Blue Cross promotes benefits of Home from Home scheme

06/08/2007

Equine welfare charity The Blue Cross is keen to make more people aware of its successful Home from Home scheme, which enables the charity to rehome a returning horse or pony from one home directly to another, rather than via a centre. The scheme is only used for Blue Cross animals that are already out on loan and means a much easier transition for the horse or pony without the need for it to return to the charity.

The scheme has been developed over the past three years and is proving to have some significant benefits. Kerstin Alford, Blue Cross director of equine welfare explains:  Our Home from Home scheme makes the transition a much easier, one-stop process for the horse or pony and it means we have more space at our equine centres to help even more horses in need.  We work with the existing borrower, who has built up a bond with the horse or pony and knows its needs, special quirks and abilities, so they can actively participate in finding exactly the right new home.

Home from Home rehomings are usually extremely successful. Darius is one of several Blue Cross horses and ponies to have found a new family in this way.

Lily Golding, a 15-year-old enthusiastic Pony Club competitor, had 14.2hh Welsh cob Darius on loan from The Blue Cross for two years. Earlier this year he was moved directly into a new home nearby, via the charity's Home from Home scheme. Lily explains why she chose to part with the pony she adores: The decision had to be made after the realisation that Darius was significantly too small for me, seeing as my legs came halfway down his! He really was not going to last me forever even though I had always hoped he would. As much as I loved him and didn't want to part with him I also knew that he had so much to offer to somebody smaller and younger than me.

We spoke to The Blue Cross and decided that the best way to find the right person for Darius would be through word of mouth and through an advert in the local Pony Club newsletter. Luckily within a few days we had found the perfect family two miles down the road Katie, a small girl who had just grown out of her little pony.

Katie and her mum came to see Darius to ride him, groom him and handle him, on a number of occasions and they fell in love with him. Once Lily and her mum Kate were totally confident that Darius would be more than happy with his potential new family The Blue Cross sent Katie's mum, Sue, the borrower's application form and then The Blue Cross field officer carried out a home check. Shortly afterwards they were approved onto the monitored loan scheme and Darius moved to his new home. Lily visits him regularly and still rides him occasionally.

Katie is already totally besotted with Darius. She says: "Darius is a real family pony and we all love his character. He has given me so much confidence.

The Blue Cross aims to rehome all horses and ponies in its care once they are physically and mentally fit enough.  Every rehomed horse or pony is routinely visited twice a year and friendly centre staff and experienced field officers are on call to offer advice. 

The Blue Cross is funded solely by public donations and relies on the support of equine lovers. Facilities and resources are not infinite, which means that needy horses can only be admitted to the centres once rehabilitated horses have been rehomed. If you feel you can provide an experienced, long term home to a horse or pony in the charity's care, contact one of our three equine centres direct: Burford: 01993 822454, Northiam: 01797 253 908 or Rolleston: 0845 260 5505, alternatively  email equine@bluecross.org.uk or visit the website at www.bluecross.org.uk  

For further information on the exciting new sponsor-a-pony scheme please visit the website, telephone Callie Rose 01993 825564 or email callie.rose@bluecross.org.uk.

Ends
Notes to Editors

For more than a century, The Blue Cross has been dedicated to rehabilitating and rehoming horses and ponies in need, giving them the chance of a new life in approved homes.

The Blue Cross rehomes more than 100 horses and ponies every year from its three dedicated equine centres in Oxfordshire, Sussex and Staffordshire. 

The Blue Cross also provides practical support, information and advice for horse and pony owners, with a range of educational materials available at centres and on our websites: www.bluecross.org.uk and www.allaboutpets.org.uk

Media contacts
The Blue Cross press office: Laura Dobson on 020 7932 4060 or 07917 132 698