We're still collecting donations
On the 21st April 2020 we'd raised £295 with 11 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Due to the Corona crisis we are unable to raise funds for our miniature ponies
by Kimzy West in Sandbach, England, United Kingdom
On the 21st April 2020 we'd raised £295 with 11 supporters in 28 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic my therapy pony and party bookings are being cancelled/postponed and we have no funding coming in towards feeding or caring for our ponies. Funds from the government for self employed sole traders will not be accessible until June at the earliest! The ponies do not stop eating during the 3 months wait, they still require their every need.
We are coming out of our quietest time of year, Winter. Usually by this point I am hanging on in there ready for a busy summer doing anything I can to raise funds for my precious animals. But this year our summer season will be cancelled, missing out on our busiest time will have a huge financial effect on our business.
This may not be the most professionally written business plea you will read, these ponies are so much more than just 'business'. This is to save our life together and this plea is straight from my heart.
The Shetland Ponies
Miniature shetland ponies are one of the most neglected and abused animals in the UK. Although they are smaller than an average horse they still require the same care if not more, which many people don't understand.
Commonly known in the horse world as 'Sh*tlands' due to their cheeky characters, I am lucky enough to own 7 beauties, their names are: Pansy (15yrs), Boris (10yrs), Joe (6yrs), Kevin (3yrs), Isla (2yrs), Star (20yrs) and Lyra (14yrs).
I also have a team of therapy bunny rabbits Snowy, Pumpkin, Peanut & Lily. And guinea pigs Freddie, Barney & Nancy. As well as some bunnies and piggies in training. Together we are team Wild West Pony Parties! The majority of my ponies are rescue or are ponies that were sold off cheap in auctions as they had "issues" and needed rehabilitating. Many of my ponies suffered physical abuse and neglect in their previous homes, beaten by humans, covered in lice and riddled with worms, underweight and lack of muscle, long hooves, bad teeth, urine stained and matted fur.
They are good ponies and definitely did not deserve to be treated like this, no animal does.
After a lot of time, love, and training these ponies have managed to turn their lives around and now give back their love to help humans in need and make dreams come true! We have had adults and children cry happy tears when meeting the ponies, the ponies and small pets regularly attend animal therapy sessions at Special Educational Needs schools and elderly care homes, they have visited very poorly children in hospitals whilst working with When You Wish Upon A Star charity, they have been to see children in cities who have never even stroked a pony before, we have donated vouchers to our local schools and charities for their raffles and done free visits... but now the ponies need some help back.
My ponies have always been so kind and caring deep down, which is why they were able to trust me and learn to overcome their fears. They give so much love and happiness to the human race that once made them suffer terrible things.
Our Plea
Times are going to be hard for everyone, we understand that. But if you can spare even the smallest donation to keep us going then we would be eternally grateful! These ponies are so happy together, bonded with their friends and they need to stay together through this pandemic so that we can continue to spread happiness and smiles once it is over.
Basic costs for the ponies include:
This doesn't include any of our licence costs, insurance costs or vets fees that may occur whilst we are closed.
All of this soon mounts up and as we are missing our busiest time of year this will take us a long time to recover from.
I'm not the type of person to ask for help, but realistically my savings won't cover these costs for the summer, this is my only hope by asking you to donate and we can do as much as we can in return once things are back to normal!
Now we are currently unable to work for the foreseeable future. Community events are cancelled for the foreseeable, Care homes are unable to open for at least 4 - 12 weeks and schools are finished until possibly September! We are being advised that the peak of this awful pandemic will be June, this would be at least 12 weeks if not more with no/very little bookings.
This year I planned to open our own indoor venue where we can hold community events, mums & toddler groups, animal assisted therapy sessions, indoor children's parties for winter birthdays, coffee mornings for the elderly, activity days during school holidays... there is nothing like this in our area and so many people would benefit! But right now because of the pandemic this goal seems like it will never happen. If we can raise enough to keep us afloat it would mean we could still open our venue and help so many more people.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for millions of British small businesses, which is going to make it very challenging for businesses to survive. Together we can help them.
Crowdfunder are offering up their platform to allow all UK small businesses to pre-sell their meals, events, hotel bookings etc. for cash now on a promise to redeem these at a later date.
We ask project owners to honour their rewards wherever possible but please note that all pledges are donations and there is no guarantee that you will receive any rewards from the project owner. Please see Crowdfunder's Terms of Use for more information regarding rewards for pledges.
This project offered rewards