About Us
Bransby Home of Rest for Horses is a registered charity, founded by Mr Peter Hunt in 1968 which has provided safe permanent refuge to over 1000 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules since it was established. Always concerned about the welfare of horses, Mr Hunt rescued his first horse in 1947, Sally a 4-year-old mare was being kept on a bombsite in South London. Broken in at 18 months and used to pull logs from a spinney, Sally was found tearing around a yard with a tyre round her neck after the furniture van she was kept in had overturned in a storm. Mr Hunt rescued her for £14 and rented a stable for her for 2/6 a week. When Mr Hunt moved to Bransby to start the charity Sally came with him.
 |
| Sally the first pony rescued by Mr Hunt, the founder of the charity. |
Today the home cares for over 450 rescued equines in our two centres, the main site being situated in the hamlet of Bransby, some eight miles from the historic city of Lincoln. Over 600 acres of land and four stable yards provide the best of specialised equine care for over 280 residents. Many come to us after being found abandoned, mistreated or neglected or because their owner can no longer care for them. The charity has a further 160 equines that are placed in private homes under our loan scheme whereby they remain the property of the charity.
 |
| A herd of our younger horses peacefully grazing. |
Our second centre, The Priory in Stoke Prior, Herefordshire was bequeathed to the charity in 2003. It had previously been run as a rescue centre for over 30 years by Arthur and Joyce Hall, friends of Mr Hunt, who established the centre having rescued 18 bakery horses that were being sold due to mechanisation. After extensive renovation the site now runs houses over 100 horses and is proudly able to continue the work started by the Halls. The centre is based in a prime location to help Welsh Mountain ponies; often ownerless and homeless these animals are left to fend for themselves under bleak conditions. Our staff provide a valuable service by monitoring the herds of ponies, supplying hay during the winter months and providing safe refuge to any animals that require specialist care.
 |
| Ponies being rounded up from the Welsh hills. |
The home is open to the public 365 days a year from 10am to 4pm and admission is free. There are ample parking facilities beside a picnic area, a gift shop and tea room.
 |
| Picnic area & Our gift shop and tea room which serves light refreshments. |
The main objectives of the charity are rescue, rehabilitation, re-homing, retirement and education.
Rescue |
|
|
The large majority of new arrivals admitted to Bransby are welfare cases. We work closely with the RSPCA and the Police helping with the collection and care of these distressed animals. Our dedicated team of welfare staff are committed to the care of the animals and provide 24 hour nursing care 365 days a year.
|
Percy a young Thoroughbred gelding was rescued in poor condition and covered in painful sores. |
Rehabilitation |
|
|
The rehabilitation of an equine not only involves nursing an animal back to full physical health through specialised feeding and care, but can often involves the behavioral rehabilitation of the individual, due to inadequate training or mistreatment by man. This specialised rehabilitation process involves a team of people including the welfare staff, vet, farrier, dentist and humane handlers.
|
Jaffa undergoing behavioral rehabilitation. |
Re-homing |
|
|
Some of the animals we rescue benefit from being placed in private homes, so once an animal is fit and well it may join our foster scheme. We re-home animals from small Shetland ponies as companion animals to large riding horses. Each fosterer is carefully selected and the home vetted before any animal is re-homed. A legal contract is then kept between Bransby and the fosterer and we then continue to spot check each animal in its new home up to four times a year for the remainder of the animal's life. |
Jigsaw was rescued in very poor condition. She has now been rehomed on our foster scheme and regularly competes in Le Trec. |
Retirement |
|
|
Some animals are taken into care to retire. The majority of our retirement animals have been used as working animals such as army, police horses, or those used on working farms or that have worked with other charities for example Riding for the Disabled. These animals have devoted their lives to serving man and deserve a peaceful retirement until the end of their days. |
Boz and Fitz, two police horses retired at the Home after many years service for the Greater Manchester Police. |
Education |
|
|
The education of the public in equine welfare and correct care is an important factor in preventing cruelty in the future. Many of the cruelty cases we deal with are as a result of ignorance rather than intentional cruelty. An educational area provides visitors with information to teach the correct care and welfare of horses as well as the costs and responsibilities of keeping equines. Bransby visit fairs and markets and talks about the work of the home are given to clubs, schools and colleges.
|
Visitors to the Home learning anout horse care in the Education Area. |
.jpg)
