The Horse Trust

Welfare

Science

Education

Sanctuary

Our residents

		Amber Days Registered with the British Mule Society, a charity The Horse Trust supports, 12 hh Amber arrived at the stables in 2007. Back in 1886 The Home of Rest for Horses was set up for the provision of care for horse, mules and donkeys. Fittingly the arrival of a mule well over a century later goes some way to preserve the tradition of the charity.
		Big John The sanctuary's oldest resident is Big John. Born in 1967 and retired in 1994 this 16 hand bay gelding was rescued by his owner and lived happily with him for 8 years. BJ is very popular with the staff and visitors at Westcroft Stables.
		Constantine The Horse Trust is delighted to welcome its third drum horse to the sanctuary in Speen. Constantine, a 17.1 hh Clydesdale, served the Household Cavalry for 20 years and during that time paraded ten times at Trooping of the Colour. This 23 year old gelding joins ex drum horses Janus and Leonidas who both retired to the Home a number of years ago.
		Desperate Dan Born in 1981 Dan is a 15 hand bay gelding who lived with his owner for 20 years. Sadly his elderly owner was unable to fulfil her ambition to ride him on her 80th birthday as the road she used to take him out on gentle hacks became too busy with modern-day traffic.
		Dexter Thames Valley Police horse Dexter is a 16.3 hand, bay gelding born in 1989. Dexter carried out many duties during his service with the police and was regularly seen patrolling the streets at royal events in Windsor, Berkshire.
		Dombey Dombey commenced his police duties in 1993 when he joined the Greater Manchester Police Mounted Section as a 3 year old from a show-jumping yard. He proved to be an excellent police horse and has worked in many demanding situations including the Manchester United Double homecoming parade in 1996 and the Treble in 1999. Dombey loves to drink the buckets of warm water the grooms bath him with and is happiest with his friends in the fields. Dombey is a 16.3 hh black gelding born in 1988.
		Fagin Fagin, a stunning 18.1 hand grey gelding has been reunited with old friends Dawkins and Cratchit from the Greater Manchester Mounted Police. Fagin was beginning to suffer a significant loss of sight in both of his eyes and has retired early from his duties with the police. He is an exceptional character and an adored addition to the herd.
		Henry & Troy Henry and Troy arrived at the sanctuary in 2000 and both stand 12.2 hh. Troy, the Jenny donkey, is the elder of the two and was born in 1979 and Henry, the Jack, is a little younger with a birth year of 1983. Henry and Troy both enjoy spending time with best friends Pandora, the miniature donkey and Briar, the hinny.
		Janus Janus arrived at Speen in July 2001 from The Household Cavalry based at Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge. Born in 1984 this 17.2 hand, skewbald gelding joined the army in 1989 and spent many years in service as a drum horse for the Blues and Royals. Janus and Leonidas enjoy grazing together in the tranquility and sanctuary of the Chiltern Hills.
		Jim Jim at 19 hands is the largest horse to arrive at the sanctuary. He used to work with the Tetley Brewery Show Team of four horses and whilst at Bodafon Farm Park in Llandudno he took part in shows, weddings and parades. Jim was born in 1984 and is a bay gelding with four white feet who lived with his owners for 8 years before retiring to The Trust.
		Kylie When Kylie came to Westcroft Stables, she was in a very poor condition. Born in 1970 this 14.3 hand chestnut mare retired to the sanctuary in 1998 and is now one of the oldest and longest serving residents.
		Leonidas This magnificent 17 hand, piebald, shire gelding was owned by the army for 18 years. A former military drum horse Leo was used for ceremonial occasions and regularly paraded at Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade. Leo, born in 1982, joined fellow ex-drum horse, Janus at The Trust’s rest home in 2004.
		Missy Missy arrived at the sanctuary from an animal rescue centre in April 2006. She is a strawberry roan falabella miniature Shetland pony whose age is unknown. Measuring only 33 inches the charity has had to purchase a rug small enough to keep her warm and dry. Despite her size she has already made her presence known by bossing around the other smaller residents in her field.
		Monarch Up until 2005 Monarch was a resident at The Royal Mews in London. This 16.1 hand Windsor Grey gelding arrived with his stable mate St Patrick. Sadly St Patrick has since moved onto greener pastures. Born in 1983 this Dutch Carriage Horse enjoyed leading the second team of horses at national events.
		Just Otto Simply known as Otto this 17 hand black gelding arrived from The Royal Mews at Windsor Castle in 2004. Born in 1984 Otto won the Queen's Cup twice and enjoyed eventing at Blenheim. Now teamed up with old stable mate Lancelot Otto has settled well into his new life in the Chiltern Hills.
		Pepe Pepe is a 15.3 hand Irish Draft bay ex Kings Troop gelding with a white star. He was retired from the Army's Paderborn Equestrian Centre in Sennelager, Germany with his friend Vulcan. He is very much a "ladies man" and is already enjoying choosing his next girlfriend!
