Rescue horses on show for new homes at Badminton

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May 8, 2008

Six lucky horses from The Blue Cross animal charity took centre stage at the Badminton Horse Trials at the weekend in their hunt for new homes, and record donations of more than £15,000 were received from animal-loving spectators.

As Charity of the Year at Badminton, The Blue Cross had the opportunity to give a riding display in the main arena on Saturday morning. Six Blue Cross horses seeking homes performed a polished riding display to music in the main arena on Saturday and were rewarded by official Badminton rosettes and cheers from the crowd. Celebrity supporter and six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green provided the commentary.

On the Sunday Blue Cross horses Guinness and Giggsey had the rare opportunity to lead out the Parade of Competitors, followed by royal event rider Zara Phillips. Zara also posed for photographs with Blue Cross Bette and Isobel – two ponies that have been successfully rehomed by the charity and now compete regularly at Pony Club events.

"The Blue Cross riding display went brilliantly. We were so proud of the horses, who looked amazing and behaved impeccably," said Laura Dobson of The Blue Cross. "The crowd were very welcoming and loved hearing all about them and their stories. It was a real chance for us to show people the quality of horses at The Blue Cross, and hopefully it will help us to find them loving new homes."

"Lots of people visited The Blue Cross stand during the four days of Badminton and picked up an application form to become a Blue Cross 'borrower'. Hopefully in the next few weeks and months they will contact our equine centres to offer a good home to a deserving horse," she said.

© Kit Houghton

"Being Charity of the Year at Badminton was an incredible opportunity that we will never forget. We're really grateful to everyone at Badminton for their support and for the opportunity to raise funds for the needy animals in our care."

Each of the horses performing in the riding display had been taken in by The Blue Cross because they are no longer wanted for a variety of reasons. They have all been rehabilitated and retrained and are now ready to start a new life in a suitable loan home, where they will continue to be visited regularly by The Blue Cross to ensure their long-term welfare.

The Blue Cross horses and ponies in the Badminton riding display:

Gem - 14-year-old, 12.2hh, Welsh section B (bay mare)
Gem was admitted to The Blue Cross Burford centre (Oxfordshire) in 2007 because of a change in her owner's circumstances. She is a cheeky, fun-loving pony who is full of character and she needs a confident child or small adult to unlock her full potential. In the right home she would make a good hack or Pony Club all rounder.

Maizie - 19-year-old, 15hh cob (dark bay mare)
Maizie is a steady all rounder, who came to The Blue Cross Burford centre in March 2008. Her senior years mean that she needs a quiet home where she can enjoy hacking and local shows. She is very sweet-natured and deserves a loving home where she can have some light-hearted fun.

Solitaire - 12-year-old, 15hh, Warmblood/Hunter (black mare)
Solitaire was taken in by The Blue Cross Burford centre in 2006 because of her challenging behaviour. Our experienced grooms first gave her time to settle and get used to a new routine. Then, when she was ready, we began a carefully devised training programme. She has now transformed into a fantastic riding horse. Solitaire is very well schooled and loves show jumping and cross-country; She has great potential in the right hands and is looking for a very special home with plenty of knowledge, patience and experience. Her new owner will also need to be a confident rider who will keep her active and entertained.

Painter - 11-year-old, 14.3hh, Sports horse x (skewbald mare)
Painter is now a striking looking mare but when she came to The Blue Cross Rolleston centre (Staffordshire) she was unruly and obese. Staff were confident that she could become happy and active horse with the correct management and she has now completed an extensive fitness and training programme. Painter has competed in the past and is looking for a knowledgeable home as an all-rounder.

Shadow - 8-year-old, 15.1hh cob X (black gelding)
Shadow came to The Blue Cross Rolleston centre in May 2006 with behavioural problems that had caused his owner to lose confidence. Overweight and very unfit, he was put through a programme of fitness and training, combined with a variety of additional tasks to maintain his interest and enjoyment in his work and to ensure that he was distracted from his previous bad habits. In the right home Shadow will make a super riding horse who is capable of competing at Riding Club level. He has already competed successfully with Blue Cross staff. However, we will need to take great care to match him to the right home with a rider who will not allow him to slip back into his old ways.

Sonny - 19-year-old, 15.2hh Connemara X (dun gelding)
Sonny is a striking, affectionate horse who came into The Blue Cross Rolleston centre in September 2007 due to his owner's ill health. He had previously competed in Riding Club activities and had excelled in dressage, often coming home in the ribbons. Sonny is now looking for a new home where he can be used for hacking and some light dressage. He is a very friendly horse who likes attention but he needs a special home with experience of managing laminitis.

Isobel and Bette - happily rehomed
Isobel and Bette who will be featured at the end of the display, are just two of hundreds of Blue Cross success stories. The ponies, who are mother and daughter, are on loan as Pony Club all rounders with the Martin family. Isobel came to The Blue Cross as a stray, heavily in-foal. She gave birth to a filly, who was named Bette. In time Isobel was backed and trained at the centre and then placed on loan with the Martin family. Bette was rehomed separately but, through no fault of her own, was returned to The Blue Cross several years later. The Martin family instantly offered to take her on too.