Dear Readers,

I am currently trying to raise money for the charity ILPH (registered no. 206658) – International League for the Protection of Horses, as I have undertaken the challenge to raise a minimum of £2000 and to ride a horse across Israel, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee, to show my support. I believe this to be a very worth while charity that is close to the hearts of all horse lovers. I have included below, details of their work in the UK and I hope that you are able to help me help this charity by sending donations. Any sponsorship available would be greatly appreciated. This can be done by sending a cheque payable to the ILPH to me at the above address. If anyone requires further information on the charity, I can send you leaflets or reply by email.

Yours truly,

Samantha Murden
Email: sam.Murden@kpmg.co.uk

Work of the ILPH

The main aim of this charity is to prevent the ill-treatment of horses exported to Europe for slaughter, and over the years it has grown to become the world’s leading international equine welfare charity.

The ILPH runs five Recovery and Rehabilitation Centres with around three hundred equines in their care at any one time. Fifteen full time ILPH field officers, nearly all ex-policemen, investigate cases of cruelty and neglect, inspect markets and ports and also check the horses on the ILPH's horse loan scheme. Nearly 2000 rehabilitated horses and ponies have now been found approved homes. Working in the developing world, the ILPH runs educational and training courses in saddlery, farriery, veterinary care and nutrition to combat the major causes of equine suffering and help the owners to help themselves.

The funds raised will be used to enhance these facilities and to give the chance of saving so many more neglected and ill-treated horses.

The ILPH believes :

In rehabilitation – the ILPH will attempt to return every horse that comes into our care to health, happiness and a good quality of life unless prolonging that life will only lead to further suffering.

In rehoming - any horse capable of an active life should be placed with a new owner allowing us to take care of those not suitable for rehoming and those being rehabilitated. The ILPH retains responsibility for these horses throughout their life.

In education – it is better to provide knowledge than finance as knowledge lives on after your departure. This principle applies to much of our international work.

In sustainable solutions – the ILPH believes in using locally available materials to allow permanent rather than temporary solutions to Third World problems

AN EXAMPLE OF THEIR WORK:

Equine Ambulance sponsorship

The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) is sponsoring a fleet of horse ambulances for a host of equine events throughout the UK, kicking off at this years Royal Windsor Horse Show from the 10th -14th May. The ILPH is dedicated to the welfare and protection of horses from every walk of life from donkeys through to top sport horses.

The three ILPH Horse Ambulances will be on site to provide vital veterinary assistance to equine casualties at major events including the Burghley Three Day Event and the Aintree Grand National. The ILPH ambulances will be manned by two members of staff and will be equipped with first aid kits including slings to support an injured horse, oxygen and inflatable splints for on the spot treatment.

The ambulances are being provided by Sebastian and Bridget Garner, a husband and wife team from Cheshire who, together, run ‘Counties Equestrian Services Ltd’. “We’re on hand to deal with any injured horses, whatever the injury may be," says Sebastian Garner who recently dealt with the tragic accident involving the racehorse, Gloria Victis, at Cheltenham this year.

A success story for the horse ambulance team was the case of the racehorse, Moorcroft Boy, who suffered a severe neck injury at a meeting at Aintree and was immediately transported for treatment at the Leahurst veterinary centre in Liverpool. Following his accident, Moorcroft Boy, amazingly went on to win the Scottish Grand National.

The horse ambulance team know that in the event of an accident, time is critical; said Sebastian “The welfare of the horse is paramount and we pride ourselves on getting to the scene of the accident as quickly as possible.”

The ILPH supports the correct and caring use of the horse in sport, believing that in the western world the use of the horse in leisure and sporting activities is central to its existence. Even though all equine disciplines are carried out under the strict regulations of the sport’s governing body, accidents still happen. David Mountford, the Head of Equine Operations at the ILPH says: “Sadly accidents do occur and when the worst happens the ILPH wants to ensure that skilled help is at hand.”

Carmel's story

On 29th February a pitifully thin pony was taken to the ILPH Headquarters in Snetterton, Norfolk. The abandoned six year old mare was severely emaciated, riddled with worms and had suffered liver damage. Carmel, in the ILPH isolation stables underwent a series of veterinary tests and was placed on a careful diet to build up her strength. It was suspected that she had just given birth or aborted a foal, she may have even still been pregnant, although in her life threatening condition she would have been unable to carry the foal for long.

The mare was reported to the ILPH by a member of the public who had spotted the distressed pony while walking his dog along an isolated cycle track near Leicester. ILPH Field Officer John Hodgson investigated the complaint and immediately called in a vet to issue a certificate confirming that the pony was suffering under the 1911 Protection of Animals Act. A police officer was also present to allow legal access to the locked field by cutting through the barbed wire fence.

No owner was found and the pony was presumed to have been abandoned. Ironically, starved Carmel was found alone in a lush grass field; a dangerous place for a thin pony as, if she had been there much longer, the sudden intake of grass could have killed her. John Hodgson said, “She hadn’t been there long and was obviously left for someone to find. Because of her dreadful condition, the owners were probably scared of ending up in court and decided to cruelly abandon her”.

A lot of public interest was shown in Carmel but sadly the following message was sent to all ILPH staff on the morning of 10th March by Norfolk farm manager Tony Tyler: "I am sad to inform you that the severe cruelty case Carmel had to be put down last night. We did all that was humanely possible with her final hours being spent on a drip. The staff of both Hall and Overa farms were involved in a constant monitoring process. However despite our best efforts she deteriorated and in order to prevent unnecessary suffering a decision was made to call it a day."

The ILPH has 300 horses on its six farms at any one time and 2,000 horses are rehomed under our loaning scheme. While there are many successes, every time we are unable to help a horse is distressing to our caring staff.

www.ilph.org