Meet & Sponsor The Herds
MEET THE HERDS
The Mystical Herd
~ affectionately known as The Mysties ~ freedom, friendship and a home for life
The story of Springwood Sanctuary began with the rescue of Missy, a former racehorse, in 2012. Recognising that she needed permanent companions and the security of a herd to feel safe shaped everything that followed. The herd grew from listening to her needs and then a sanctuary, founded on exceptional care, trust, love, protecting friendships and offering a home for life. Missy is no longer with us, but her legacy lives on in every animal who finds safety here.
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The herd includes several former racehorses, together with others who have also experienced abuse or needed a safe place to spend their retirement. Through patient care, understanding and trusting relationships, each is given the time and space to settle, heal and flourish in mind, body and spirit.
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Today, the herd brings together seven horses, two ponies, ranging in age from 13 to 30. alongside Rodney the donkey and Ted the sheep. Among them are three much-loved retirement liveries, fully at home within this bonded family.
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At Springwood Sanctuary, they have the freedom to roam, forage, rest and enjoy one another’s company. Their friendships are respected, their individual needs guide our care and each individual has a voice in how they live.
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It is a privilege to watch their personalities shine - whether they are exploring, playing, choosing their favourite plants or simply resting peacefully beside a trusted companion. Here, they can be themselves, with the love, security and lifelong care they deserve.
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Meet the herd:
Rhia, Nelson, Polly, Winnie, Lady, Charlie, Bonnie, Blue Moon, Kati, Rodney and Ted.
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Your sponsorship helps us provide the care that makes this life possible and keeps Missy’s legacy alive. Thank you for being part of their story.
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The Wild Herd
​~ affectionately known as The Wildies ~
together, free and home for life
Most of the Wildies arrived at Springwood Sanctuary in the summer of 2023, when their previous sanctuary could no longer care for them and reached out for help. They arrived severely undernourished, needing time, nourishment and patient care to recover.
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Welcoming them meant doubling the number of horses and ponies in our care overnight. It was a huge leap of faith for our small sanctuary. However, keeping this closely bonded herd together mattered deeply to us, and for many of the Wildies, a conventional domestic setting would have been impossible. They needed a home where their friendships would be protected and their individual needs understood.
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Taking them in placed an enormous strain on our resources, but watching them regain their strength and confidence has made that decision worthwhile.
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Today, this mixed herd of nine horses and ponies includes Skye, one of our much-loved retirement liveries, who has become part of their forever family.
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The Wildies are happiest grazing the open hillsides, exploring and foraging together, or simply resting beside their companions. They choose where to roam and when to seek shelter, with trees, hedgerows, barns and open-sided shelters offering protection from the weather. Here, they can simply be themselves - safe, settled and loved.
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Meet the herd
Triggy, Lady of the Wildies, Maisie, Jasper, Remy, Archie, Skye, Blue Wizard and Gatsby.
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Your sponsorship helps us provide lifelong care while protecting the freedom and friendships that make their lives here special.
HELP WITH SPONSORSHIP
HELP US CARE FOR THE ANIMALS AT SPRINGWOOD
We greatly value our wonderful family of Springwood Sponsors. Our daily love, protection and care is freely given in abundance, but daily costs for the animals here are huge. Our expenses include hay, extra feeds, supplements, dentistry, hoof trimming, first aid care, bedding, vet bills and fencing.
We are run by volunteers on a not for profit basis, so every penny of your very valued sponsorship goes directly to support the rescued animals.
YOUR SPONSORSHIP INCLUDES: ​
A personalised sponsorship pack
A signed, personalised sponsorship certificate, a herd fact sheet, and a biography and professional photograph of your chosen horse, pony or donkey.
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An annual guided sanctuary tour
Enjoy a private guided tour with Jacqui, Springwood’s founder. Meet the herds living with freedom and choice, experience the peace of the sanctuary and walk beside our mile-long stretch of the River Teifi. Discover how rewilding is creating space for wild plants and native wildlife to flourish, with each return visit offering a chance to see how the land is changing.
