About Us
Bransby Home of Rest for Horses provides safe permanent refuge to horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. Bransby has taken over 700 animals into care since it was founded in 1968 and registered as a charity. There are currently over 270 rescued animals at the Home as well as over 140 placed on our foster scheme.
The large majority of new arrivals admitted to Bransby are on-going welfare cases. We work closely with the RSPCA and the Police by helping with the collection and care of these distressed animals. We also provide a home for retired horses, but the large majority of our intakes are cruelty cases.
The Home has over 450 acres of land in and around the village of Bransby, which is situated 8 miles from the City of Lincoln and is mid-way between the villages of Saxilby and Sturton by Stow . The land is invaluable for providing grazing and exercise areas as well as enabling us to make some of our own hay for winter-feeding.
Our resident horses, ponies, donkeys and mules have many different needs and therefore we have several different types of accommodation available. The accommodation ranges from individual stables on our four yards to large airy barns. This means that our residents can live individually or in small or large groups. Some of our residents prefer to be in the fields year round, they are given access to shelter at all times in case of inclement or hot weather. Last year we established a sand area specifically for some of our elderly residents who don't do well outside in the winter and can't be in the barns due to breathing problems.
Bransby has an original Victorian farmyard, which dates from 1858 and was built by Thomas Spencer who later emigrated to America . His initials appear on a block of stables, which he built at Bransby. Home Farm is a recent addition to Bransby and it has now been established as our Isolation Unit . All the animals entering Bransby spend a minimum of three weeks at the Isolation Unit. This allows us to assess the animals' needs both medically and behaviourally thus enabling us to select the best environment for each individual. The Isolation Unit also has a major health advantage as it reduces the risk of infection such as Strangles, Equine Flu, Ringworm etc. spreading to our residents.
The charity had a great opportunity to expand its work when in 2003 Joyce Hall kindly bequeathed The Priory at Stoke Prior in Herefordshire to Bransby. Arthur and Joyce Hall, who had earlier rescued 18 bakery horses that were being sold due to mechanisation, relocated Nag Hill Home for Horses to The Priory over thirty years ago. Over the years numerous horses and ponies had a peaceful retirement at The Priory. Joyce Hall wanted their work to continue at The Priory and kindly bequeathed the property to Bransby. The task of carrying out repairs to The Priory started in summer 2004 and in July 2006 we were able to take up occupancy. The final phase of building work commenced in Spring 2007. The two large buildings which form our stable yard are being renovated and will provide further much needed stabling. The centre is now able to continue the work started by Arthur and Joyce Hall. We are in a prime location to help the Welsh Mountain ponies. Often ownerless and homeless living in bleak conditions these ponies are left to fend for themselves. Our staff provide hay to the mountain ponies during the bleakest months and any animals that require special care are brought into The Priory.
The Home is open to the public 365 days of the year from 8am to 4pm and admission is free. There are ample parking facilities beside a picnic area and a gift shop.
The main objectives of the charity are rescue, rehabilitation, re-homing, retirement and education.
Rescue |
|
|
Bransby never turn away an animal in need at the request of the RSPCA or Police. We have a specialised horse ambulance with sling equipment, which is essential in our work of collecting weak and collapsed animals. Our team of welfare staff are committed to the care of the animals and provide 24 hour nursing care 365 days a year. The majority of animals we are involved in rescuing at Bransby are suffering as a consequence or lack of basic routine care such as: |
Lola a 2 month old foal was abandoned in a field just before Christmas.
|
|
|
|
Rehabilitation |
|
|
Rehabilitation not only involves nursing an animal back to physical full health through specialised feeding and care, but also behavioural rehabilitation of the individual. Many animals taken into care have been accepted, as they are ‘problem' horses that have suffered at the hands of humans. The rehabilitation process involves a team of people including the welfare staff, vet, farrier, dentist and humane handlers. |
Tippy having her teeth checked by our equine dentist.
|
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 retire to Bransby. The majority of our retirement animals have been used as working animals for example army/police horses, horses used on working farms or those that have worked with other charities such as the RDA to name but a few. These animals have devoted their lives to work and deserve a retirement until the end of their days. Bransby guarantees them a happy retirement. |
Burgundy was retired at Bransby from the Household Calvary in February 2006.
|
Education |
|
|
Here at Bransby we believe education is an important factor in preventing cruelty. Many of the cruelty cases we deal with are as a result of ignorance rather than intentional cruelty. The home encourages educational visits by schools and colleges, as well as organising training days on the basic care and welfare of equines. |
The Donkey Sanctuary from Sidmouth instructing people in the correct care of donkeys at a Donkey Training Day held at Bransby.
|
