Horse & Hound online readers have set up a national campaign to raise funds for the horse charities involved in the Amersham rescue.
Called Operation Esther after a donkey foal found at Spindles Farm, organisers are calling for rugs, tack, feed and unwanted non-horsey Christmas presents to be taken to local collection points for delivery to Redwings and ILPH regional centres on Saturday 26th January.
The charities will decide whether they can use the donated items themselves, sell them in their shop, or use them as raffle or auction prizes.
Organisers Michelle Mortimer and her friend Julie Magnus have drawn on their contacts in the horse transport industry to pull the donations network together.
So far they have 30 registered collection points and 15 offers of logistical help with transport.
The website, donated by findhorsetransport.org, was set up by two forum users in Ireland, “Coffee-addict” and “Milly’s Mum”, who worked on it through the night.
People wishing to donate are asked to register on the Operation Esther website and keep an eye on the regularly updated list of collection points which will also be available on the H&H online forum.
Julie Magnus says: “We’re calling 20 Jan Contact Day when the collection points let us know how much kit they have. We then have a week to work out whether we need to draft in Eddie Stobart to help!”
Contact: www.operationesther.com or Julie Magnus. Tel: 07711192967