The Mare and Foal Sanctuary has launched a new way for people to learn about their vital work and the rescued horses and ponies they care for. The charity has installed a new webcam to improve accessibility and help as many people as possible connect with the horses and ponies.
The webcam will allow supporters, wherever they are, to see first-hand the transformational work that happens with equines at their Yelverton sanctuary. Yelverton is The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s moorland rescue facility that provides specialist care to semi-feral and wild ponies as well as other equines.
The camera is in the yard’s main barn and the live video feed is accessible via the charity’s website 24 hours a day.
The best time to view the webcam will be during daylight hours when people may see horses and ponies being groomed, receiving care from the vet or farrier and taking part in rehabilitation or training sessions with their expert grooms.
Visitors to the website will also be able to see a number of equines who are looking for new homes as well as discover detailed profiles of some of the ponies there, such as Ava. Ava came to the sanctuary when she was just over a month old. She was an orphaned foal with a serious liver infection and colic.
When she arrived in their care, she showed clear signs of discomfort. She was lying down and refusing to stand, struggling to breathe, and refusing to drink milk. Ava was treated by the sanctuary’s vets and nursed around the clock by her team of grooms and is now in full health and enjoying life playing with her equine friends.
The webcam is launched as part of The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s brand-new website. The charity is determined to become as accessible as possible and to put its supporters’ needs first when it comes to its online presence.
The new site is now easier to navigate and is AA+ rated for accessibility. It’s also easier for supporters to donate and book events directly through their website and there is an improved online shop with more payment methods and easier checkout.
Digital Fundraising and Activities Manager, Emma Platt, explains the plan for the webcam: “It’s a challenging time for charities at the moment. We hope the webcam and the website will help us to reach out to existing and new supporters so they can see the vital lifelong, loving care we provide and the difference we’re making with their help. Anyone who wants to know more about what we do, even if they cannot travel to visit us in person, will now be able to meet some of our amazing and beautiful equines online. We want our supporters to feel as in touch with the horses and ponies as possible.”
