Mini the Sheep and Friends

28/06/2024

It’s been one hell of a month here for us with poorly animals. This week, for the first time ever, in almost 15 years of owning sheep, we have had one of them with flystrike. Luckily I noticed the signs on poor little Monty early, and we were able to treat him. However, I went to check on him the next day, and the poor darling had managed to get himself cast (stuck upside down). This is extremely dangerous for sheep, and it can kill them if they are in this position for too long. I don’t know how long he was like that for, but I imagine a fair while. When we got him upright, he had swelling to one aide of his face, and eye socket (you can see it in the left to the photo). We tried repeatedly to get him back up, and for a while he tried, but just couldn’t make it. We decided to leave him to calm down and rest, and then to try again. It is imperative to get them back up again. We put a bale of hay beside him, at his back, to stop him rolling back again, and to give him something to steady himself against. We came back in an hour, and this time we managed to get him up. He drank a whole bow of water, ate some hay, and then staggered off in to the field. Today he is still up and about, and is doing really well, considering! A huge sigh of relief!

22/06/2024

WARNING - graphic photos - please do not scroll through if you don’t like medical procedures etc.

This week, little Diggory had to have a suspected Sarcoid (localised tumour) removed from the corner of his mouth. My vet, Otter Vets, kindly referred us to the wonderful Summerleaze Equine Vets, who carried out the procedure here in a stable. Photos show the process of the operation, which was done with cutting edge laser technology. Thanks to all involved, who did such an amazing job. Also, the biopsy results came through, and luckily it turned out not to be a Sarcoid, so excellent news!

08/11/2023

Absolutely hilarious! Now I need to put rubber squeaky chickens on the wish list for the animals 😂😂😂😂😂

11/07/2023

So, the vet came to rasp the ponies teeth. Pascoe was an absolute angel, Digory, on the other hand, was a complete and utter blinking nightmare LOL. He had the biggest attitude on him for such a tiny pony, and there was no way he was going to let the vet give him his sedative injection without letting him know that he was seriously not impressed. It took an hour and a half to sedate him, and then 10 minutes to do his teeth. 😆 😆 😆 Such a cheeky rascal!

10/07/2023

Chewy, and the other ponies, had their feet trimmed by our amazing farrier last week, and Chewy also had a visit from the vet for his inoculations. He is a superb little Welsh Section A pony, but hasn’t had a very good start to his life, and is incredibly nervous. He HATES having a head collar put on him, and we have tried over the years to get him used to it, but he has obviously had a terrible experience at some point, and it has scared him for life. Once you manage to get the head collar on him though, he is wonderful on it. Even when we are trying to get it on him, and he is getting uptight, he never once tries to kick out - he is just amazingly sweet tempered. We just have to be incredibly patient with him, reward him, and speak softly. He never gets told off, just praised. Luckily, he has no pressures put on him here to be a riding pony, and we just continue to give him positive experiences, and work with him patiently. He absolutely adores children though, and will gladly tolerate head strokes from them, when he has young visitors. Luckily, when we move the other horses from paddock to paddock, or in to the stables, by head collar, he just follows them in the sweetest way. Doesn’t attempt to run off, even though he is not restrained at all. He really is an amazing little chap!

10/07/2023

Somehow, animals always seem to find us here, if they are in need. Last week we had the honour of trying to help this beautiful Crow, who was hit by a car. Of all the wild animals we have helped over the years, I have never had to nurse a crow. I was amazed at how big his beak was in relation to his body. He was also incredibly sweet. He seemed to be improving, but then got very sleepy, and sadly passed in the night. We named him Poe, and although he wasn’t here for long, I didn’t think any of us will forget the wonder of his brief stay. Don’t think I will look at Crows in the same way again - what a beautiful bird! Sleep tight Poe 💕

05/12/2022

So, the horses broke out yesterday. Battery ran out on the electric fence, and that was it, they charged through in to the garden!! So I spent the entire day putting new wooden posts in, and rewiring the electric fence! New battery fitted, and off we go again! They are such opportunists 😂😂🙄🙄

19/11/2022

Sadly, the animals and I are having to reach out to you for your help this winter. I know so many of you are also struggling this year, due to the cost of living crisis, and I hate to ask, but I just can't see any other way this winter:

We currently offer a permanent home to 45 animals who have had a sad start in life. A majority of these are farm animals, including llamas, sheep, pigs, and horses. Although I try to totally fund these animals myself, after all, it is my choice to offer them a forever home here, sadly, this year has proved very trying for us here at the sanctuary. Ill health, the cost of living crisis, and a particularly hot, dry summer meant that the funds I normally reserve for winter feed were majorly depleted. For the first time ever, I had to buy in hay for the Summer months, as there was just no grass growing due to the extreme heat. As such, sadly we had to use our Winter hay budget, to keep the animals fed for summer. I know I had to reach out to you a couple of years ago for help, but I am going to have to ask once again for any help you could possibly give, so we can buy hay in to keep us going. Many of the animals are now in their senior years, and keeping them fed sufficiently, and warm, over the winter months, is more imperative now than ever. Any help you could give at all would be so gratefully appreciated by both the animals, and myself. Hay is already in short supply and the price has gone up, also the price of supplement feed such as sugarbeet has also significantly increased. No one else would now take in these elderly animals, so staying here is their only choice of a happy and full retirement life. Thank you so much for even reading this. Big love from all of us here, and thank you for any help you can give! Claire x

Hi, my name is Claire, and I own Mini the Sheep and Friends Animal Sanctuary in East … Claire Read needs your support for Please help feed us through winter!

25/10/2022

Have a new temporary friend!! Hope he’s back with his family in the wild soon!!

09/10/2022

Oh Betty!!!! You are just soooo sweet!! ❤️❤️

09/10/2022

Quite incredible! I’d love to see this first hand. Wonderful.

08/10/2022

Looking for someone to help me out with the ponies at the moment.
It is to cover maternity leave for the person who normally helps me, but may end up being for longer if her plans change. It’s basically helping out with the ponies, grooming, poo picking fields, occasionally doing other duties with the pet pig, 4 llamas and 7 sheep. Would be for about 2 to 3 hours per week. No riding, as they are all unbroken, but one pony is ready to break, if someone would be interested in starting work with him. Drop me a message if you are interested, or feel free to share. Based on East Hill, Ottery St. Mary. Paid position - rate on enquiry. Claire xx

21/07/2022

How absolutely beautiful!

We walked with ghosts through a crumbling spa town in the valley of the Cerna river, where Empresses and Kings of Bohemia once came to “take the waters”. An early morning mist rose from the sulphurs…