I didn't start out to run an animal sanctuary, I have always loved horses but funnily enough I have never been particularly attracted to the riding aspect, it is the looking after & caring for that I am interested in.
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I was born in Chesterfield, moved to Oxford to attend college & then to London where I worked several years for a number of merchant banks & stockbrokers. However due to the long hours I found it difficult to combine with my sport & training - cycling - in which I have competed at events all round the world
Having brought one of my horses (Max) down to Essex from Chesterfield (as I was missing him so much), I began to realise that even in reputably caring livery yards some horses were getting a very raw deal.
From here I just seem to have acquired one poorly horse after another, and that's how the sanctuary started. On top of the horses I had also a large collection of previously unwanted rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas & hamsters all based in a rather overcrowded two bedroomed bungalow.
in 1996 I was lucky enough to be able to move to a small holding in the wilds of Essex, where I now live with my menagerie - which has expanded significantly.- 300+
My philosophy is that I am privileged to be able to care for my animals, I do not regard them as my property. I do not attach a financial value to any of them. I try to allow them to interact with each other, where appropriate, in as natural environment as possible with me being there as the "overseer & carer".
My objectives are to give every animal in my care, love and the best possible quality of life I can, and when the time comes, dignity in death.
I have been vegetarian since the age of 8 & for the past 20 years a Vegan
I manage the sanctuary entirely on my own which is a 7 days a week, 365 days a year commitment. I have not had a holiday in 12 years.
Another major consequence of running the sanctuary is that I have had to stop competing in my sport as I am unable to take the time out to get to the events. I still keep myself fit with all the work at the sanctuary and endeavor to run between 80-100 miles per week and get out on my bike whenever I can.
It is difficult to make ends meet with this many mouths to feed, and also to cover the vets bills, so if you would like to help me please click here, or follow the "Help me Please" link on the main page. The feeding costs are around £4500 per month alone.
Please note that 100% of any donation you may wish to make will go directly to the animals upkeep. I take no wages, I have no staff to pay & there are no administration fees to cover. This site is maintained free of any charge to the sanctuary.
This page was last updated on: May 11, 2008
Sitting with Mr T
A relaxing bath at the end of the day goes horribly wrong
I decided to look for a companion for Max, and went to look at a horse in Newbury. I was shocked at the poor condition her was in, and more so that the owners seemed to be oblivious. They asked me to try him out, which I reluctantly agreed to do, but he was too weak to do anything more than walk. Oscar was totally unsuitable for what he was being sold as. I took him home that afternoon and spent the next three years working to improve his condition.
