Mourne Horse Watch

19/12/2024

🌟 Help Us Support the Mourne Ponies in Need This Christmas 🌟

The Mourne Ponies need your support!

Whilst we know the bands of ponies make a beautiful scene on the Mournes, to the trained eye, these ponies tell a very different tale. Many are suffering from urgent veterinary issues, dental and farriery care needs, and dangerously high worm burdens.

These ponies have endured unimaginable hardships, but there’s hope—thanks to the incredible efforts of Equine Halfway House/Equine Welfare Network in Lisburn. This woman has almost single-handedly rounded up and taken in over 65 abandoned ponies from the mountains, providing them with safety, care, and a second chance at life.

🐴 Katryna, the driving force behind Equine Halfway House, works tirelessly—almost single-handedly—to rescue, rehabilitate, and care for these ponies. Her dedication is nothing short of heroic, but she cannot continue this vital work without your support.

💖 Please consider donating to Equine Halfway House to help fund the essential care these ponies so desperately need. Every little bit counts in providing these animals with the health and dignity they deserve. Katryna receives no government funding and is dependent on donations from the public to keep helping animals
In need.

📲 To donate:

https://fundmyshelter.enthuse.com/equinehalfwayhouse/profile?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3t-a0-aVAFMhRcfDExCFAuBDYMTuEnOecBeIJXv7XaLhAbS1AmabMVLPI_aem_IKBc1o7dg9N-8I_XwSJsTg

💳 https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5E7MNWSPZ9T6Q

or learn more, visit her page: Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network

Let’s come together as a community to make a difference for these beautiful creatures. Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

20/09/2024

Would anyone be able to collect these free hay bales to bring to Katryna in Lisburn at Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network - she has taken in, rehabilitated and continues to care for over 30+ abandoned ponies on the Mournes, to join her other rescues to a total over over 60 horses, ponies and donkeys and really could use the help to feed them, now and this winter! Please get in touch if you can help!

Hay bales available at Divis and the Black Mountain☀️

After a series of hot days harvesting, our rangers have several bales left over ready for a good home. If you would be interested, feel free to stop by the Divis Café and pick up as many as you would like.

The bales are completely free for anyone to take, but a donation to the café would be appreciated to help with our conservation efforts💚

Belfast Hills Partnership

19/08/2024

UPDATE
This particular mare and foal are still together 💕

Please share with any hiking friends.
If you are in the mournes today keep an eye out for ponies. They all have a herd. If you see one on their own, PLEASE get in touch.
I believe a mare and foal have been separated. They usually live in a herd that ranges from the Glen river over to millstone, but also go to bloody bridge to drink if they're over that way.
A youngster was helped last week, out of a small ravine. I think it was one of this year's foals. While he is able to eat grass and browse, exposure and other herds are a danger.
The mum was on a Facebook post yesterday and I've reached out to the hiker who posted it.
The photo below was taken back in June, the wee colts coat has changed a little and evened out. But if you see any ponies alone today, please give me a head up with photo and location if possible.
Thanks guys, stay safe ❤️

25/07/2024

♥️ SAVE THE DATE ♥️

Fundraising BBQ on behalf of Equine Halfway House - Sat 24th August at Bloody Bridge, Newcastle. Details & time TBC

**This event is NOT going ahead**
The brave group are still doing their big hike and would love your support x

FUNDRAISING BBQ
SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST
TIME TBC
BLOODY BRIDGE NEWCASTLE

I will create an event tomorrow and add what we have going on as I know.
So far we have planned a bbq, an Elvis act, a bit of live music, some of our ponies will be there to meet, have your photo taken with and take for a little walk and a raffle.
Anyone else would like to offer entertainment please get in touch by email [email protected] . We would also love some sponsorship for food, a marquee and soft drinks.
Big crowd is a must to welcome the brave group that are taking on the challenge of the 7 7's that day. To get involved with this hike please get in touch, be it to hike, sponsor the hikers or if you are a business that would like your company name or logo on the hikers T shirts and banners 💖
I'm going to try to make this a day for everyone. So open to suggestions.

Sponsor link below and thank you to Jasmine McBride who is organising the hike in memory of her horse Hero. 💜 What a fabulous name. Perfect for our fundraisers. Our hero's.
https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/heros-equine-half-way-house-rescue-7-7s

Photo of Mr Grey before rescue. We were treating him on the mountain for an infected wound.

23/07/2024

Anyone in the area/hiking today could look out for any ponies?

Anybody up donard that could check the wellbeing of a number of ponies?
Someone emailed asking me to go and get them but didn't give any details about why. The only location left was the forest corner of the Glen river.
My box has all the electrics stripped and waiting on parts arriving today. I will of course borrow a box of needed, but would like to know if needed 🙈

09/06/2024

07/06/2024

UPDATE: Mare and foal have been located and seem well. Please do keep an eye out for us if you're in the area in the near future - a lot of mares are foaling or have just foaled and it's a time when things often can and do go wrong for them both.

Thanks to our lovely supporter Sarah for taking time out of her day to check for us, and to Beth for the report.

