Everything-Equestrian

Two British Ladies Rescue Dogs in Sri Lanka

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:14:16 +0000

I have offered to make this story public on my blog as Jaqui is my closest friend, and I believe this story should receive a large internet presence and then this blog link can be emailed, facebooked, tweeted to those who you may feel can lend some support. This is the Story of Carole Kendal and Jacqui Knell who rescued two dogs whilst on Holiday in Sri Lanka (in Carole’s words.) Would you be kind enough to re-blog, tweet, or Facebook this page to your friends?…………………..thank you.

LOVE IS LOVE, NO MATTER WHAT COAT IT WEARS
(January 2012)

So, there I was at Christmas in a lovely hotel right next to the beach in beautiful Sri Lanka, with my partner and my sister, Janet. We were there for a holiday but the main reason for our visit was to sprinkle some of my late dad’s ashes under a palm tree, to take food and gifts to an orphanage in his memory, and to help as many poor people as we could. However, that’s another story!

On the first day there I met a lovely lady from England (I’m from England too, but living in Viet Nam) called Jacqui. This was her seventh trip to Sri Lanka and her third stay in this hotel. She had returned here to see a stray 3-year old female dog who lives on the beach, and who she had fallen in love with in 2009. She had named her Missy, and this is a photo of her asleep on Jacqui’s sunbed just a few months ago – strong, healthy and well-fed.

Missy in December 2010

This year was a different story. When Jacqui saw her she was heartbroken. The beautiful, shiny, fur had gone and so had the twinkle in her eyes. Just look at this photo:-

Missy December 2011

Life had not been kind to Missy, but despite her terrible condition she still had half a wag in her tail and had ‘adopted’ a small female pup whose mum had been killed on a train track shortly before we arrived. We named the pup Sundance because, as in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, she was the follower. Where Missy went, she went.

Sundance with no fur

This is Sundance, and my heart nearly burst when I saw her. The only fur she had on her entire body was a tuft on the top of her head and ears, and a tiny bit right at the end of her tail. Her skin was blistered and burnt, and there were open wounds where she had scratched herself so desperately.

Sundance After Rolling in Sand to Relieve Her Itching

I have loved animals for my entire life, but I don’t think anything has ever tugged at my heart strings as much as the sight of these two beautiful, gentle, creatures who asked for nothing but a kind word, a scrap of food, and a little bit of love. When Sundance whimpered and cried because she was so sore, Missy would run over to protect her and lick her skin. They were always together.

I took photos of Sundance to a vet in a nearby town. He gave me tablets which she had to have twice daily, and lotion to help her skin. Giving her the tablets was no problem. Every morning after breakfast I would wander down to the beach with my bag of sausages (I don’t eat much breakfast so it wasn’t really stealing!). There they would both be, sitting together and looking so pathetic – Missy with her round head and ears sticking out at right angles like Yoda from Star Wars, and Sundance with her pink, sore, wrinkly skin looking like nothing on earth! She never even tasted the tablets that were hidden in the sausage, and she trusted me enough to let me rub the lotion into her poor sore skin.

Jacqui did the evening shift, and between us we made sure that they were given love and food every day. At night, after the security guards had left, they used to sneak into the hotel grounds. Jacqui’s room was on the ground floor and had a small, enclosed, balcony where they curled up and slept. Missy went to sleep immediately, but Sundance could only sleep when Jacqui covered her completely with a damp towel to ease her itching. In the morning they would sneak back to the other healthy dogs on the beach before the security guard came to chase them off, or to throw stones at them.

