29th October  2006 We were recently called out to collect a nervous young male donkey who was found wandering the main roads and was unwanted by his former owner.  Click here to read more

26th October 2006 Today saw the first of our 'Pony Days' headed up by Karen Stirk, one of our very enthusiastic volunteers. The first group of six young helpers spent a day at the sanctuary learning what it takes to care for a pony. Click here to read more

8th October 2006 We have found a really good home for Red. Click here to see Red at Home with his new friends.

20th August 2006 This morning we watched as Pearl went off to a new home just outside York. Pearl is our second horse to go out on permanent loan and we were all a little apprehensive as the time came to load her onto the trailer. Click here to read more

17th August 2006 It is never a good day when you have to say goodbye to an old friend.  Today was the day we had to say goodbye to Zimba. We believe Zimba was around 37years old which is a good age for a horse, unfortunately old age and a tumor on his brain caught up with him. Click here to read more

6th August 2006 Our 'Summertime Special' charity fundraising evening at Weetwood Hall was a great success. We would like to say a big thank you to Martin, Maureen and all the staff at Weetwood Hall for their generosity and help making the night run so smoothly. We would also like to thank DJ Mike Kelly, who also gave up his time to provide the music and entertainment for the evening. Last but not least, we would also like to thank all those people who bought a ticket and gave so generously on the night without which we would not have raised £700.

3rd July 2006 We have just taken two new horses into our care, Shazeke (Shaz) & Trigger are two elderly horses who have been used in a riding school for over two decades. The riding stables they came from, Model Farm in Meanwood, has been going for 25 years but has to close at the end of July due to the cost of insurance involved in horse riding. It is a stable, which offered cheap riding lessons for local children & adults who otherwise couldn't’t have afforded them, and also probably wouldn't have had much contact with large animals at all. They also provided riding for the disabled, so it is a real shame that this place has had to close and we really feel for everyone involved, especially those who have grown up there and who are now taking their own children there to ride. The committee there has had the awful task of finding good homes for their 15 horses & ponies, with Shaz & Trigger being the two eldest. It was thought very unlikely that a home could be found for the pair due to their age and the fact that they are inseparable, so would have had to be homed together. It was looking likely that they would have to be put to sleep to save them from such an uncertain future, until one of the committee contacted us in the hope that we could provide them with homes.

We felt that we would be failing in our duty as a horse sanctuary if we were to stand by without offering help & see these two lovely horses lose their lives after giving so many local children happiness & teaching them how to ride.

Although our funds are low, we were able to shuffle the stables round and find space for Trigger & Shazeke, this means we are now full to the brim and are unable to take in any more animals unless it is a real emergency. We are hoping that these two will be popular on our sponsorship scheme to boost our funds a little so we can provide them with clean bedding, good quality hay and feed and vet and farrier care for the rest of their days throughout their well earned retirement. Click here to read more
 

28th May 2006 marked something of a milestone for Hope Pastures as our first animal went out on permanent loan. The atmosphere was filled with mixed emotions at the trailer came to take April away as it is never easy to part with an animal especially one as sweet as April, but we all knew she was going to a good home where she would be continued to be loved. We also knew that if she wasn't happy she could come home again, but after following April to her new home and seeing her with her new companion, Molly, a little black mare, sadness turned to happiness as we saw both happy together eating grass. Click here to see April with her new friend, Molly

17th May 2006 was another black day at the sanctuary when the decision was made to put poor old Dante to sleep due to age related illnesses. Click here to read all about his life

14th May 2006 Thank you to all those who supported our spring Open Day. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit gray and damp, so the turn out was not as good as we would have hoped but everyone who came seemed to have a good time never the less.

7th May 2006 Was the day for the draw for our Spring raffle. All winners will be notified in due course, but in the mean time if you want to find out the winning numbers click here for the full list.

4th March  2006 Not a good day for all at Hope Pastures. Following a major heart attack, we had to take the decision to put Perry to sleep. Perry was about 35 years old and has had a long and happy life at the sanctuary with her best friend Zimba and will be sadly missed. Read Not forgotten to find out more.

1st February 2006 We took on two new horses, Pearl and Red. Pearl and Red are both fit and well and will be the first horses that we will be actively be looking to re-home. To see pictures of them, visit Horses for re-homing

9th October 2005 Thank you to all that made our Open day such a big success and for giving so generously. Thankfully the weather stayed fine all and everyone seemed to have a good time.

7th July 2005 Thursday was a sad day for everyone who loved Sugar as she had to be put to sleep. See our new section on 'Gone but not forgotten' to learn more about this beautiful, sweet natured and gentle pony.

29th and 30th May 2005 Muffin starred in the 'Learning To Listen' Festival of Horses. Follow the 'Meet the residents' link on the left to see how he got on.

March 2005   First web presence. Although still very much 'under construction', it is still the first web presence of the sanctuary.