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While coronavirus really hit Hoofbeats Sanctuary, a local Plymouth charity, hard last year and continues to do so in 2021, the charity’s small team of volunteers are celebrating a massive success of the year as a long-term resident, George, is rehomed after almost 10 years to the day of searching for his forever home.
The sanctuary, based on the edge of Dartmoor, has been rescuing and rehabilitating troubled horses and ponies for over 20 years. Totally reliant on public donations, their work has seen nearly 200 horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes pass through their gates, with the charity’s aim being to find approved, loving forever homes for each resident. 
Adapting to lockdowns and changing restrictions, the all-voluntary team have amazingly managed to rehome almost 30 horses and ponies in the past year, despite the pandemic.
One such resident was George – a beautiful pony who, due to complex behavioural issues, sought a special kind of home where he could be left to simply enjoy field life with other horses and be fussed over in a quiet environment.
Joining Hoofbeats in 2010, the team had certainly grown attached to George’s quirky and cheeky personality over nearly 10 years in their care, but were “delighted to see him finally find the dedicated loving home he so deserves”according to the charity’s founder, Sharon Vieira.
Speaking of the charity’s work, she continued: “While we offer a permanent sanctuary to those who may never be rehomed, and vow to never put a healthy horse to sleep, finding forever homes for our residents means that we can help more horses and ponies in the future”.
One such horse in need is Doughnut, who has joined the sanctuary in need of help to allow him to live a settled and peaceful life. At only 4 years old, it has been discovered that Doughnut requires surgery which could cost the charity upwards of £3,000 in order to rebalance his testosterone levels.
Doughnut
With Doughnut currently living with a lot of pent-up frustration, the team at Hoofbeats are hopeful that their supporters can help raise the money needed to fund his urgent operation and allow him to find the forever loan home he deserves for the future.
With Spring fast approaching, the charity anticipate that Doughnut’s hormone levels will increase, meaning that he is likely to need to be isolated for the safety of the other horses in the sanctuary’s care.
Taking to social media to launch their appeal, the charity describes how:“Doughnut has joined our sanctuary to be rehabilitated and rehomed, however at present this is not possible and he faces an uncertain future…Please help us to ensure that this beautiful boy’s life is a happy and healthy one for many years to come by donating to our appeal and helping us to get him the treatment he so deserves.”
To find out more about Doughnut’s story and to donate to his appeal, please visit justgiving.com/campaign/doughnut. Alternatively, you can donate via PayPal using the address fundraising@hoofbeats.org.uk , and find out more about the charity’s work at www.hoofbeats.org.uk.