And remember you can support the ongoing care of ponies we have managed to rescue from the Mournes by following and donating to Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network in Lisburn - who is snowed under caring for abandoned ponies from the Mournes!

Thanks again,

MHW

🚨🚨 URGENT 🚨🚨 ANYONE IN VICINITY OF DONARD/GLEN RIVER PATH/ICE HOUSE

Reports of injured pony/foal near the Ice House on Donard.

Anyone hiking the area right now please have a look to see if you can see the foal - we urgently need videos to help assess and potentially get help up to the pony.

The foal has been reported as lying down and moving but calling out in distress. Please if you know anyone hiking the area at the moment send them a message and ask if they can help us out as we are not near the mountains at the moment!

Many thanks,

MHW

18/11/2023

For anyone who thinks the ponies on the Mournes should be left up there, without management or care - this is a prime example of why they need rescued from the Mountains, or why money needs to be made available from government/council so they can be managed like the herds on Dartmoor and in Wales.

Domesticated, in**ed ponies are not suited for longterm life on the Mournes without management.

Orphaned foal Mason was unlikely to survive winter without urgent help, but his battle was just beginning...

13/10/2023

We are trying to organise a Charity ride in aid of Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network - who have rescued, rehabilitated and continue to care for over 30 of the abandoned Mournes ponies.

We are particularly keen to organise a Christmas ride in December, perhaps through a small but busy town such as Holywood, but any other rides in benefit of the sanctuary before that would be a fantastic bonus! Would any local riding clubs or organisations that hold planned horse rides be able to hold one for the sanctuary and the ponies? Please get in touch - it is such a worthy cause and a lovely way to help the sanctuary and enjoy yourself with friends at the same time.

Many thanks,

Mourne Horse Watch

Ulster Rural Riders Association Endurance Riding Ireland - ILDRA The British Horse Society Ireland National Trust NI Irish Draught Horse Society Limited. Northern Ireland North Down Pony Club - A Branch of the Pony Club East Down Branch Of the Pony Club Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt Shanes Castle Florida Manor Rademon Estate Distillery

09/10/2022

Yesterday the team here braved Slieve Donard for the sponsored walk in aid of the Mourne ponies currently in the care of Equine halfway house.

The weather was perfect, though not a pony in sight of course 😂

Our current combined fundraising total of everyone who took part comes to £965 - though we are hoping we can make it to £1000 for the sanctuary as it will make a big difference to them.

You can donate here at this link to help the charity.

https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/fundraiser-for-equine-halfway-house

Thanks as always for your support!

MHW

10/09/2022

Sponsored Walk Date Change!

Unfortunately our founder has tested positive for COVID, so the *official* date of the sponsored walk has been postponed til October 8th. Of course you can still sign up and complete the climb any date that suits you before the end of the year. It's a great cause to get involved in so please do get in touch if you wish to help.

If you'd like to contribute to the ongoing care of the 30+ Mourne Ponies already rescued then please consider donating directly to Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network via the link below.

Many thanks as always for your support!

https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/.../fundraiser-for...

09/09/2022

Sponsored Walk Date Change!

Unfortunately our founder has tested positive for COVID, so the *official* date of the sponsored walk has been postponed til October 8th. Of course you can still sign up and complete the climb any date that suits you before the end of the year. It's a great cause to get involved in so please do get in touch if you wish to help.

If you'd like to contribute to the ongoing care of the 30+ Mourne Ponies already rescued then please consider donating directly to Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network via the link below.

Many thanks as always for your support!

https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/fundraiser-for-equine-halfway-house

06/09/2022

We have another pony on the Mournes with an injury. Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network have been up daily treating him but sometimes he's hard to find, and since we believe his injuries were caused from fighting with other stallions it's important to keep an eye on all the ponies at the moment. Please report any sightings here so we can pass them on.

Don't forget our Sponsored Donard Walk is this Saturday, you can take part on the day or feel free to complete on a date that suits you instead. Details on fundraising and how to take part can be found by messaging us here. A great cause to support the sanctuary and the 30+ ponies they have taken in from the Mournes.

MHW

01/09/2022

URGENT APPEAL FOR FUNDRAISING!! Only 3 sign-ups - we need your help!

Take part in our Sponsored Walk in the Mournes to help the Mourne ponies and the sanctuary who has taken in over 30 of them, Equine halfway house

Self guided on your own day or join us on Saturday the 10th of September to complete.

DM for details, and please share to help promote the walk and help the ponies.

MHW 🐴

26/08/2022

A plea for support!!

We have only had a few official sign ups for our sponsored Donard walk in aid of the rescued Mourne ponies rescued by Equine halfway house pony rescue and refuge - Equine Welfare Network

The sanctuary has worked tirelessly over the last 2 years to rescue over 30 ponies in poor health from the mountains and regularly check and care for the others still on the mountains.

Winter is coming and the sanctuary needs all the help it can get - please consider joining us for the walk to help raise money!

10/08/2022

Looking for current sightings from yesterday (9th August) and today of ponies in the Donard, Millstone and Bloody Bridge area to assist in a welfare check.

Any sightings from yesterday or today please DM us here.

MHW