Urgent |
| We are urgently seeking donations to save horses in imminent danger. Click here to find out more. |
News
Equine Lifeline Awarded Charity Status
Equine Lifeline is pleased to announce that the organisation was awarded charitable status on 3rd June 2008. Our registered charity number is SC039628.
Polar Fizz and Tourriah
 |
Polar Fizz in France |
We are delighted that Polar Fizz has arrived safely from France and she has brought her friend Tourriah with her. When Gordon went to pick up Polar in Brittany, the stud owner asked if we would be interested in homing another thoroughbred brood mare, 17 years old, who had reached the threshold of her usefulness to them. We had no choice. Tourriah would have faced the same fate that Polar had been facing – death in an Italian abbatoir.
Tourriah had raced in France before being retired to stud. She too had lost her last foal. Looking at their passports, these ladies have been together for a long time and both seemed keen to remain so. Gordon said that Polar’s distress at Tourriah disappearing around a corner was very obvious, despite other horses being in the vicinity. Polar Fizz and Tourriah will stay together now, for a gentle retirement together. Both are quite scrawny but appropriate nutrition, worming and a visit from the dentist should see a big change.
Polar Fizz and Tourriah will need plenty care, not only to nurse them back to full health but as finely bred, middle-aged ladies, their care will be costly. You can sponsor either Polar or Tourriah or you can donate to help with their costs.
Quassya’s Story
After having reserved two fillies due to be butchered at the end of June, we received a frantic email from one of our French colleagues about a three year old Breton mare, Quassya. Geraldine explained that she had a problem with her hips which is why she had been sent to the fattening yard prior to slaughter in Italy. Could we take her as no one else was interested and Les Crins was too short of funds at that time.
Of course we could. Dipping even deeper into ours, our families’ and friends’ pockets, we secured Quassya’s future and made arrangements for her uplift along with some other young colts from the same livestock dealer. However, when Gordon arrived to pick her up he telephoned immediately to relay the news that she definitely was not in a fit state to travel, despite having been vet checked a few days previously. Quassya had a hole in her side you could put your fist in and was in a great deal of pain. Her hips made walking difficult and two French heavies had slung ropes around her neck and were literally dragging her to the box. She was very distressed.
 |
 |
We realised that if we didn’t take Quassya there and then she would be put on the next lorry south for slaughter. What a dilemma. Transport rules and regulations must be adhered to and, apart from that, Quassya would not have survived the journey north to us. Frantic phone calls ensued to Jesahel, the president of our sister organisation in France. Gordon paid the money we had raised for Quassya to the dealer and her rescue was mobilised locally within France.
It transpired that Quassya had fallen in the field several days before and had been left down in temperatures of more than 40 degrees. A local old peasant farmer had seen her and brought her water, hay and a sunshade. When she finally got herself up, a huge haematoma had burst on her side which was then eaten out by flies. Poor, poor girl.
The team of volunteers at Les Crins de Liberte offered round the clock nursing, with daily visits from their vet. Quassya pulled through. She is still unlevel behind but has found a wonderful home in France with Sisko and her small herd of rescue horses.
Had she come to Scotland, Quassya had been offered a home at the Mountains Animal Sanctuary near Forfar. Thank you to Mr Alan Fraser and his team who were prepared to take Quassya in, no questions asked.
"Di and Friends Jump to Filly's rescue!"
Di Finlayson and friends from her local riding school in Wick, owned by Natalie Oag, abseiled off a cliff to raise money for Equine Lifeline. They raised a magnificent £1350. Fantastic!
Press Articles
See us in the Press & Journal:
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/678633
and
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/861181