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Jigsaw

The Team

Sue Carr - Organizer
Pauline Clare - Patron
Nick Longman, Pauline Barton, Pat Griffiths and Joyce Westbrook
Dianna Davies, Sue Jordan- Trustees
Barbara Jacobs - All Rounder
Jacque Morris - Volunteer
Sue Stopforth - Volunteer
Tim Carr - Site Engineer

Jim Barton - Financial Adviser

Simon Ashe - I.T. Support U-Save Independent Consultants

Pauline Clare (Patron)

I have known Sue for approximately 19 years. She taught me to ride and over those years I have maintained contact with her and seen her interest in the welfare of horses and riders develop during that time.

Pauline Clare with Sue

When she was at Douglas Farm in Parbold, I saw her working with members of her 'Riding for the Disabled' group. I saw the caring approach she took to such riders, always seeking to praise and encourage them and making them feel valued and more confident. Such riders were able to achieve things they could not have done in other circumstances. I also saw the way she cared for the animals, many of whom were old and in need of much attention

I have made a number of visits to the new Welfare, Assessment and Therapy Centre at Mawdesley, which is just outside the West Lancashire District area, but which is accessible to West Lancashire residents. I have seen the excellent conditions Sue has provided there at her own expense. Last year I was very pleased to be asked if I would be Patron of the Centre. I had no hesitation in agreeing to this as I feel it is a valuable resource for riders and animals alike. I believe that Sue deserves support for the work that she is doing and I know that she would 'work wonders', if given the money for which she now applies.

Sue Carr BHSAI (Founder and Co-ordinator)

Sue has 37 years experience of working in the equine industry, starting and then running a commercial riding school for over 25 years, whilst both training and competing to a high standard in show jumping, dressage, eventing, side-saddle and vaulting. Concurrently, she helped form and run an RDA group, was County Instructor and National Equine Coach for Special Olympics, and ran BHS Examinations. Throughout, she undertook rehabilitation of infirm or aged animals and eventually, when this began to take up most of her time and energies, she sold the commercial yard and invested the proceeds to develop Jigsaw, which specializes in rehabilitation or palliative care on it's purpose built site, using both innovative and standard practices, whilst off-site it offers advice and appropriate action or support for distressed equines and owners. This has utilized both her considerable equestrian and business skills in setting up a strategy and now, its sixth year "Jigsaw" has become self-sustaining and is full to capacity. She was voted on to National Equine Welfare Council's Executive Committee last Easter, and stood for election onto the new Management Board in October 2005.

MY CONCEPT – Horses, in nature are part of a herd of “horses,” this is their comfort zone. Humans take them out of this and put them into a human tribe for their own pleasure, well-being and comfort. Whilst in the human tribe the horses support the people with their NO HIDDEN AGENDA attitude to life, they need no material goods to survive happily, they just need comfort by having food, water, warmth, health and companionship to be happy. They provide an outlet for people damaged at whatever level by living in our modern society. They provide us with unconditional friendship, comfort and FUN. By removing them from their natural environment for our benefit we put them under more pressure as we put them in an unnatural environment. Our pay back to them for taking this away from them must be that in their new tribe we help them to survive as comfortably as possible by keeping the tribe functioning in as similar way to the herd as, supporting them physiologically and physically. The final pay back being that by human care and treatment, the horses can survive pain free for a longer life span than could be achieved in their natural herd. Quid quo pro.

Sue Riding Monteaura- a Lipizzaner at the Lipica Stud, Slovenia.

One of Sue's key goals is to promote welfare education of horse owners and the local community and, by co-operation with other members of NEWC, on a wider basis. She is determined to promote the mutual benefits of the interaction between humans and equines. Sue has built up a unique understanding of the relationship between humans and horses. From this background she began to realise that horses and ponies that had been labelled "difficult" might in fact just not have been getting the proper understanding and care that would allow their problems to be addressed. The aim of the charity is to fill this gap.

Sue with Jigsaw and a vet

Tim Carr

Sue's husband, Tim, has also played a major part in the building of the charity and helps considerably with the continuing development of Jigsaw.

The Centre relies heavily upon help from a group of enthusiastic volunteers, both for the hands on work with the horses, themselves, and the behind-the-scenes activities (fundraising, admin etc).