As our holiday progressed, we began to worry about what would happen to them both after we left. They needed food and care and shelter, otherwise they could not survive. Missy had already had puppies and she wasn’t strong enough or healthy enough to have more. After much thought Jacqui decided to try to arrange for her to be sterilised. We had got to know one of the young men who work from the beach, Danu, and had previously given him food, money and clothes for his family. He offered to help us. He said that he would contact a vet and ask him to come and see Missy and Sundance. Two days later he told us that the vet had been and that he could operate on them both. Danu also said that he would have a dog-run built at his house, and that he would care for Missy and Sundance until they had recovered and were well enough to go back to the beach. Although this was not ideal, we felt that it was the best we could do, and at least they would both be spared the stress of having puppies. They would also have regular check-ups and treatment from a vet. Most of all, they would have shelter and food. We decided to go ahead, paid Danu a lot of money, and felt a little bit more hopeful for their future.

Jacqui left Sri Lanka 2 days before me, extremely upset and worried because despite constant enquiries Danu always told us “The dog-run is coming tomorrow …”. On the last full day of my holiday I was alone on the beach feeding Missy and Sundance when a Sri Lankan man came up to me. He thanked me for feeding the dogs and mentioned an organisation in Columbo (2-3 hours away) who does wonderful work for street dogs. Its name is ‘Embark’.

The following morning Danu told me we had to take Missy and Sundance to his home because the dog-run was arriving soon, and the vet was going to operate on them later that afternoon. My heart lurched, and with a lump in my throat I carried these two wonderful dogs away from their beach and held them in a tuk-tuk while we drove to Danu’s house. Leaving them, with Missy tied to a tree, and Sundance in a borrowed dog carrier (“just till the run arrives”) was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I said I didn’t want to leave them there, and I cried, but Danu hugged me and assured me he would take care of them.

Leaving Sri Lanka was dreadful. I was haunted by the look in Missy and Sundance’s eyes – fear and confusion, resignation and trust, gentleness and love. I thought about nothing but them all the way back to Vietnam.

After the long journey home my first job was to check my phone. My heart lifted when I read a message from Danu. The operations had been done, both were doing well, and there was no need to worry – he was looking after them. Relief – of sorts, but I still couldn’t sleep or put my mind to anything other than them. Neither could Jacqui back in England. We were in constant contact by email hoping that one of us might have received more news. The following day I had another message from Danu. He said the vet had visited again to give more medicine to Missy and Sundance, and he asked me to send him more money to pay for this and to buy them food. This is when big, big, alarm bells started ringing, and I realised that we might have made a terrible mistake. We had already given him much, much, more money than he needed to do what he had promised.

I felt truly desperate – not because of the money, but because I had taken these gentle creatures away from their familiar surroundings in the hope of ensuring a healthy future, and now I didn’t know what was happening to them or how they were being treated. I looked at the photos I had taken of them and I was consumed by pangs of loss and guilt.

I immediately did a Google search for ‘Embark + Columbo‘. The first words I read on their website were these: “If you care enough, call. We care enough to come over.” I sent an email straight away asking if they would ring Danu to make sure that everything was OK, and to advise him on care and feeding if necessary. Within hours I had a reply from the Head of Business Operations, Ashani, to tell me that they had talked to Danu and he had said that both dogs were doing well. She also said that she was arranging a mobile visit, with a vet, to check on their status. I was overjoyed, and thankful that this organisation actually does what it says it will do. Both Jacqui and I began to feel a little bit better – but we still couldn’t sleep.

The following day, 6 January, we received another email from Ashani. She said she was sorry to make us sad, but her fears had been correct. As the team arrived at the house, Danu told them that the dogs had run away that morning. She believed this was a blatant lie. He promised to try and find them, and to call Embark if he did.

I can’t even begin to describe my feelings on that day, I just can’t. It had nothing to do with the money and being conned, or trusting someone who let you down. It was knowing that two beautiful (to me), gentle, loving, animals were lost, lonely and afraid somewhere. My heart was bleeding.