		Pharoah Pharaoh, who was born in 1977, lived with his owners for 20 years as a family pony. Participating in Pony Club Events this 13.2hh Arab/New Forest bay dun gelding was a good all-rounder and especially enjoyed cross-country events.
		Pipkin Measuring just 32 inches Pipkin is one of our smaller residents at the stables. This skewbald miniature Shetland pony retired in 2003 after living with her owners for 22 years as a much loved family pet.
		Primrose Primrose, a 16.2 hand black mare has retired after a wonderful life on the open road. This 23 year old Shire was bought by her owner in the early 1990s as a six-year-old, to pull a bow-top caravan. Primrose's travelling days are now far behind her and she is very settled into her new life at The Home.
		Quincey 16 hh chestnut Quincey is a Hanoverian cross gelding. Suffering from pulmonary artery dilation the future was bleak for Quincey but with an abundance of loving care from his owners he defied the odds and went onto live with them for many years as an unridden pet. Quincey is now enjoying his new life with his new friends at the sanctuary.
		Redburn Retiring from The Greater Manchester Police Mounted Section in May 2007 Redburn is a wonderful character who, at times, acts like a three year old. His greatest love is food and was affectionately known as the “Company Hoover” in his working days. He was a very good police horse and as well as his daily patrols fighting crime he also attended the Saddleworth Band contest every year. Redburn is a 16.2 hh liver chestnut gelding born in 1989.
		Redwood Serving the Horse Rangers at Hampton Court for 17 years Redwood retired to the sanctuary in March 2007. Redwood, born in 1979, is a strawberry roan gelding who measures 14.2 hands. Teaching thousands of children to ride his kind, willing and gentle nature made him an ideal tutor for children with special needs. He has been reunited with already retired to the Home, ex-Horse Ranger Raucheen.
		Ruby New arrival in 2006 this 16 hand, bay mare Ruby worked for the HAC Light Cavalry based at Windsor Great Park for 10 years. Sadly Ruby's back suffered from her years of hard work and she was eventually not strong enough to carry a rider. Settling on the yard as soon as she arrived she is already very popular with the many visitors to the sanctuary.
		Sarah-Lee Silver Sarah is a 13 hh flea bitten greypart bred Arab jenny hinny. A hinny is the off-spring of a stallion horse and a jenny donkey. A hinny generally has the body of a donkey with the extremities of the horse. The ears are shorter than a mule's and the mane and tail longer and thicker.
		Saracen 17.3 hh black gelding Saracen retired from the army and went onto spend many happy years with his owner in private retirement. Such is Saracen's loving, gentle nature his owner learnt to ride on him and they both enjoyed taking part in competitions.
		Sefton Sefton who retired from the Household Cavalry in Knightsbridge in 2005 is the nominal successor of a famous predecessor. The Home gave sanctuary over twenty years ago to Sefton, the horse that suffered multiple injuries at the hands of the IRA after the Hyde Park bombing on 20th July 1982. The 'new' Sefton is a striking 16.2 hand black gelding who was born in 1987.
		Stevie Stevie, an 11.3 hand white donkey, has recently joined our family of donkeys at the Home. This 30 year old cuddly newcomer is already attracting a lot of attention from visitors to the yard. He is very friendly and enjoys tons of love and affection.
		Thomas Thomas is a little black bundle of fun who is approximately 36 inches high. This adorable Shetland pony, with a slightly greying muzzle, struts around his field with his head held high and has made many best friends in the short time he has been here - both human and horse!!
		Thuglet Thuglet arrived at the sanctuary from an animal rescue centre in Hertfordshire where he had lived for 14 years. He is very cheeky, sometimes quite stubborn and at times he acts more like a 16 hand horse rather than a 36 inch Shetland Pony. Thuglet was born in 1980 and is a bay gelding.
		Tom Tom is a 17.2 hh bay gelding who was born in 1987. With his friends, Jim and Tryfan, Tom enjoyed being in the public eye at Bodafon Farm Park. Prior to his retirement he pulled various carts including an ancient fire engine and agricultural implements. Tom's cheeky character was never more evident than when he ate a bride’s bouquet during a wedding in North Wales!
		Tryfan Tryfan is a handsome 17.2 hh heavy horse with a lovely thick mane and tail. Retiring from Bodafon Farm Park in Llandudno, North Wales with best friends Tom and Jim this beautiful bay gelding Shire horse is a striking addition to our herd of horses. Tryfan particularly enjoyed harrowing which helped to break up the clods and lumps of soil at ploughing time.
		Vulcan Black gelding Vulcan is a former Household Cavalry 16.3 hand cross thoroughbred and arrived with his friend Pepe from the Athlone Barracks in Germany. Vulcan acts like an over-grown teddy bear and is already a settled on the yard and enjoying meeting our many visitors.

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