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Springwood isn’t open to the public, so your visits are exclusively for you. Sponsors are welcome to visit by prior appointment.
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Weekly glimpses of sanctuary life
Join our sponsors’ group for weekly photo and video updates featuring both herds and the wildlife who share their home.
Sponsorship from £10 a month or £120 a year.
MEET THE HORSES
Lady of the Mysties
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Lady is a beautiful 16.2hh bright chestnut thoroughbred mare.
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Age: She is the wise elder - the oldest member of both herds. Lady is 30 this year - her birthday is 5th February 1996.
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She was rescued from racing and breeding and given a forever home at Springwood in 2017.
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She is sensitive, gentle and caring and enjoys foraging and exploring new areas.
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Herd: The Mysties
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Winnie
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Winnie is a beautiful 16.2hh chestnut thoroughbred mare.
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Age: She's the 2nd oldest member of both herds. Winnie is 30 this year - her birthday is 14th April 1996.
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Winnie was rescued from racing and breeding and given a forever home at Springwood in 2017.
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She is sensitive, gentle and loving. She enjoys massages and scratches and loves apples.​
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Herd: The Mysties
Bonnie ​
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Bonnie is a beautiful big black cob who was born in Ireland.
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Age: She is 23 this year - her birthday is 24th August 2003.
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She is feisty and strong willed with a huge heart and she loves human company.
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Bonnie joined us at Springwood in July 2023 as part of the Wildies and chose to change herds to the Mysties in March 2025.
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She has become very close friends with Rodney (donkey).
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Herd: The Mysties
Nelson​
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Nelson is a beautiful 16.2.hh bay Thoroughbred gelding.
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Age: He is 20 this year - his birthday is 8th April 2006.
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Nelson was rescued by Springwood in October 2017 and lives happily with his bonded herd.
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Nelson is very gentle and wise. He is best friends with Polly.
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He loves face massages and sharing mindfulness with humans.
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Herd: The Mysties.
Rhia ​
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Rhia is a beautiful 16.3.hh dark bay Thoroughbred mare.
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Age: She is 17 this year - her birthday is 29th May 2009.
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Rhia was rescued from slaughter after being cruelly discarded by the racing industry because she had suffered a very bad accident. Fortunately we were contacted and asked to urgently help her.
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Rhia has lived safely and happily with her herdmates at Springwood for several years - she came to live with us in June 2020. She receives ongoing bodywork, healing and supplements to support her and is thriving in her forever home.
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She is a very gentle, sensitive horse who enjoys massage and scratches as well as mindful moments with humans. Apples, herbs and calendula flowers are her favourites.
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Herd: The Mysties
Blue Moon​
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Blue Moon is a beautiful 13.2hh grey cob.
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She is 13 years old – her birthday is 1st May 2013.
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Blue Moon has now been with us at Springwood for the longest. We rescued her in 2016 when she was not quite 3 years old. She was Missy’s very dear bonded friend and she has welcomed many horses, ponies and donkeys into the sanctuary with gentle love and care, allowing them to be vulnerable and safe.
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Blue Moon is sensitive, gentle, feisty and fun loving. She demands autonomy over her body, but also loves massages on her terms. She enjoys selecting healing herbs and especially loves dried calendula flowers, peppermint and apples. She loves Kati, Charlie, Lady and Rodney and enjoys living with freedom, being loved and cherished in her forever home.
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Herd: The Mysties
Rodney​
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Rodney is one of our wonderful donkeys.
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He is the youngest equine member of both herds – he is 12 this year – his birthday is 1st May 2014 and has lived at Springwood for 8 years.
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He had a lot of coping mechanisms for life prior to coming to live at the sanctuary and was very stressed, however he settled in with us and felt safe straight away.
