Success Stories

Chestnut Dartmoor Hill pony Arya arrived in 2016 as an orphaned foal. We soon learned that Arya has complex needs and must remain in the specialist care of the Sanctuary for life. Her extreme anxiety can lead to unpredictable behaviour, but she responds best when she has consistency and routine. She lives at our quieter, peaceful Yelverton Moorland Rescue Facility.

Six-year-old Benjamin takes part in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) sessions at Coombe Park, our Education and Equestrian Centre near Totnes.

Polo’s second chance 25-year-old thoroughbred cross, Polo, recently arrived at the Sanctuary after we stepped in to help another charity that were struggling to manage his behaviour.

Sarah from East Devon is a Sanctuary at Home carer to 19-year-old Piebald Gypsy Vanner Chai. 

Alison Tyrrell-Smith, a semi-retired Accountant, and her husband Mark who’s retired from the Army and National Crime Agency, have been volunteers at Coombe Park since last October.

Kenn is a five-year-old Draft Cross who has been on box rest since he was found to have multiple issues with one of his stifle joints. When horses and ponies, like Kenn, are on box rest, their enrichment is planned for morning, lunch, afternoon and night-time, seven days a week.

Kerry and her daughter Lucia from Truro wanted to loan through our Sanctuary at Home scheme because they felt they had a lot to offer a pony that might not be easy to re-home.  

Tegan-Jai from Plymouth is a remarkable 14 year old. When she was born with an inoperable brain condition, her parents Toni and Adam were told she would never walk, talk, eat or live beyond her first birthday. But Tegan defied her prognosis with extraordinary bravery and determination, to do all the things doctors said she wouldn’t, with the help of our Equine Assisted Services sessions.

Barbara has worked as a volunteer at our Brunel retail shop in Newton Abbot for eight years.