In desperation, I messaged Danu. I sent him more money by Western Union and promised that if he could find both dogs, and contact Embark, I would send him more. Two days and sleepless nights later, on 8 January, he messaged to say that he had found Missy, but he refused to let Embark take her unless we sent more money. Finally, on 9 January, after countless messages and emails between me, Jacqui, Embark and Danu, I had an email from Ashani that said “We got Missy picked up today. She is in the Embark van coming to the clinic for care.” Thank you God. Missy was safe.

On 10 January, after more messages and demands for money (we didn’t pay), Danu ‘found’ Sundance, and an email from Ashani later that day confirmed that “She is in our van.” Unbelievable relief.

Missy At Embark

Sundance At Embark

These are photos of Missy and Sundance as they arrived at Embark. There had been no dog-run, no vet, and by the look of them, no food. They were frightened and confused, but they have been re-united and are in caring hands. They have been fully examined, have had blood tests, and are being treated for their skin conditions and illnesses. As it says on Embark’s website – ‘healing starts when caring takes over’. In the future, when they are healthy and fully recovered they will both be sterilised and, god willing, will find loving homes.

I have written this not just to tell you about Missy and Sundance, but to praise this wonderful organisation, Embark, that is doing everything it possibly can to help the millions of street dogs in Sri Lanka. Not only do they care for animals, they care for the people who love animals too. I have had many emails already this week from Ashani telling me not to worry, that she has been to cuddle them, that they are huddled up together, and that they are in safe hands. Please, please, just take a look at their website:
www.embark.lk/saving-the-injured.php

I have spent hours reading about the work they are doing, and watching videos of some of the animals they have helped. It is truly heartwarming, especially as they rely on their team of volunteers and never openly ask for donations.

None of us can help every person and animal that is in need, but we can help those that we meet along the way. If you can spare even just 65p / $1 you can help one stray animal. So – if you love animals, or if you plan to go to Sri Lanka, or if Missy and Sundance have touched your heart, please, help them and other animals like them. Donations are in US Dollars, if you want to check how much you are sending you can at XE.com

You can also donate by bank transfer:
A/C Name – ODEL FOUNDATION TRUST
A/C No – 2066400017
Bank Name – UNION BANK OF COLOMBO PLC
Swift Code – UBCL LKLC

You can donate online with a credit card on their secure donations page HERE – there is a comments box on the page on the right hand side and if you want your money to pay toward Missy and Sundance you can let them know there.

I felt compelled to spread the word about Embark and to try to help raise a little bit of money for them to carry on their wonderful work. I have been overwhelmed at their compassion for, and dedication to, the welfare of street dogs. If you don’t want to make a donation, but would like to know how Missy and Sundance are progressing, please email me and I will be happy to send you updates and photos of them -(please leave a comment further down). With the care, love, and treatment that they are receiving from Embark I hope it won’t be too long before Missy once again has a twinkle in her eyes, and little Sundance will be able to dance in the sun.

Thank you so much for reading this, and if you have friends who are dog lovers please, please, pass it on this blog page, facebook it, tweet it, email. Miracles happen when we make them happen (from Embark’s website).

With love

Carole Kendal

If you would like to leave a comment for Carole regarding the above, please do in the comments box below.

Friesian Stallion at Stud in Devon and Cornwall

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:01:05 +0000

Evardo is a pure bred and fully FPS registered stunning sports / baroque friesian stallion, he stands at approx 16hh at the moment, he is just rising 3 years old he will mature to around 16.2hh+. He has a lovely kind temperament, magnificent looks and lots of illustrious long black wavy hair, he will be graded this year as a 3 year old at FHAGBI Association. This will be his first season as a stud stallion so we have reduced the price, but after he is graded naturally his price will increase next year. Evardo has been tested negative for CEM (Contagious Equine Metritis), EVA ( Equine Viral Anaemia) and EIA (Equine Infectious anaemia/ Coggins). We hold certificates from our Vet.

Click to view slideshow.

