Do you want to see what your £4.99 does?

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

All

I know I have banged on about how amazing the support from you all has been quite a bit already this year (“Really?!” I hear you all cry!), but this push to Christmas has seen a surge in sales of the book which is fab.

So far this year (bearing in mind the book was only released in June) we have made over £5000 for Bransby and we’re keeping going at a steady rate. Like with all charities Bransby is really feeling the effect of the economic climate and so every penny means the world.

So I wanted to show you what the £4.99 you gave to buy the book does.

You’ll have seen the photos of the two most famous residents, Carrot and Spud (RIP little men) so I’m not going to show you those again. But here’s just a couple of other examples from the sadly very many I could have chosen.

This is Willow on her arrival at Bransby. Unbelievably, when you look at the state of her, she was already heavily pregnant when she came in. Desperately thin the look in her eyes I think says it all.

But look at her now. The little buddle of joy next to her is her son – Thunderbob. Gorgeous isn’t he?!

This is Percy, nearly as horrifically emaciated as Carrot was, this lovely little man was skin and bone.

This is Percy 18 months later. Different animal isn’t he?

Sadly these two are not the only ones, were not the first and sadly won’t be the last. But that £4.99 you spent on Hovis’ book helps horses like this and the next ones and the next ones.

So from the bottom of our hearts Bransby staff, Bransby residents, Hovis and I thank you and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a cracking New Year xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Natz88]

what a transformation, they are looking fab & what a wonderful job you have done. The foal is stunning, I must say this bought a tear to my eye. Well Done & hope you have a lovely xmas

 

[lar]

Wow what a transformation of both horses - and what a cracking little foal.

Well done to all at Bransby for achieving such amazing results and what a shame to think they are just two out of many.

 

[Paddy Irish]

God bless you .... i'll put my book order in after xmas....i collect for our local horse sanctuary with a collection box in my gallery and people are very generous , which like you say is good seeings as the economy has taken a dive and lots are struggling..
Merry xmas to you from Paddy and Al

 

[Ladyinred]

what a transformation, they are looking fab & what a wonderful job you have done. The foal is stunning, I must say this bought a tear to my eye. Well Done & hope you have a lovely xmas

Tears here as well. What a cracking good foal.. and both horses are gorgeous with some weight on.

It's nearly 2012 and more than time these things stopped happening. Well done for the book sales, a very generous and unselfish thing to have done.

 

[Ladylina83]

Just goes to show hey ! x

 

[Brandy]

Amazing. I will be placing my order.

In fact, at work someone usually collects for a charity instead of Xmas cards, but that person has left so I may do my own......

 

[AmyMay]

What an amazing transformation of both horses. It's quite staggering.

Really well done Bransby - What a wonderful organisation you are. And to you HSM for working so hard to raise money for them.

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Trust me the bit I do is NOTHING. I write for the enjoyment of it - the staff at Bransby are the ones who do an amazing job.

Sadly of course for the success stories there are also the ones for whom help came too late.

Only a short while ago, despite a desperate fight and very expensive vetinary care, they lost a little foal who has been brought in. The staff and the vets involved were absolutely devastated.

Bransby do a lot of work trying to educate people and children on equine care - trying to do what they can to stop the future Carrots ans Spuds of this world.

In the mean time they carry on picking up the pieces of when it does go so horribly wrong.

 

[Brandy]

Have emailed round at work, and the collection has started.

 

[BillyBob-Sleigh]

How wonderful! Those horses don't even look like the sames ones who were brought in and that foal is beautiful! They're a credit to all the hardwork put into the charity

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

My cob - to the left in my siggy is a Bransby horse She is the subject of an RSPCA prosecution and was 'rescued' from travellers - she ahd been tethered to the side of a dyke and was in foal at 2. She had her foal at Bransby - he is called Sonic and is now in a foster home to - due to her poor state when she was rescued and her young age there were problems with Sonics birth but they noth opulled through. Since then Sonic has spent 12 weeks in Newmarket when after several years of being fine he got a virus - sadly due to the neglect my mare suffered when in foal with him seems to give lifelong problems The good news is that he recovered and is now back out in a foster home My mare has been with me for 10 years now - loves hacking and hanging out in the field not so keen on anything resembling schooling She has the loveliest nature despite her earlier neglect

I have a rug washing business and when I get given old rugs by customers I have them washed and take them to Bransby as they always need rugs. Any 'good' rugs I sell to cover the costs of the cleaning of the others - well that is the idea anyway

Over theyears I have seen the some horrific negelct cases go through their doors and come out the otherside - not all are so lucky sadly My mare and her son are 2 of the lucky ones

 

[Montyforever]

Funny you should post this, i got my copy through today and my mum who doesnt come on here is already reading it and loving it
Cant wait to read it myself, if i ever get it back from mum!

