Cash boost for horse and pony trust

A Horse and Pony Trust based in Llangadog has been given a grant through Carmarthenshire County Council to help it develop its good work.
The local authority has awarded the Lluest Horse and Pony Trust £2,000 from the Welsh Church Fund.
The Trust is a registered charity established in 1985. It is an equine rescue and rehabilitation centre with 140 horses and ponies registered in the care of the Trust, 100 of which are in approved homes, while 40 are cared for and stabled at its base at Beili Bedw Farm, Llanddeusant, Llangadog, in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The Trust provides specialist rehabilitation and training, and also monitors and addresses welfare issues across the industry such as standards at markets and indiscriminate breeding. The trust work closely with other agencies such as Career Wales, The probation Service, Coleg Elidyr, Interplay and Forest Lodge.
The work provides inter active sessions for children with disabilities and special needs, work experience for young people with learning disabilities, volunteer placements from schools, and volunteer placements for young adults in care.
The £2,000 grant is towards the £10,128 cost of a redevelopment which involves converting a small barn to teaching/training room, and convert a large barn to multifunctional area with disabled access and facilities.
This will enable the Trust to offer courses for students and owners in equine care, behaviour and training. Also the improvement of facilities will allow the trust to offer additional support and learning to all of the partners.
Lluest manager Emma Kurrels said the Trust was working to make its operations sustainable after being hit by the economic downturn. It was working with funding bodies to obtain grants such as the one from the Welsh Church Fund.
She said: “We are working with local community groups to become sustainable by maximising the potential of the 40 acre farm and woodlands. We are underpinning our core values in horse and pony rescue by working with community groups to offer education combined with leisure. Some work with the animals and some on the land and woodlands.
The Trust is looking for volunteers to help with its work and supporters to give donations as it expects to take in an additional 35 horses this winter, pushing up costs.
The Trust has also benefited from development support provided by Collaborative Communities Officers based within Carmarthenshire County Council.
Executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Clive Scourfield said: “I am delighted that we have been able to award a grant of £2,000 to help the Lluest Horse and Pony Trust develop its work to offer educational and social opportunities for young people and adults.”
Anyone interested in helping the Trust should contact Emma Kurrels on 01550 740661 or go to the website www.lluesthorseandponytrust.co.uk