Evardo’s Sire – MONTE 378 Sport
Winner Z2 dressage, Sjees Nationa Champion, long-lining champion, many sport ribbons & 1st premies at the stallion show. An approved 1st Premium FPS Studbook Ster Stallion who produced 65% 1st and 2nd Premium foals in 2006! He is approved on offspring and achieved 6th place in his age group at the 2007 Hengstenstation show. Monte is the 2004 National Carriage Champion and the 2005 Reserve National Dressage Champion for his age group. He is currently competing at Z2 Level Dressage (Advanced) in Holland. Monte produces foals with very good fronts, powerful walks, a very good trot, willingness to work, great sport aptitude He is also known to pass on his illustrious amount of hair!

STUD FEE = £150 for Year 2012 ONLY
COVERING OPTIONS = NATURAL & AI
Contact Mrs J Webster – Mobile 07952710780
Email j.mwebster@yahoo.com

Multi Coloured Gestuetfalkenhorst Stallion at Stud in North Devon

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:25:08 +0000

Multi is a very impressive 16.hh buckiskin and white warmblood stallion (zfdp) He was bred by the very highly regarded gestuetfalkenhorst stud in germany who lead the way in dilute sports horses. He is by mascarpone GF and out of simsalabim who goes back to samba (www.gestuet-falkenhorst.de/gfmypleasure.html). His full brother is multicolour 2 standing at bracken spa stud. (stud fee £500) whoes offspring is excelling in many fields and are being sold at exceptional high prices even in today’s market.

Multi has an incredibly laid back temperament and the sweetest nature you will find in a stallion. He has an amazing movement, really point a toe and covers the ground as if floating. He is dead straight in his movement, has very good conformation. He was placed reserve champion at his approvals with zfdp. Up till 2009 he was following an eventing carer in both England and Germany.

Click to view slideshow.

Multi is only going to be available to a very limited amount of mares so arrange now to avoid disappointment. He is well behaved to cover in hand or mares can run with a small herd at the owners risk.

Fee £250 plus £20 per week keep. For further information please call 07854637812 we are based in North Devon.

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If you have a stallion you would like to add to our blog Everything-Equestrian, please contact us for details

Horse Rugs On

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:11:19 +0000

Usually I have my horses rugged up the 1st week of November as it’s about this time the mild weather in North Devon changes to wet and windy, but this year has been such an exception I have been able to get through to this week. It’s still very mild here, but the older two mares will start to drop weight with the cold and wet and one mare is possibly in foal so best we keep her wrapped up or she will loose condition.

They all came in for food and despite Ellie (aged 24 and should know better) kicking the stable door to get out again, and Lizzie (aged 7 and 16.3hh) not wanting to be caught and have her headcollar on, we finally got them all in, fed and rugged. I am not sure how I am going to get a rug on Ella, and Daisy could be off to a new home soon.

So off they galloped round the field doing their yearly “oh look at me in this lovely new rug, how can I get it off” routine. Mizzie and Lizzie were very well behaved and when I left them eating their rugs were clean, but Ellie, as she does every year, stuck two fingers rampant at me and rolled to her hearts content in the dirtiest area of mud she could find. It’s ritualistic!

I will sleep easily knowing the older girls are snug, I just need to work on Ella now!

Ellie in her Mud Rug!

Photo is not very clear, but Mizzie and Lizzie are still in Green, and Ellie is on the left and mud coloured!

Good Luck Ponies

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:17:30 +0000

In the first week on November our two ponies went off to their new home. We were lucky to find them a fabulous place in Mid-Devon called Caring Horsmanship.

Please visit their website to see the wonderful work they do with both ponies and riders.

Caring Horsemanship

Black Warmblood Filly By Wild Dice Bewes

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:20:16 +0000

Along with my Spanish filly, I am also selling my stunning all black warmblood filly (BWBS). She is by Wild Dice Bewes, champion warmblood stallion owned by Waterlands Park Stud. Her dam is by Odysseus and Good Apple.

