A Merciful Menagerie
Leah and guinea pigs
NICK PELLING & HELEN MURPHY are inspired by a visit to the White Horse Stables rescue centre.
It was pouring with rain on the day we arrived at the White Horse Stables rescue centre, just outside of Staplecross. We were met by Diane Barclay-Bernard, the original founder of this wonderful sanctuary for ill-treated animals. In talking to Diane, it became apparent that she had dedicated her life to helping animals and, in particular, horses. These noble beasts are undoubtedly a lifelong passion: a commitment that has endured beyond two husbands. Or, as Diane puts it bluntly, “these days, we don’t do men.”
Although there is an obvious romance in looking after furry creatures, Diane stresses that running the charity is very hard work. “There are no holidays in this kind of work.” If a wayward goat needs a chat in the middle of the night, then that is what she will do. Goats, it seems, are the most unpredictable and disobedient of all animals. The senior goat that we met, Philip, was certainly keen to butt into our conversations with his own point of view.
Sadie the horse
Diane is clearly the tough-minded founder of this rescue centre but her granddaughter, Leah, has evidently taken up the torch, and turned the flame up to full. Leah’s love for animals runs in all directions. But it is not all about sentimentality: she is fully qualified in the science and technology of equestrianism. It seems that, in this type of work, you have to be pragmatic and passionate all at the same time.
Leah has created a lovely world of creatures that she calls ‘Finley’s Farm’, after her now three-year-old son. Even in the pouring rain this is a wonderful place to visit. Leah has developed a refuge for all manner of creatures: micro pot-bellied pigs, goats, dogs, sheep, hens, ducks, kittens and pups and the delightful ‘rodent ranch’, with guinea pigs and rabbits. All of that is in addition to the 28 rescue horses that are stabled at the front of the farm. You can book a visit to the farm using Facebook, and indeed you can sponsor a particular animal if you want. If you do this, you will get a T-shirt with the face of your animal, a mug and two free visits. The farm very much needs these donations as it is highly expensive looking after animals – the vet bills alone are quite astronomical.
Philip the goat
Diane and Leah showed us around the horse stables where we met with a whole range of characters, including Sadie the splendid white horse and Smartie the horse who demanded to be spoken to by kicking his door again and again. Evidently, a horse with something on its mind is not easily ignored.
All of which served to remind us that this rescue farm is a full-on task: an almost spiritual vocation. You need an enormous reservoir of love in order to mother so many little beings. Both Diane and Leah seem to have this sort of maternal energy. Indeed, the whole farm is something of a matriarchy in action.
It was evident in talking to both Diane and Leah that they are ultimately engaged in an attempt to combat that thing we find ourselves constantly reminded of: human cruelty. Although Finley’s farm is clearly brilliant for children, as relatively elderly adults we found it the most perfect antidote to what we might call the grown-up news.
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