigadier
Paul Jepson (Chief Executive) |
| HRH enjoying a tour of the stables |
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