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Touchdown Memorial Home for Horses to open gates for Christmas Show


By Lorna Thompson

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A MORAY horse sanctuary is expecting a special horseback visitor for its Christmas Show this weekend.

Staff and volunteers at Touchdown Memorial Home for Horses, at Mulben, are preparing for the festivities on Saturday, December 4, set to include show jumping, show classes, stalls, a horse parade and warming food and drink.

Touchdown is a charity which rehabilitates horses and ponies and offers a life-long sanctuary for them if suitable homes cannot be found.

The centre provides equine facilitated therapy for people of all ages living with a range of disadvantages, including the care experienced, PTSD sufferers, victims of domestic abuse, addicts, ex-offenders and people with cognitive or mobility problems.

Stalls on the day will include second-hand tack and riding gear, second-hand books, horse-logo clothing and a local animal feed company.

Show jumping, starting at 10am, will be held in Touchdown's new indoor arena, which opened in October to facilitate more equine assisted therapy sessions.

Touchdown Memorial Home for Horses chair Frances Davies, with horse Louis. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Touchdown Memorial Home for Horses chair Frances Davies, with horse Louis. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Various showing classes will run from 12.30pm, including fancy dress; bonny pony; Thelwells – based on pony cartoonist Norman Thelwell's "little fat, hairy ponies with attitude"; and veterans (older horses and ponies), which will be judged by retired Keith vet Charlie Cameron.

A parade of the centre's horses will complete the day's programme.

Santa will be giving out sweeties, accompanied by a stable elf and equine helpers Rodney and Lauder the Clydesdale, a former police horse.

The charity's chair, Frances Davies, said: "Visitors will also have the opportunity to adopt a horse whereby people can sponsor a horse for a year, receiving a certificate, newsletters and opportunities to come and visit their sponsored horse.

"Come along – the more the merrier."

Clootie dumplings will be on offer from Mother Goose Catering.

The fun will start at 10am, running all afternoon, costing £5 per car.


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