The Horse Trust Has its Cake and Eats It.
The Horse Trust is in the fortunate position of having its cake and eating it, according
to chief executive and resident veterinary surgeon Paul Jepson.
Speaking at the charity's annual meeting, attended by Patron HRH the Princess Royal, Mr Jepson said that rebranding the former Home of Rest for Horses as The Horse Trust, while retaining the original name for the Trust's sanctuary for retired working horses had been a "masterstroke".
"We have three themes underpinning our operation - welfare, science and education," he said. "Horse welfare is our raison d’etre and science and education are the (blunt) tools we use to achieve welfare.
"Education permeates almost everything we do," he added. "Every one of our 50,000 visitors each year is being educated in the responsibilities that go with horse ownership. And although the working life of horses is getting longer, the difference between a working life of up to 20 years is still far short of the 30 years that is the natural lifespan of a horse. What happens in those last years is a dilemma that the horse owners in this country struggle with and is an area on which we spend increasing amounts of time and money."
The Horse Trust, said Mr Jepson, had become the leading player in non-invasive research into equine ailments which were as applicable to the racehorse as to the children’s pony, show-jumper, riding horse, Shire or mounted police horse.
"Our contribution to welfare through science in the form of research and clinical facilities has raised the bar in terms of access to knowledge, but we are no longer just a milch cow doling out funds," he said. "We are fast becoming a proactive focus of expertise, as is demonstrated by our lead in combating African Horse Sickness which threatens to devastate the UK horse industry."
Caption: HRH The Princess Royal with The Lady Somerleyton (President), Major General Sir Simon Cooper (retiring Chairman), Brigadier Paul Jepson (Chief Executive)
Caption: HRH enjoying a tour of the stables
Speaking at the charity's annual meeting, attended by Patron HRH the Princess Royal, Mr Jepson said that rebranding the former Home of Rest for Horses as The Horse Trust, while retaining the original name for the Trust's sanctuary for retired working horses had been a "masterstroke".
"We have three themes underpinning our operation - welfare, science and education," he said. "Horse welfare is our raison d’etre and science and education are the (blunt) tools we use to achieve welfare.
"Education permeates almost everything we do," he added. "Every one of our 50,000 visitors each year is being educated in the responsibilities that go with horse ownership. And although the working life of horses is getting longer, the difference between a working life of up to 20 years is still far short of the 30 years that is the natural lifespan of a horse. What happens in those last years is a dilemma that the horse owners in this country struggle with and is an area on which we spend increasing amounts of time and money."
The Horse Trust, said Mr Jepson, had become the leading player in non-invasive research into equine ailments which were as applicable to the racehorse as to the children’s pony, show-jumper, riding horse, Shire or mounted police horse.
"Our contribution to welfare through science in the form of research and clinical facilities has raised the bar in terms of access to knowledge, but we are no longer just a milch cow doling out funds," he said. "We are fast becoming a proactive focus of expertise, as is demonstrated by our lead in combating African Horse Sickness which threatens to devastate the UK horse industry."
Caption: HRH The Princess Royal with The Lady Somerleyton (President), Major General Sir Simon Cooper (retiring Chairman), Brigadier Paul Jepson (Chief Executive)
Caption: HRH enjoying a tour of the stables
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