Our Staff

Meet the team

We’re the place for people who want to make a difference to the lives of horses, ponies and foals. We currently have around 130 members of staff and almost 100 volunteers who make a difference everyday.

Lucy’s story

Lucy is a member of the Sanctuary Care team based at our moorland rescue facility in Yelverton. She joined us through the merger with South West Equine Protection (SWEP) in 2018 and has been involved with rehabilitating and training some of our most challenging moorland ponies. Her work with bay mare Wilma has been transformational.

Wilma was defensive and her behaviour was very unpredictable. She developed a strong bond with groom Lucy, whose calm approach has given Wilma the confidence she needs. Lucy began weight-bearing training with the help of a teddy bear. It was hoped that one day Wilma could go out on loan to a knowledgeable carer through our Sanctuary at Home scheme.

Lucy is now working with two more challenging ponies – Spirit and Breeze. Spirit is a 15-year-old moorland mare who is very nervous when having her feet picked up and Breeze is a nine-year-old Dartmoor gelding who struggles with unwanted behaviour. Thanks to Lucy’s expertise and commitment to the sanctuary’s values of kindness, care and knowledge, Spirit and Breeze will now have the chance to come into their own. “I was told from a young age I have a way with horses,” explains Lucy. “Working with the more challenging horses allows me to broaden my knowledge so that I will be able to help more equines live a happy and long life. You build a very strong bond with each individual because they put so much trust into you – that in itself is an amazing experience.

Lucy at Yelverton

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A career here at The Mare and Foal Sanctuary can be a most rewarding experience and we also have professional volunteering and work experience opportunities.

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Our History

Our history of rescuing, rehabilitating and retraining horses and ponies spans more than three decades. The Mare and Foal Sanctuary was founded in 1988 by Rosemary Kind, and registered as a charity in 1992.
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Latest News

Read about our recent activities, events and latest developments here.
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About Us

Ensuring horses and ponies have a sanctuary for life.
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