Helena Vega-Lozano – Chair of Trustees
I work at Deloitte where I am a partner and board member of the consultancy business and lead the financial services sustainability practice. I live with my family in Gloucestershire with our two horses and rescue dog. In my spare time I love being in nature either in my wildlife garden or out riding with my daughter in the local woods and parkland.
As a trustee, it’s great to be able to blend my business experience with my passion for equines. I am looking forward to helping shape the vision and direction of the charity over the next few years. I am also keen to continue to grow the reach of the Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s Equine Assisted Services including the mental health and equine education programmes.
The horse who will always have a special place in my heart was called Pedlar, a thoroughbred-cob cross. He was bought for my husband initially, but we ended up swapping horses as I fell in love with Pedlar. People often used to comment on the connection we had and how I became a better rider when I was with him. Pedlar and I went eventing and did lots of fun rides, but sometimes I think the best times were when we were enjoying each other’s company in the stable or field and just being companions. He died of old age a few years ago which was very sad, but I still have lots of pictures at home and many happy memories!
Yvette Bacon – Trustee
I qualified as an accountant and spent most of my career in the NHS in a variety of roles from management accounting, financial and strategic planning to data analysis and performance management.
I always wanted to use my own professional skills and experience as a volunteer in a charitable organisation. Having relocated to Devon in 2020 and seeing and reading about the fantastic work that the Mare and Foal Sanctuary did, the charity was the obvious choice.
Horses and ponies are a big part of my life. For the last 16 years I have supported my daughter with her interest in equines and riding. We even took on a loan horse as a family with the inevitable responsibilities of early mornings and late evenings spent grooming, feeding and mucking out. My daughter has developed this passion and has just qualified as a vet and is about to start work in a specialist equine hospital.
I am passionate that the sanctuary is a home for life for those animals that need a long-term, safe environment where they can be given the physical and emotional care they need to ensure a happy life. I was, and still am, astounded by the developments and progress that the charity is making in equine welfare. I am also extremely impressed with the work that the charity is doing in the area of Equine Assisted Services.
As a trustee, I am most looking forward to utilising my professional skills in finance to assist the charity in taking forward its objectives and aspirations and to help make the charity a continued success.
Rebecca-Rafiyah Findlay – Trustee
With a lifelong passion for animal welfare and a deep love and respect for horses and ponies, giving my time to the Sanctuary and our beautiful animals is a privilege.
I bring a career in Communications Marketing and Fundraising and senior leadership spent in the voluntary and public sector (including the NHS). I joined the Board in 2022. Most of my time is spent engaging, influencing, and creating campaigns to change people’s views and behaviour.
Alongside being Vice-Chair, I Chair the Fundraising and Engagement Committee and currently am Interim Chair of the People and Culture Committee. We have an exceptional team of people at The Mare and Foal Sanctuary whose skill and kindness transforms the lives of the growing number of horses ponies and people needing our care.
Our supporters – the amazing people like you – mean everything to us.
Everyone who reads our website, likes a social media post, walks into one of our charity shops, or donates the smallest amount of money is a cherished member of our Sanctuary community.
I’m dedicated to making sure you remain at the heart of all we do (alongside our gorgeous horses and ponies of course).
And a bit about me. I’m proud to have a beautiful mixed heritage through my British Egyptian family. I live in Somerset with my partner, young daughter, two cats – who rule the house – and a very large aquarium of (now pensionable) tropical fish. I love nature and am a passionate environmentalist.
Jane Williams – Trustee
I am a Professor and Head of Research at Hartpury University. I am an experienced researcher, with a passion for enhancing equine performance and wellbeing through industry-informed, real-world research that generates change.
I qualified as a veterinary nurse then gained a Masters in Equine Science before completing a doctorate and have published over 100 research articles as well as regularly presenting at international equine conferences. I am also a former Honorary President for the International Society of Equitation Science and a member of the editorial board of Comparative Exercise Physiology and Animals journals.
Horse and ponies have been a consistent feature in my life and have been some of my best friends as well as inspiring me within my career. As a trustee, I am looking forward to understanding more about the work the charity does and its impact. I am also keen to see if my experience and expertise in equine research can be of use. For me, everything comes back to equine quality of life and developing evidence to provide objective, reliable and valid foundations to how we interact with horses.
One of the biggest equine influences in my life was a Cleveland Bay x thoroughbred mare called Phoebe, who sadly is no longer with us. Pheebs was a real character right from the start. She excelled in show jumping and gave me the confidence to compete at levels I never thought I would achieve. She was always there through good and bad and I still miss her friendly face and huge ears every day.