Sue Jordan

The Charity

The charity was registered in August 1999 and has grown through 'word of mouth'. We have developed new care methods and Jigsaw moved to it's new purpose built site in Mawdesley seven years ago. This has provided us with a change of direction and modernisation.

The Stables

The land was purchased in 2000 and planning permission for this was granted in 2001.

The move happened in 2001 with the first phase of site development in 2002 which involved the provision of water, electricity and an arena. We are presently caring for 14 horses on site and many others off site.

Planning permission was granted in 2003 for the rest of the stables.

Throughout this time we have been working on behavioural and physical problems with our team of experts and carers, some of which are included in the 'Success Stories' area of the website.

The site includes well maintained grazing with mainly post and rail fencing and includes several fields and a 'round pen', so we can graze horses in a safe environment and carefully monitor grass intake to maintain good health.

The Fields

The Roundpen

The round pen is also used for basic training, retraining, and stretching for the older horses.

The stabling is purpose built with each stable having windows fitted to front and rear for extra ventilation and air flow and to give the horses different views.

What Has Been Achieved So Far

1996: Need for care of ill and old horses within Riding for the Disabled Association to be supplied. Discussed and agreed by RDA NW Regional Committee. Mac is rescued.
1997: Application to National Lottery prepared with support of RDA Regional Committee and sponsored by Lancashire Constabulary.
1998: Sue Carr begins registering 'Jigsaw' horse charity - to achieve original goal.
1999: 'Jigsaw' horse and pony welfare is registered. McCawley is rescued.
2000: New site for charity is located and purchased.
2001: Site is developed and move takes place.
Our Horses

Reeves

Dolly

Archie

Connie

Owen

Owen 'the baby of the bunch' came to Jigsaw on the 28^th May 2003, Owen has foot problems, he was overweight and has not been handled. He is a 6 year old 16hh bay who has been bought from a dealer who had not been near him for approximately 4 years. The goal is to be able to handle him as soon as possible and get his feet trimmed.

Due to a good level of soundness despite his foot problems the priority with him is to allow him to settle down in his new environment. If of course his feet begin to bother him some action will be taken. Owen is in bare grazing to let his weight come down but is being left out until he accepts his new friends - human and horse, again being observed for any signs of lameness/Laminitis. Owen is being introduced to small handfuls of feed to help him fit in with a routine and will soon be given biting or farries formula to help with his foot problems, as his feet are overgrown and cracked Owen has only been handled briefly since a yearling apart from moving fields. Kept at grazing which was used for cattle…..including through the Spring season.

McCawley

McCawley is aged 22, part Arab gelding and is 13hh. McCawley has taken over some of the work with disabled riders and has also settled in well, apart from having an allergic reaction to the different mud. McCawley has been very grumpy over the past few months because he is on a diet and he needs his special stable and turn out area so he can go outside when he wants so hopefully when that comes McCawley will be a much happier horse. Even though McCawley's on a diet he can still be very naughty as he did one very hot day when McCawley decided he had done enough work (he was only walking round) and lied down in the middle of the arena! He has become very close with Jigsaw and makes an awful noise if Jigsaw does not join him in the paddock, quickly enough!

Jigsaw

Jigsaw is aged 27 and is a 13.2hh gelding and is McCawley's friend. They play out together in the field daily. He too is fine, but he has a small problem adjusting to the richer grass, so he is on a restricted grazing regime. Jigsaw used to pull a trap and he is coping really well to being ridden more often. He is turning into a little star and really enjoys his food and lets everyone know when its dinner time.

Fred

Fred is 17 years old. A chestnut gelding of a hunter type and is Owen's best friend. Fred is very sociable and loves cuddling people even though he is very big (16.3hh). He is also very lazy so prefers to eat and sleep rather than being ridden!!

Tiger

Tiger is a 29 year old Chestnut.

McCloud

Picture awaited

If you have any information that would be useful or a problem you need advice on then please contact us (see 'Contact Us' page).

The Charity totally relies upon donations, adoptions etc which is most vital for the continuation of Jigsaw (please see the 'Donations & Support' and 'Adoption' section).

Any questions you have relating to any problems or worries you have concerning your horse please see the 'Advice' page.