Ella by Wild Dice Bewes

Ella is a lovely filly, unspoilt and ready to work with. Due to my own time constraints I am only just getting her trained to lead rein, etc, the one consolation with this is she has not been ruined and doesn’t have any bad habits or vices. She currently stands at about 15.2hh, her dam is 16.2hh and her half brother (same dam) made 16.2hh so she has potential to be a fabulous dressage star.

Ella Black Warmblood Filly

She is the last of my homebred fillies as I gave up breeding for personal health reasons and am movingto France within the next 2 years. I am therefore looking for a lovely home for her. Her Sire has many youngsters on the ground already winning from in-hand to dressage, and she is dual purpose and will showjump or dressage. She has a super uphill movement and floats across the floor in trot. Her coat gleams in summer as she is beautiful black with no white markings.

Now ready to be brought into work! £2,000 for a quick sale.

Spanish Mare For Sale Ready to Back

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:48:19 +0000

I am selling my super spanish mare (she does not have a spanish passport though!). I bred her 4 years ago as I also owned her mum and dad at the time – they were both absolutely adorable and I used to ride her dad as a stallion as much as possible. Due to my own lack of time I have not been able to back her this year. She would make a fabulous project as she is ready to go and have some fun. She is easy to do in all ways, and to keep, (she lived out all last winter and only came in when it snowed or she saw a bucket being moved across my yard!!). Being spanish she has a fabulous temperament, she leads, loads, trims, is a good doer, etc. She stands about 15hh now, I think and has room to grow. Her father was 16.2hh and her mum was a ride and drive mare and about 14.3hh. Her only vice is the lack of respect for any electric fencing on battery or solar power, she will actually hold it up for others to walk through!

She is totally wasted with me as I can no longer ride due to a health issue. I would love to keep in contact with the new owner too and also receive updates for this blog if possible as it does get followed. My children would also love to know that this mare is doing well as they love her too.

If you are interested in her, please leave a comment in the box below, no-one else will see it so you won’t be spammed by anyone else! I will then delete the comment and reply to you direct through email. I am looking for offers around £1,500 for a quick sale, and please no timewasters!

Many thanks

New Facebook Like Page and Group

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:44:09 +0000

I have opened a Like page and a new Facebook group for people to advertise their horses and ponies on in Devon or Cornwall as FB are closing down the old groups.

If you are looking to buy or sell in Devon or Cornwall or offer any equestrian service in our two counties you are more than welcome to join and add your information.

You can reach the Group page through our Like page which is HERE

Bay Gelding For Sale 14.1hh

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:17:19 +0000

A lovely 14.1hh 8 year old cob x TB. He is a level headed chap that has tried his hand at all disciplines showing promise to go on with a successful career and plenty of potential over a fence. Well behaved and good to shoe, box, catch etc with NO vices! Comes with all tack too.

REDUCED AS MUST SELL! £2000
Call 07776178956 for more details

If you would like a FREE advertisement for your horse, pony or equestrian product/service please contact me through the Advertise page above. Yes, it’s FREE!!

Black Part Bred Newforest Filly for sale

Carolyn Maybray-Seymour — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:41:12 +0000

This super black rising 2 year old filly, (born May 2009), stands at about 13.2hh, but could make about 14.2hh and is registered as Part Bred Newforest. She has exceptional movement and conformation, with a super friendly temperament and likes attention from everyone.

She is good to do in every way, is very bold, fine to lead in traffic and would make an excellent in-hand show or competition prospect for 2011 and 2012 and once backed would make a excellent Pony Club or dressage pony.

Looking for the best, knowledgeable home possible to this super filly a promising future.

Photos were taken last year, she is a little wooly at the moment, but will add more photos once her coat is fully out.

Price is £700
To discuss further or to come and see her please contact: minigoose @hotmail.co.uk

Thank you for looking and if you have a horse or pony you would like to list here then please visit our Advertise page