*Neigh* Thank You for our Hay!

THANK YOU SKYRIAN HORSE ANGELS!

This is a message from Katie who is a regular volunteer for the project and who set up our Crowdfunder in November 2018. We’d like to say a final huge heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you for your incredibly generous donations and support. We have now used all the funds raised to purchase hay, straw and alfalfa last winter, as well as other vital supplies for the day to day care of the horses and equipment to improve their quality of life. I have just returned from a short volunteering trip in Skyros and have seen firsthand the impact your donations are having on the project. New fields have been fenced, creating more spaces for the horses. I helped worm the horses and followed this up with 10 days of probiotic to maintain gut health. Other supplements are helping the horses to be as fit and healthy as they can be and get the vitamins and minerals they may occasionally lack from being on a hay-only diet.

We value every penny we receive and a great deal of time and energy has gone into ensuring we have spent your donations in the most cost-effective ways. In the winter your donations bought 2 full lorries of hay (450 bales each), 3 small lorries of oat straw (250 bales each) and 75 bales of alfalfa for the older ponies. Since then, your donations have also bought new fencing equipment and energisers, essential veterinary supplies and homeopathy, supplements and vitamin mineral blocks, high quality winter rugs, and some replacement headcollars. The project could not be run without your loyal support and your trust and belief in the work that Amanda, Stathis and the volunteers do in protecting this rare and special breed. We are extremely grateful for your continued support.

Lots of love, the 36 four-leggeds and the two-leggeds! xxx

You can view the story and success of our November 2018 Crowdfunder here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/supportskyrianhorses

We are always in need of support to continue the project. If you would like to volunteer, adopt, donate or help in any way, please contact us directly at skyrosislandhorsetrust@gmail.com. We very much look forward to hearing from you.

Follow our Facebook page, ‘Friends of the Skyrian Horse’, by clicking the icon in the sidebar for regular updates and photos from the farm!

December hay delivery

Early March hay delivery with regular volunteer Anna

One of the many smaller deliveries brought in on a 3-wheeler. The main road from Skyros port collapsed due to awful weather during the winter, preventing the larger lorry from accessing the farm. Very lucky to have friends who help us out in desperate circumstances!

Solar energisers

Electric fencing supplies

New spaces for the horses have been fenced

Mending hedges with branches

High quality rugs for our old girls, the Golden Oldies, to give extra protection during harsh winters

Astrapi and Meli modelling their new wardrobe!

Worming time!

Regular volunteer Liv feeding probiotic following the first round of worming

Amanda and Stathis collecting deliveries

Just some of the supplements and veterinary supplies we have been able to stock up on

One of the vitamin and mineral blocks and lotions and potions such as wonderdrug Manuka honey

A selection of medication and homeopathy supplies

Supporting our project also helps to preserve the farm as a special, life-enriching environment for returning and prospective volunteers. The video below was made for our Autumn 2018 Crowdfunder and features some of our volunteers talking about why the farm is important to them: