 A message from Linda Hinds at Vauxhall City Farm: You may remember that the Countryside Alliance supported Vauxhall City Farm Riding Therapy Project a few years ago. One of the farm’s main objectives is to enable inner city residents to experience a little bit of countryside and it has been described as an oasis within the city. The Riding Therapy Project itself provides access to horses and riding for people who would not otherwise be able to access this sport because of financial or logistical reasons. Since the Countryside Alliance last supported us the Riding Therapy Project has gone from strength to strength providing 1,319 riding for the disabled lessons last year and 1,127 subsidised lessons for children who cannot afford or are unable to access riding at stables in the country.
We bought Pimms, a lovely 4 year old skewbald cob, last October and after a period of training she has become one of our most loved riding school ponies, having a lovely temperament and really looking after all her young riders. However, we noticed that Pimms was gaining weight so we put her on a diet, but to our dismay her ribs, hips and back bone started sticking out, but her belly got bigger, so we called our vet and he confirmed my suspicions, Pimms was pregnant, due to foal in the next couple of weeks. We immediately took her off lessons and sent her to Parley Brook Rehabilitation Centre in Surrey (home for unmarried mothers!) to have her foal. Unfortunately, the farm and its busy surrounding environment would be unsuitable for a young foal and we have very limited space.
On 27th May, Pimms gave birth to a gorgeous chestnut filly named Saphie. (Pimms is a gin-based drink, Bombay Sapphire is gin, hence Saphie!)
Although the farm is a charity, which places immense importance on effective management of projects, budgets and financial forecasting (evidenced by winning the Lambeth Business of the Year Award in 2011), it is still susceptible to the odd unplanned expense!
So, Vauxhall City Farm, Pimms and Saphie would now like to ask for your help. We cannot afford to support the mother or the new arrival long term, so we are looking for a home for the mother and foal until the foal is weaned and then a permanent home for Saphie. If you can help by offering a home to Pimms and Saphie, please call Linda on 0207 582 4204 or 07767
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