Secure Lluest Horse and Pony Trust’s Future

Please Please Read and Help Us‼️ Following some unexpected large repair bills, the Trust’s funds dropped down to critical low levels towards the end of February.

Like everyone up and down the country we have been hit hard by the steep rising costs of everything from feed, fuel, energy and even the rise in minimum wage. We have tried to cut our costs as much as possible without compromising welfare and we still need £10,000 a month to run.

Recent vets bills are now over £3000 and we have needed to buy more hay and bedding than we would normally need to use this time of year, because of the prolonged wet weather.

We have been the very last chance for many horses and ponies going right back to 1985. The small team of staff and volunteers go above and beyond to ensure the highest levels of care to the animals the charity rescues, rehabilitates, cares and find fantastic loan homes for.

Lluest was founded in May 1985 by the inspirational woman Ginny Hajduckiwicz. She was so distressed by the appalling handling of wild hill ponies and foals in local sales that she decided to found a charity for Welsh equines to offer them a refuge and safe haven.

In 1986 Lluest’s first 4 rescues Smokey, Jaws, Dancer1 and Phoenix moved to their new home at Beili Bedw farm.

In 1989 Lluest became a member of the National Equine Welfare Council, which involved going to half yearly meetings with other equine charities, ensuring the latest info about the welfare needs of equines nationwide is shared.

Lluest was growing in leaps and bounds but throughout 1992 Ginny had been unwell, having developed breast cancer. In the autumn she had a mastectomy but her indomitable spirit fought back and it was no surprise, that although not able to attend as many sales as usual, within weeks of coming out of hospital she bought a 2 month old foal from Llandovery foal sales - Doris.

Ginny died peacefully at home on the 13th September 1994 aged 38. She changed the lives of all who knew her, she waged a relentless war against all who make the lives of horses and ponies a daily horror. In her 10 years at Lluest she rescued 77 horses.

Her legacy and work continues at Lluest by the current small team of 5 members of staff and a handful of regular volunteers. Dionne the equine manager was taught to ride by Ginny when she was 10 years old and so Ginny became her first heroine and a fantastic role model. Dionne has now worked at Lluest for the last 8 years and was with Ginny’s special rescue Gwilym when he made his final journey over rainbow bridge.

We also provide valuable work experience and volunteering opportunities for adults and children whose mental health greatly benefit from a safe space and haven to spend time with the horses and learn how to care for them.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.