A HORSE sanctuary is facing closure after its home for 16 years was sold for housing developments.

Little Bramley Farm Horse Sanctuary in Polegate need to find a new home for 28 rescue horses.

The sanctuary, which is owned by Pat Evans and Zoe McQuade, has been caring for abused horses since 2005 and said their future is looking “bleak”.

The Argus: Pictured left, one of the horses they have looked after. Pictured right, Pat (left) and Zoe (right).Pictured left, one of the horses they have looked after. Pictured right, Pat (left) and Zoe (right).

Pat, from Polegate, said that they will not be giving up on the horses they have cared for, many of which have come from “awful situations”.

She said: “It is looking very bleak but I tell you I am not giving up. No horses will leave the premises unless we’ve got somewhere.

“I know it might end up in a big dispute, but we have got nowhere to go. Hundreds of people want to take our horses from us but we’ve had them for years, some of them were born with us.”

The sanctuary, which has been caring for horses since 2005, had been renting out two yards but now have to vacate to make way for the development.

Pat and Zoe are in the process of moving out and, although they currently have “nowhere to go”, they want to keep on fighting for their horse sanctuary.

The Argus:

Zoe, from Hampden Park in Eastbourne, said the horses “thrive” from people coming down, but also offer therapy for many people in the community, including children with behavioural issues, NHS workers and the elderly.

She said: “We have got a lot of NHS nurses, we have got a load of people who come down purely just to spend some time. It’s like that, as much as it’s therapy for the people, it’s therapy for the horses.

“The horses absolutely love it, they love it when they get a brush, they love it when people take them up the cuckoo trail.

The Argus: The horses are rescued and some are even born at the sanctuary.The horses are rescued and some are even born at the sanctuary.

“For us to stop, I think it would be devastating really. Worst case scenario we will have to say enough is enough and throw the towel in, but we really don’t want to. We want to hold on as long as we possibly can.”

The pair are currently being helped by Iain Shore, a local man who found out about their situation when donating some blankets to the sanctuary.
He is helping turn the sanctuary into a charity, legal support and helping with the hunt for a new location.

The sanctuary said it needs about 20 acres to rent, ideally with a barn or stable, to be able to look after all their horses. 
For more information or if you would like to help, visit their website.

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