Horse Trust mourns loss of two friends

By Justine Thompson

General news

16 March 2010 16:41

A 55-year-old donkey who lived at the Horse Trust equine charity has passed away.

Pandora was the oldest equine at the Trust’s Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire. A blind, 9.2hh light brown jenny, she arrived at the sanctuary with her daughter Chloe in 2005 when their elderly owner was no longer able to care for them.

Yard manager Shirley Abbott said: "Pandora was absolutely ancient, outliving her daughter Chloe by a number of years. Generally she was a very quiet old lady, although she used to shout when she could hear anybody about."

The charity also lost another favourite this month - Royal Mews horse, Lancelot, who was 30.

A 16.2hh black Irish Draught gelding, Lancelot worked at the Royal Mews for six years and before that had a long military career. During his time at the Royal Mews he carried the Sovereign Standard of the Life Guards on many parades and was the riding horse for the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle.

Lancelot retired to The Horse Trust's Home of Rest for Horses in 2006.

"Lance was a real gentleman and was very popular with visitors," said his groom Matt Bradley."