Help The Horse Trust this Christmas

With the Christmas season fast approaching, Buckinghamshire charity The Horse Trust is appealing to supporters to purchase from their seasonal range.

This year, the charity has created a new range of Christmas cards and has produced a special edition 2011 calendar to celebrate its 125th anniversary.

Horse Trust release Christmas merchandise

The calendar features rescued and retired horses, donkeys and ponies living at the charity's sanctuary in Speen, including Spindles Farm horse Angel and ex-police horses Iceni and Dexter. The Christmas card features various wintry scenes at the sanctuary, along with past and present residents.

"Christmas cards and calendars are a vital source of income for the charity," said Susan Lewis, Marketing Manager at The Horse Trust. "With the credit crunch, we've seen a rise in the number of rescue cases being admitted and sales from the cards and calendar will support our work with these horses."

While charity Christmas cards sold by retailers pass on as little as six per cent of the cover price to charity, all proceeds from The Horse Trust's Christmas cards and calendars will go directly to the charity.

The Horse Trust's Christmas cards cost £4 for a pack of 10 and the special edition 2011 calendar costs £6 (both prices include p&p).

The Horse Trust has also produced a range of gifts this year, which will also raise money for the charity. These include a special edition cuddly toy horse called "Chestnut" and a Spindles Farm souvenir brochure, which is a pictorial celebration of the progress that the equines have made since their dramatic rescue.

"Chestnut is the mascot of the children's section of our newsletter, so we wanted to bring him to life and create something for our younger supporters, although he's a perfect pet for any age," said Susan.

"Many people will have heard of the horrors inflicted upon the Spindles Farm horses. Our souvenir brochure is a celebration of their amazing recovery and would make a great gift," said Susan.

The Chestnut cuddly horse and the Spindles Farm souvenir brochure both cost £9.99 (plus £1.99 p&p).

To place your order for gifts, Christmas cards or the 2011 calendar, visit www.horsetrust.org.uk or contact 01494 488 464. You can also buy cards or calendars direct at the sanctuary - it is open every day of the week between 2 and 4pm.