Busiest year for Blue Cross equine centre

Last year was the busiest year on record for The Blue Cross equine centre at Rolleston in Staffordshire. Demand for the centre’s expert rehabilitation and rehoming service was greater than ever, while the various events and equine educational projects drew record numbers of attendees.

In 2008 The Blue Cross Rolleston centre found new homes for a total of 41 horses and ponies, an increase of 14 on 2007. This meant the charity could take in even more horses and ponies in need. A total of 119 local children enjoyed attending the centre’s educational pony care days and around 250 individuals participated in tours of the centre or talks about the charity’s equine welfare work.

Rolleston centre manager Kath Urwin explains: “We opened in 2006 and are delighted so many local people are becoming more aware of the work we do, particularly on the rehoming front. The more good homes we can find for horses and ponies on our loan scheme the more we can take in that need our help. Talks to local groups and organising tours of the centre are proving to be effective and enjoyable ways to promote our work, as are our phenomenally popular pony care days, which were over-subscribed every time last year.”

2008 was also a successful year for fundraising for the centre. The annual summer open day in July drew 1,500 visitors and raised over £3000 while the Christmas fun day in December raised almost £2000. 

Set in 65 acres of beautiful farmland, The Blue Cross equine welfare centre at Rolleston is one of the charity’s three equine centres nationwide. It has been carefully designed for the charity’s specialist rehabilitation and rehoming work and caters for the rescue and rehabilitation of up to 45 horses and ponies at any one time.

The centre holds regular open days, fun days, competitions and pony care days. For further information call 0845 260 5505, email rolleston@bluecross.org.uk or visit www.bluecross.org.uk/events. 

20 January 2009