Skyros Island Horse Trust/Friends of the Skyrian Horse — Conservation, Welfare and Education — a registered Greek non-profit urgently needs your help!

Dear Supporters and friends, old and new...

My name is Chloe. I have just returned home after 18 wonderful months volunteering at the farm. New challenges arise each year; this year brings more than a fair share of trials and tribulations, making it the 11th hour to organize our annual crowdfunder. Fellow volunteers Erin and Liv will be helping me with this venture alongside other volunteers worldwide.

We are proud to be reaching out to you on behalf of Skyros Island Horse Trust - Friends of The Skyrian Horse , which provides a safe haven for 34 Skyrian Horses – an equine breed endemic to the Greek island of Skyros and identified by the European Union as being critically endangered. For the last 19 years, Amanda Simpson and Stathis Katsarelias have been, and continue to be, devoted to helping this rare breed, of which there are only 300 left in the world. We as volunteers have witnessed Stathis and Amanda work with incredible determination, devotion, and personal sacrifice — always finding a way to keep each individual horse healthy, happy and safe.

Anyone who cares for a garden or animals from year to year will be familiar with the impacts of a changing climate and the insecurity and unpredictability this brings. Friends of The Skyrian Horse is no different. Each year, we find ourselves searching for new adaptations and facing the realities of the increasingly unpredictable growing season when it comes to sourcing the essential hay for the horses.

There has been a worrying drought across nearly all of Greece and Skyros this winter, combined with extremely warm temperatures. Spring has come six weeks earlier than usual, which has resulted in the hay being cut and baled far earlier than expected. Our two hay suppliers contacted us this week and explained that we must buy now or miss out on the chance, as hay will be scarce for the remainder of the year. This has left us in a dire situation at very short notice!

https://youtu.be/XopEzdgYY0o (A short video message from Amanda)

We do receive a small grant (which covers about 1/6th of our projects costs) but it is not available until the end of June, so, at this moment, we have no funds to buy hay, which is an utter necessity for us to keep the project running and keep the 34 Skyrians horses and three rescue horses in our care fed. There are no paid positions at the project —it relies entirely on donations, both in the form of financial contributions and donations of time and hard work from the wonderful volunteers who dedicate energy, passion, and skills. This means that every penny of your donation goes directly to the care of the Skyrian Horses and extends the project's benefits to the broader local community. Amanda and Stathis are volunteers themselves and cannot do this alone.

In addition to the urgent need to purchase hay, we must replenish our stocks of essential veterinary medical products and senior horse fodder. These supplies will allow the project to look after its horses properly while supporting ongoing ad hoc work to improve the welfare of the other equines on the island. Amanda and Stathis support and share their knowledge within their community by responding to other equines in distress, worming, offering help with food when other people's horses are desperately in need, and giving fodder advice to owners, etc.

The total amount we need to raise is £10,000; we know this is a large amount to try to raise, but it is essential for us to purchase this hay as it is an utter necessity. We are so grateful for any support we are given.

Each and every donation will go directly to the :

- Purchase of four hay lorries (1600 bales)

- Purchase of essential veterinary supplies such as colic medicine, anti-parasite control, wound control, wormers, fly sprays, etc.

Every donation, big or small, is truly appreciated, and the support of generous people like you allows this project to survive and thrive. Thank you.

Please join us in contributing from near and far, to preserve these incredible little equines and maintain the project we all care deeply for and wish to return to!

Every person who donates will receive a Thank You message from us via JustGiving and on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

For those who want to donate into the Greek non profit bank account then please contact Amanda Simpson at skyrosislandhorsetrust@gmail.com or friendsoftheskyrianhorse@gmail.com , and she will send the non-profit bank details. We would love to hear from you!

For further information about the project, please visit the following to keep updated about life on the farm:

Website: www.skyrosislandhorsetrust.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/friendsoftheskyrianhorse/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/skyrianhorse

Follow the project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendsoftheskyrianhorse/

https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/2019/0807/To-save-rare-ponies-one-couple-gives-up-almost-everything?cmpid=shared-email&src=shared

https://youtu.be/z3tTeXnmn9I?si=Pw2QRsfpDyiW615M

https://youtu.be/YbcxU1IK7s4?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/t4VMbObfkm0?feature=shared