Horse rescue dreams gallop away over lack of funding

Tanesha Ashelford's dream of rescuing the Sunshine Coast's most vulnerable horses is slowly galloping away due to a lack of much-needed funds.

SMOOCH: Forest Glen Horse Rescue volunteer Kylah Nunn with three month old horse, Soraya. Picture: Warren Lynam

TANESHA Ashelford's dream of rescuing the Coast's most vulnerable horses is slowly galloping away due to a lack of much-needed funds.

When the Forest Glen woman went to her first meat works sale, the thought of innocent animals being slaughtered was too much for her to bear.

"I asked my partner if we could save one, but there so many there I just couldn't deal with it. I ended up with four,” she said.

From there, Mrs Ashelford made it her mission to provide a safe space for her pony pals, and Forest Glen Horse Rescue was born in September last year.

"Before I knew it, people wanted to surrender horses to me, donate money and volunteer,” she said.

"I had no expectations of where this would go, but I just knew I had to save them...no one else is going to help these horses.”

Tanesha Ashelford with Sapphire and Kylah Nunn with three month old Soraya. Picture: Warren Lynam

Yet after giving up her full-time job to re-home 20 horses, Mrs Ashelford said the rescue was no longer "financially viable” to run.

"Things are becoming really difficult, especially due to this weather, because with rain comes medical issues for horses,” she said.

"Although we love all the volunteering, it doesn't help pay the bills. It's amazing that people help, but it can't go on without more funds.”

Mrs Ashelford said they've had to give up a few paddocks and stop taking on new horses.

"We have an amazing vet team that works with us, but the bills just keep adding up and we don't ever want to not give them the best treatment,” she said.

"For us to continue doing this at such a level, we will need a bit of support from the community. As long as they're willing to support us, we're willing to continue saving these horses.”

Head to Forest Glen Horse Rescue on GoFundMe to donate.