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He is a cheeky, loving, sensitive and caring donkey and we sense he sees himself as the peacekeeper and caretaker of the herd - braying loudly at any time of day or night if something isn’t quite right or someone isn’t where he feels they should be! Rodney loves being with Bonnie, Kati and Blue Moon, chasing around the hillside, eating hay, rolling in new bedding and absolutely any treats on offer. He especially loves dried seaweed, apples and drinking water with apple cider vinegar in it. He often enjoys having his head supported and held whilst he snoozes or stretching his legs yoga style whilst putting his whole weight onto me!
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It is our absolute honour to give Rodney and all the animals here a safe forever home at Springwood. Thank you to everyone who supports them by sponsorships and donations.
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Herd: The Mysties
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Ted
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Ted is a beautiful texel cross wether sheep.
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Ted lived with his brother Bill all of his life from a lamb. Luckily for them they were rescued by Donna, otherwise they would have been sent to an abattoir at a young age and sold as meat. It's hard not to be angry at the system that normalises the fact that they are so badly exploited and end their lives in so much fear.
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Ted is very relaxed and trusting around his human caretakers and the whole herd of Mysties these days. He greatly enjoys a head rub. He often waits for Lady and Winnie so he can hang out with them.
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Herd: The Mysties
Charlie (retirement livery)​
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Charlie is a beautiful 15.2hh grey Thoroughbred x Connemara gelding.
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Age: Charlie is 24 this year - his birthday is 26th March 2002.
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Charlie is one of our lovely retirement liveries and came to live at Springwood in December 2022
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Herd: The Mysties
Polly
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​​Polly is a beautiful 16.1hh bay thoroughbred mare.
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Age: She is 17 this year – her birthday is 8th February 2009.
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She came to live at Springwood in September 2023. She is one of our lovely retirement liveries.
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Polly is extremely bonded with Nelson and enjoys her freedom and safety at Springwood. She is allowing herself to also become very trusting and vulnerable with me after being quite guarded for her first few months of being here. She is amazing in the herd and has a very clear, gentle way of communicating with all the other animals (including humans).
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Herd: The Mysties
Kati
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​Kati is a beautiful 11hh bay roan Welsh section A pony.
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She is 14 years old this year – her birthday is 14th May 2012.
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Kati is one of our wonderful retirement liveries and we are very honoured to enable her a very safe, secure and loving forever home with her bonded herd mates.
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Kati loves pretty much any treats on offer, but her favourite is usually sticking her whole muzzle into the turmeric paste and slurping it up! Watch out if you’re nearby as she’ll cover you too!
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She also loves exploring and playing with her best buddies Blue Moon and Rodney. She enjoys hanging out with Nelson, eating hay with him or exploring new areas.
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She’s released so much past trauma and is a happy, peaceful, integrated member of the Mysties.
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Herd: The Mysties
Remy​
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Remy is a beautiful 12hh grey Welsh Section B gelding.
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Age: He's the 3rd oldest member of both herds. Remy is 25 this year - his birthday is 25th May 2001.
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Remy was rescued by Springwood in 2023.
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In his younger years Remy was used as a stallion, shown and then showjumped before he found his rescue home. This all became too much for him and he ended up having seizures with all the stress put on him. Fortunately he ended up being cared for and rehabilitated by us.
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His confidence and trust is growing these days with being given complete autonomy over his body, no expectations and free choice ... in the same way everyone here does. It is a joy to see him heal from his past.
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Herd: The Wildies
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Lady of the Wildies
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​​Lady is a beautiful 16.1hh piebald Irish Draught mare.
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Age: She is 20 this year - her birthday is 14th February 2006 - our Valentine's girl!
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Lady takes time to trust, but when she does she is very gentle and loving, enjoying a massage, scratch or mindfully hanging out.
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She is best friends with Maisie, Triggy and Jasper.
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Herd: The Wildies
Archie ​
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Archie is a beautiful 12hh black Dartmoor hill pony gelding.
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Age: He is 20 this year - his birthday is 1st May 2006.
