Hi, I'm Vicky Thorogood and have been involved with Remus Horse Sanctuary since '93.

I started helping out when we moved from our previous premises to here at Buttsbury.

I don't think I saw a single animal here for months! It was all the preparation of painting, building, rubbish clearing and every other dirty manual task you could imagine.

After several months of renovating I thought my services were complete! Oh how wrong I was! I started asking questions as to what is involved (just out of curiosity) with the running of Remus Sanctuary and now I am involved with just about every single aspect, working alongside its Founder, Sue Burton. Should've kept quiet shouldn't I?

My days of mucking out, feeding and sweeping seem to be long gone. Although, I was not adverse to these chores, as they are equally important to the well being of the Sanctuary and I admire the many people who help us out day in and day out to help with these very jobs.

My main role seems to be organising what I call the more physical side of the Sanctuary, whilst Sue is constantly trapped in the office under a mountain of paperwork. This includes the daily routine, ordering supplies and medication, dealing with visitors and suppliers, overseeing our team of staff and volunteers, inc. youngsters at the weekend-all of whom are willing to help provide for all those animals that nobody else cared about.

Overseeing the maintenance of the premises (although the actual work is carried out by a small band of male volunteers who give up their spare time and skills for us). As my bones and joints haven't given up on me yet, I'm also the one who wrestles with goats and sheep when they need vaccinating, worming and their feet trimmed. With 25sheep and 15goats, all with 4feet(hopefully) that's about 300 toes! And my previous skills as a hairdresser are called upon to clip the several ponies that grow extremely thick, dense coats due to certain medical conditions and I've even sheared the sheep!

To help promote the work of the Sanctuary, I escort the animals to Country Shows and School or Village Fetes. We go well prepared with everything to keep the ponies secure. Shelter needs to be erected, lots of info displayed and a stall to sell merchandise from. And of course, the animals attending need preparing, loading, transporting and looking after on the day.

Similarly, we have the Open Days at the Sanctuary of which I'm just one of many people trying to get them running smoothly on the day. Although it does seem to be Sue and myself who everyone turns to, wanting to know how they can help. I have always been concerned in the welfare of animals, but never imagined how involved in something I would become. I thoroughly enjoy what I do.

Of course it has it's moments-what walk of life doesn't? I am honoured to be a part of something so respected. I admire anyone who gives up so much, when nobody else did. I have become so involved with the Sanctuary, that I really can't imagine life without it. Every single day brings something different, obviously a mixture of good, bad, happy and sad. And this is what makes it interesting. I enjoy dealing with the people, the challenges it throws at me, and most importantly, dealing with the very animals that make it the Sanctuary that it is.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you enjoy the whole site and maybe you'll get the chance to visit the Sanctuary one day?

VICKY THOROGOOD (Sanctuary Manager)