Grace Thomas – Trustee
I’m the Chief Customer Officer at Nurole, the largest specialist non-executive recruitment platform. Passionate about the positive social and environmental impact high performing boards can have, I also lead Nurole’s board effectiveness evaluation offering and provide board career advice. I have a BA Human Sciences from University of Oxford, an MSc specialising in corporate social and environmental accountability from the University of Oxford, and an MBA.
Horses have been my greatest love from an early age and have driven almost every decision I’ve made. They motivated me to build a career which enabled me to have a horse of my own and brought me into contact with so many fantastic people.
My pride and joy is Duke, my giant 17.2 hands Irish boy. He is incredibly fun and affectionate – I fell in love with him the moment I met him. I’ve owned him for ten years and have built my life around him – and my Labrador!
I love the ethos of The Mare and Foal Sanctuary to provide lifelong care to the most vulnerable of horses and ponies. The organisation’s commitment to welfare outreach and education is fantastic and the Sanctuary’s Equine Assisted Services make it unique. I love the idea that horses can help us as much as we can help them.
I’m glad to offer my time and expertise to a charity that rescues equines, supports those struggling to care for them and also helps horses and ponies transform the lives of people. Everyone who works and volunteers here is genuinely passionate about the cause, and I’m excited to see how The Mare and Foal Sanctuary develops in coming years.
Alistair Allender – Trustee
I have always lived with animals around me and am familiar with many different types of domestic and domesticated stock (including Ruby, an English warmblood) on our smallholding. Horses and donkeys have been part of my life for many years, as companions, for riding and as pets. I have learned from them and hopefully vice versa.
In my professional life I have worked in housing and property, most recently as CEO of a Housing Association and Chair of a property development company. I hope my long term interest in horses and experience of working as a board director will enable me to help the Mare and Foal Sanctuary deliver its objectives and contribute to the development of the charity. My real interest lies in in the opportunities to improve the welfare of horses and to educate people for the future.
All equines are special but the horse that stole my heart was Amber. She was with me for around 20 years and always gave her best. She seldom complained, was easy to look after and helped me become a competent rider.
Tom Fitzgerald O’Connor – Trustee
I’ve worked in the private banking and investment industry for more than 20 years. A significant proportion was with Weatherbys Bank, which included working with key stakeholders in the racing industry, including racehorse owners. It proved a great opportunity to combine my professional expertise with my lifelong interest in horses.
I now work with D’Arblay Wealth as an investment advisor to families, trustees and charities. My work in the City has led me to becoming a Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Farriers; a livery company that holds the welfare of equines at the core of its activity.
The Mare and Foal Sanctuary has clear objectives and solutions regarding the welfare of horses and ponies. It is in a strong position to deliver on a wide range of objectives and the team has great passion, commitment and expertise. The connection between horses and humans is profound and the charity’s Equine Assisted Services are a great example of how this special bond can be so beneficial when developed correctly.
I wanted to become a trustee to give something back to the equine world. My family has always been involved with horses and ponies, whether watching or competing. The family legend ‘Pringle’, our 13.2hh Cob, is the model of versatility, stepping up to Tetrathlon competitions, hunter trials and show-jumping, providing great sport for my son and daughter.
Sophia Bickle – Trustee
After spending many years working in Adult Social Care I moved into working in Human Resources. I love being able to spend my time supporting people to develop their personal and professional skills and helping organisations meet their goals.
Horses have always been a big part of my life. When I was a child, I had a Welsh Cob named Duke. I spent many a happy weekend out in the countryside with him. Unfortunately as I’ve become older, I have not had as much time to spend with horses, but this is why I am passionate about being a trustee for the Mare and Foal Sanctuary. After adopting a rescue dog a few years ago I saw first-hand the positive effects that rehabilitation can have on an animal, and I wanted to be a part of a charity where rehabilitation and rehoming are a key objective. I live and work just a few miles from the Sanctuary’s Honeysuckle Rehabilitation Yard.
This charity is at the forefront of animal welfare which is only possible due to the amazing people who work here and the generosity of our supporters. From the care and veterinary teams to the admin, fundraising and retail staff, everyone is so passionate about the lives of the equines we care for. It’s a joy to be part of that community. I’m excited to support the charity as it continues its exceptional work in equine welfare and further develops its Equine Assisted Services. Horses and ponies have so much that they can offer people, I can’t wait to see this programme develop further.
