Guyra Horses

Update:  January, 2007

Kay Barney has advised us that all of the horses have now been re-homed. 

Hopefully we will be able to keep in touch with Kay to follow their progress.  We wish the new owners of these horses the best of luck, and trust that the horses will have the best of care and long and happy lives. 

December 2006

The following email was received on 19 December, 2006 from Bianca Lyne, Editor The Guyra Argus (Guyra NSW).

 On behalf of myself and the horses, I would like to say a huge thankyou to yourself and the committee of Horses in Drought Inc. for your sponsorship with the transport of the horses. Without your help, this rescue operation would not have been possible.

The horses were very good with loading and transferring- they have all arrived safely and are settling in well. I commend Rick Gates for his expertise and patient handling; I cannot recommend him highly enough. We will also be utilising him to help transport the horses to their new
homes.

We had the vet appraise the horses and (aside from  4 mares, a gelding and 2 foals,) he said that the overall health of the herd is very good, considering what they have been through.

If there is anything I can do in return for your kindness, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Your organisation is a Godsend, and many older people have commented to me that they wish that you were around when they had a struggle in earlier years.

During my interviews I am mentioning Horses in Drought Inc. as a sponsor and thanking you for all you have done: I hope you get some response and perhaps some people who can in turn assist you to do your work.

You may be interested to know that we have two new additions to the herd: a chocolate foal was born yesterday, and a black foal was born last night. (the ones in the above photo)

Without your help, these babies would never have been born- congratulations to you all!
 

kind regards

Bianca Lyne
The Guyra Argus


 

 Horses in Drought Incorporated would like to sincerely congratulate Bianca Lyne and all the people involved in the rescue and re-homing of these horses. 

This is their story.......

Biance Lyne, Editor of the Guyra Argus from Guyra (near Armidale) in NSW set out on a mission to save the horses. 

Nicole Pearce, President, Horses in Drought Incorporated spoke to Bianca Lyne;

"The horses were purchased from a drought area and the owner had died, leaving behind a widow who was left to cope with the farm on her own.  The lady was unable to care for the horses due to the drought and having had no experience with horses.  The horses were purchased as a lot, and the intention of the owner was to feed them up and sell them on as potential riding horses.  The owner had been agisting the horses in a paddock where they have recovered their weight to a reasonable health", said Bianca.

"Unfortunately the agistment property that the horses were on could no longer sustain the horses and the owner had no other option but to sell them to the knackery.  The horses were sold to the slaughterhouse for between $120 - $150 each."

Fortunately for the horses, Bianca managed to buy them some time, on the 14th December, a most generous sponsor came forward with a donation of $9,000, enabling Bianca to purchase the entire herd of horses from the knackery.  The deal is that this $9,000 will be on the basis of a loan and as the horses are re-homed and paid for, the money will be reimbursed to the generous donor.

Bianca told Nicole Pearce that the horses are all in good condition, they are predominantly cross bred Brumby / Arabian / Welsh ponies.  Their main colours are grey, with a couple of bays and they are  generally between 13 and 14 hands high.  Most are unhandled because of their age, but should make lovely Pony Club, saddle mounts, and even good brood mares.

Horses in Drought Incorporated are pleased to advise that the Committee has approved for us to cover the costs of transporting these horses from the Agistment property to their new holding paddock close to the town of Guyra NSW.   Horses in Drought Incorporated commend Mr Rick Gates for his professionalism in drafting and transporting the horses.