World Horse Welfare (WHW) join forces with The Equine Times to highlight equine welfare in Scotland

By Kirsten Binnie and Zoe Clifford

AT The Equine Times we are delighted to announce that we now have a collaboration with leading equine charity World Horse Welfare (WHW) where we can regularly publish online their stories, reports on welfare issues and inform the public of rescues and re-homing to help to highlight the work the charity does.

Alongside this, we will cover World Horse Welfare's successes in rehabilitating horses and ponies and enabling the improvement of laws to make the world a better place for our equine friends in the UK and abroad.

Not everyone is aware (despite the charity's name) that WHW really does operate worldwide, teaching owners, vets and farriers how to help horses in developing countries, as well as taking care of and rescuing all equids - including donkeys and mules as part of its international outreach initiatives - and its four centres in the UK.

Most importantly, World Horse Welfare is also a leader in helping to change laws over many years which has benefitted horses and ponies and made their lives easier and more comfortable.

WHW has its own centre in Scotland - Belwade Farm near Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, where there is a rescue centre, a shop and cafe, along with an indoor riding centre where visitors can see horses and ponies being rehabilitated.

With experienced and friendly staff, anyone can visit to find out more about the work of World Horse Welfare.

In this issue we start off with an introduction to WHW and a report on the popular recently held farriers' shoemaking competition at Belwade.

You can buy some of the shoes made by these leading farriers in the WHW Belwade shop, enjoy lunch and get a tour of the horses and ponies there and hear all about their stories and their rehabilitation.

How to visit Belwade in Scotland and learn more about the vital work of World Horse Welfare

By Zoe Clifford

Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Aboyne is one of four centres run by World Horse Welfare across mainland Britain.

The charity aims to rehabilitate all the horses, ponies, donkeys and mules who come into its care before finding them loving new homes. Belwade Farm welcomes visitors on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays to find out more and meet the horses and ponies currently undergoing rehabilitation.

There’s lots going on at Belwade Farm over the summer months, including equine workshops and family events.

The team are currently looking for volunteers to help in the visitor centre, covering reception and helping out with upcoming events, which will raise vital funds.

Centre Manager Eilleen Gillen explains: “We’re a small team here at Belwade so volunteers can make a real difference. We would love to hear from anyone who is interested in helping in our visitors centre by giving us a few hours a week or who would like to help with our events.”

Tack sale

Upcoming events include a second-hand tack sale on Saturday 13th June, so do come along and bag a bargain. Pitches are available for sellers – contact the farm to book a space at the tack sale.

Workshops

The yard team are also running practical workshops over the summer, offering a chance to learn the basics or update your skills. The June sessions are based on groundwork and include some hands-on elements – or you can just watch and learn, the choice is yours! 

Rehoming

Rehoming is a vital part of the charity’s work, making space for other horses to come into its care.

Benefits of rehoming include an honest assessment of the horse or pony, ongoing support, and the knowledge that you’re not only giving that horse a second chance, you’re enabling another horse in need to be rescued.

If you’re looking for your next project or need a companion for your own horse or pony, take a look at https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/rehome

We look forward to sharing more of our news with you over the next few months and welcoming you to Belwade Farm over the summer.

For more information, please contact bfevents@worldhorsewelfare.org or visit https://worldhorsewelfare.org/visit-us.   

For almost 100 years, World Horse Welfare has been inspiring people to put the horse at the centre of how they think, act and care for them - in the UK and across the globe.

Dates for your diary at World Horse Welfare Belwade

Educational workshops

The next educational workshop at Belwade will take place on Wednesday 24th June at 12pm where 'An Introduction to Groundwork' will see the team cover basic groundwork skills including lunging and long reining.

To book tickets contact https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/visit-us/events/introduction-to-groundwork-demonstration-and-worshop

Any feedback on previous workshops or to put forward topic suggestions for future events, please email WHW at bfevents@worldhorsewelfare.org

Farrier's shoemaking competition success

THE 27th annual farrier's shoemaking competiton at World Horse Welfare's Belwade Farm, Aboyne, took place in May and raised £1,000 for the charity.

Organised by Aberdeenshire-based WHW farrier Donald Nicol Awcf, the judge was Tom Leistad-Jonas from Norway and classes included open and apprentice shoemaking, open matchplay, pot luck pairs and fun shoe classes.

Images below by Alan Telford.

To contact World Horse Welfare at Belwade, you can visit their Facebook page or go to https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org

THE 27th annual World Horse Welfare annual fundraising shoemaking competition at equestrian charity World Horse Welfare will take place at its Belwade Farm, Aboyne, rehabilitation centre from May 8th to 10th this year.

Organised by Aberdeenshire-based farrier Donald Nicol of Donald Nicol Farriers Ltd, attracts farriers from all over the world to take part in the three-day event - and shoes from the competition are then sold in the WHW cafe.

Donald said:

This year a number of farriers will travel from ?? to take part and the main judge is

Described by WHW as "a key example of the work done to connect expert farriery with horse welfare initiatives", the event has raised over £ for the charity since ???