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Archie is the most undomesticated of all the horses here. He was born wild on Dartmoor and ran free with his family band as a stallion there for his formative years.
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He enjoys foraging wild medicinal plants on the land.
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Archie is inquisitive, gentle and is developing huge trust in his human caretakers.
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He hangs out with Remy and is beginning to enjoy playing with Gatsby too.
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Herd: The Wildies
Gatsby
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​Gatsby is a beautiful 16.1hh thoroughbred x Irish sports horse gelding.
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He is black with white speckles over his body - mainly on his rump.
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Age: He is 17 this year - his birthday is 3rd May 2009.
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He came to live at Springwood in July 2023 and was very underweight and submissive in the herd. He is now positively thriving and it's so wonderful to see him leading the herd into new places, forming strong friendships with all the herd and enjoying life to the full!
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It is lovely to see him beginning to play these days - especially with Archie and Jasper.
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Gatsby is especially bonded with Skye and they are often seen grazing or mutual grooming together.
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Herd: The Wildies
Jasper ​
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Jasper is a beautiful bay 16hh thoroughbred x Irish sports horse gelding.
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Age: He is 16 this year - his birthday is 2nd June 2010.
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He is part of the Wildies herd and is very closely bonded with Lady, Triggy and Maisie.
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The four of them hang out in a group together except when Jasper feels like a boyish game! He enjoys playing with Gatsby and is forming a close friendship with him.
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​Herd: The Wildies
Blue Wizard
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Blue Wiz is a beautiful 13hh piebald Irish cob gelding with beautiful blue eyes.
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He is 15 this year - his birthday is 30th June 2011.
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Blue Wiz is very gentle, loving and sensitive. He was a formative member of the Wildies being rescued at just 2 years old by his last sanctuary in Sussex and came to live with us at Springwood in Wales in July 2023.
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Blue Wiz often loves scratches by humans and enjoys hanging out with Gatsby, Archie, Skye and Remy.
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Herd: The Wildies.
Maisie​​​
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Maisie is a beautiful 14.2hh chestnut mare.
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She is 15 this year - her birthday is 23rd May 2011.​
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Maisie is very closely bonded with Lady, Triggy and Jasper. The four of them hang out in a group together and are usually inseparable, all supporting each other, grazing together, mutual grooming and hooning about having fun.
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Maisie is very gentle, sensitive and kind with people too once she has decided you are someone to trust, someone who will listen to her and allow her free choice and autonomy over her body.
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Herd: The Wildies​
Triggy
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Triggy is a beautiful 15.1hh chestnut Welsh Section D mare with flaxen mane and tail.
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She is 14 years old this year – her birthday is 16th June 2012.
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Triggy is very closely bonded with Lady, Maisie and Jasper. The four of them hang out in a group together and are usually inseparable, all supporting each other, grazing together, mutual grooming and hooning about having fun.
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Triggy is very gentle, sensitive and loving. She loves scratches and massages under her belly and down her back legs so will often back into you for this! She loves having a big pile of hay best of all,
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Herd: The Wildies
Skye ​​​​​​
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Skye is a beautiful 14.2hh dappled grey Connemara mare.
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Age: She is 24 this year - her birthday is 7th August 2002.
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Skye is one of our lovely retirement liveries and came to live at Springwood in September 2023.
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She enjoys hanging out with Remy, Archie and Blue Wizard and is especially bonded with Gatsby.
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Herd: The Wildies
Choose to set up a single, monthly, or annual payment. Regular payments help us plan for the future so please consider a monthly or annual sponsorship if you can.
​​Please let us know who you'd like to sponsor (see Meet the Herd above), so that we can send your personalised sponsorship certificate, updates and invitations to you. If you can't choose, you can sponsor the entire herd of either the Mysties or the Wildies for the same amount.
Thank you very much for your support.
Your valued sponsorship helps us to care for their every need and means the world to all the animals here.
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