Thank you, Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust

Yelverton Moorland Rescue Facility Manager Abigail Alford-Thurlow says: ‘We can’t thank Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust enough for such a generous and valuable grant. It will allow us to give ponies living here peaceful and safe sanctuary for life with the space, security and facilities they need to thrive. This is a real morale boost for the team working at Yelverton because it will help us to continue giving excellent care throughout the year to more equines with often complex needs who depend on our support.

‘Young Dartmoor Hill pony Arya is one of the long-term residents here who will benefit most from this generous funding. She was orphaned at birth on the moors and brought into our care in April 2016. She has complex behaviours requiring specialist handling and training and will remain at our Sanctuary for the rest of her life.’

Sally Burton, Head of Sanctuary Care says the grant will also allow us more capacity to rescue and rehabilitate equines in critical situations. She says: ‘Our Moorland Rescue Facility has an optimum capacity of 16 equines. Currently we have 16 ponies resident there and although we are able to provide the high standard of care we promise, our facilities are currently at full stretch, and this inevitably impacts on our ability to accept more admissions of ponies in need. Our Welfare and Rehoming team work closely with others to ensure no horse or pony is ever left in a distressing situation, but completing this project will enable us to provide leading best practice care to future equines in need. Thank you so much to Elise Pilkington Trust for such kindness in helping us to achieve this.’