 

[Poppys Nannan]

I have to admit i didnt know what you did - never read your posts as i am quite new.

But very well done, the transformation is immense - you should be really proud x

I will purchase a book after xmas now, do you collect used stamps ?? i know some equine charities do?

Incidentally what do you feed to get such a transformation x

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I have to admit i didnt know what you did - never read your posts as i am quite new.

But very well done, the transformation is immense - you should be really proud x

I will purchase a book after xmas now, do you collect used stamps ?? i know some equine charities do?

Incidentally what do you feed to get such a transformation x

The forum helped rescue two badly neglected horses who we called Carrot & Spud just over 2 years ago - as one of the people involved with the rescue and having a Bransby horse I contacted them as part of the rescue and they were taken there for their safety and rehab Hovis and Sids mum has gone on to publish Hovis's Diary to raise funds for Bransby - the forum had a collection at the time of the rescue and rasied about 2k as well Here is a recent thread following the sad death of Carrot but it contains lots of pictures and the original threads

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=502676

If you look at the Bransby website it tells you all the ways you can donate

http://www.bransbyhorses.co.uk/home/home.html

The way Bransby feed ANY horse/pony in poor condition is lots of fibre - so high fibre nuts, unmolassed sugar beet,chaff and hay. When they start gaining weight they will also start to add oil but that is it - just lots of fibre - the feed is little often (maybe 3 or 4 times a day if necessary) and ad lib hay

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Poppys Nannan - firstly welcome to the forum!

I didn't rehabilitate these horses, they were taken in and cared for by Bransby Home of Rest for Horses, a charity whom I help fundraise for principally by giving them the profits from my book Hovis' Friday Diary - From the Beginning (or should I say Hovis' book!!).

You can find out more about their work at their website.

Yes they do collect used stamps and would be very grateful for anything.

As for diet - each horse is different depending on age, health issues etc. All horses spend 4 weeks minimum in isolation where they are put on individual diet and worming plans. They have their teeth and feet done, are assessed by vets, have various blood tests and are scoped for strangles.
Weight gain is aimed for slowly and steadily so as not to shock the systems of horses that are in so many cases starving. I can check on specific products if you'd like but i know they use a wide range of feed stuffs dependant on vetinary advice. The horses also have access to good grazing and plenty of ad lib hay in the winter months.

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Tinsel unicorn - think we cross posted!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Tinsel unicorn - think we cross posted!

Anything for Bransby

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Anything for Bransby

Indeed!
I knew you had a Bransby horse but didn't realise that Sonic was your mares son.

 

[Bertolie]

I think the work that Bransby, and other charities, do for these poor horses is amazing. Such dedication and hard work.

And in the words of Tiny Tim - "God bless them all...Everyone"!!

 

[Jesstickle]

That made me well up a little. What gorgeous horses and what great work Bransby have done with them.

And, well done you!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Indeed!
I knew you had a Bransby horse but didn't realise that Sonic was your mares son.

Yep guilty as charged

He is by all accounts a cheeky, nosey little hooligan - definitely his mothers son.....

 

[MrsMozart]

Oh hunny. Tears in my eyes again.

 

[Kenzo]

Gosh what a difference some TLC makes, all of which costs money to keep places like this going, they do a grand job, I'll shall most certainly be ordering a copy.

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Gosh what a difference some TLC makes, all of which costs money to keep places like this going

A scary amount of money and thats a fact

 

[littlescallywag]

Purchased the book last night through h&h shop , couldn't seem to order it through bransbys shop on my phone
Do bransby still get the full amount if ordered via h&h ??

 

[Megibo]

both beautiful horses after, i don't know how anyone could do that to a horse.

reported one like the chestnut for sale to whw, unfortunately they didn't do anything.

been meaning to get a book for a while, i must get on with it!

 

[alwaysbroke]

What a wonderful transformation, and well done to H&SM for raising so much through her book x

 

[Donnie Darco]

Hi

The pics make me want to cry but I can't as I'm at work

My Hovis books arrived yesterday - again BIG UP to Bransby for delivering them so promptly (i'm rubbish at crimbo shopping, these are the first present's I've got so far!) I've started reading my copy already!!!

BUT just to say what WONDERFUL job you have done getting the book published and donating ALL proceeds to such a worthy charity

We may all have a giggle at your's and the Destroyer (now I understand the term!!!) exploits, but it's good to keep the not so lucky horses in our minds

HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL!
Love DD and LaLa Lyla xx

 

[Donnie Darco]

me again!

if you haven't already brought the book ... BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!

Its brilliantly funny and its for a very very worthwhile cause as these pictures show