Below is information about how we got started all those years ago.
Our History
South Hants Pony & Horse Protection Group was formed in 1977 by Mrs Hilda Holmes (pictured). The aim was to stop the practice of tethering horses and ponies on the open slopes of Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth, and other open spaces within the city.
Much of the time these animals were completely neglected and had no apparent provision of food or water. They had no shelter from the intense summer heat, or from the gales and storms of winter. These equines were always at the mercy of passing vandals, meaning some received appalling injuries.
Concerned residents frequently wrote to the local newspaper (News) about the plight of these horses and ponies and it was from these letters that Hilda gathered names of like minded people to help support her cause.
Introducing a new by-law
As a result of Hilda's perseverance, and with the aid of other interested parties (including Frank Judd - MP for Portsmouth North at the time), Portsmouth City Council agreed to introduce a by-law prohibiting tethering of equines on council owned land, which came into effect on 20 January 1978. Portsmouth led the way in becoming the first council to introduce such legislation.
Already, in such a remarkably short space of time, and with tremendous hard work, the group had acheived something ground breaking.
And during the lobbying for support, demonstrations, and petitions, Hilda could often be found climbing around Portsdown Hill trying to take food and water to the tethered horses!
The impacts of the by-law
Because of this new by-law some horses and ponies then became homeless and were being moved from place to place by their owners to escape being impounded by the local authority. It was at this time that the Group became involved in their rescue, feeling that they had a certain amount of responsibility for the change. An outcome that was totally unexpected, particularly as none of the Group members had any knowledge of horse care!
Our first rescue
Our first rescue came on the scene in the shape of a 3 year old pony who had been tethered to a lamp post in the north of Portsmouth. He was owned by a young lady with nowhere to keep him and no visible means to support him. After advice to her by the RSPCA and Council Officers, he was handed over to us. He was named Johnson (after the factory near where he was found) and taken into care on our behalf by a lady with stables and grazing near Farlington.
Johnson was soon joined by Blossom, who had been found wandering on Eastern Road, Portsmouth. Blossom had been impounded for five weeks as her owner did not want her and the Council was intending to send her to Chichester market to recoup their expenses. Blossom was in foal and we felt we must try to save her. The Council put us in touch with the owner who was easily persuaded to hand her over to us as long as we settled the pound fees of £64.80. And on May Day bank holiday of 1978 her foal, Mayfair, was born.
With three ponies it was becoming imperative that we obtain our own land. We approached Portsmouth City Council, but in the meantime Hilda somehow managed to persuade Colonel Marchment, then Commanding Officer at the Royal Marine Barracks in Portsmouth, to allow us to borrow unused cavalry stables. In March 1979 Johnson, Blossom and Mayfair were transferred to their new grand surroundings (looking very lost in those huge cavalry stables!). There was a paddock available but disuse had rendered it dangerous so many weekends were spent labouriously removing rubble, renewing fencing, installing water containers and various other tasks.
Throughout this period we were in negotiation with Portsmouth City Council to find us some land that we could lease from them. Eventually we were offered five acres of former tip land at Copnor, adjoining Moneyfields Allotments and the Portsmouth Archery Club. The land was in a deplorable condition but at least it was going to be ours, and at a very reasonable rent. A lot of bargaining continued between Hilda and the Council and she managed to persuade them to pay for some fencing and lay on a water supply, but there was a lot of land clearance of rubbish still to be done. A shelter was constructed and eventually our ponies transferred to their new home at the end of 1979. By mid 1980, the main work was complete and cost £2,652. This figure would have been much higher if we hadn't had tremendous help from many, many people. Our past Chairman, Ron Lucas provided much equipment, supplies and time free of charge. Fund raising was essential, with Hilda's Cheese & Wine evenings, coffee evenings, and jumble sales helping to bring in the cash.
In 1981 John Cockburn came on the scene. He had a great interest in horses, having his own mare, Bonny. He became more and more involved on a daily basis, caring for the ponies and organising improvements to the site.
In 1984, when we were quite full we were approached by a lady who had been left with five ponies. Because they were on land at Fort Cumberland, for a short period we had to keep two sites operational, which proved very hard work.
Sadly Hilda Holmes died in 1985. Of course, she did not forget her horses and had made provision in her Will for her estate to be put into trust for their care. Group members were devastated and faced a truly daunting task. To continue without Hilda's driving force seemed unthinkable, but all those who had worked with her closely during those early years had promised they would continue her work, and they did.
John Cockburn, having recently retired from work, immediately stepped in as Site Administrator, and continued in this position for the next ten years, which solved the main day-to-day problems of the care of the horses. However the Group was facing severe financial problems, which continued for several years. As the Group was not at this time a registered Charity, the Executors of Hilda's Will were very reluctant to hand over money to this small group who were caring for Hilda's horses, often subsidising the work from their own pockets. Donations had dropped off alarmingly as supporters knew Hilda had left money for the horses and wrongly assumed the Group was well able to meet running costs. This was when Ron Lucas intervened and over a long period spent alot of his own money financing the Group. Fortunately new members started to come along who worked very hard to ensure the Group's continued success.
Our site had grown to eight acres by this time but was usually full up so an adoption scheme was devised whereby vetted adopters would take one of our ponies on loan - with us making frequent checks on the pony's well-being. This scheme worked very well, enabling us to make room for other horses in need of rescue. Adopted horses and ponies are now living within Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset, with a couple further afield.
Even the adoption scheme was not sufficient to reduce the pressure on our small site and by the early 90's the Group had decided it must try to buy its own premises. We were very much aware that our site was on high value land in the middle of Portsmouth and this was just held on a licence renewable each year. Also poisonous gasses had been discovered in the soil of the adjoining allotments and we were suffering regular break-ins and thefts. BUT it was two attacks on our horses that made the move imperative.
Careful management of the trust funds made it possible for us to look for a property and we were fortunate to find and purchase our current premises, Oaklands in Curdridge. We soon realised we did not have the capacity to run two sites, so reluctantly we withdrew from Portsmouth, leaving behind many good friends, but keeping with us some wonderful memories.
We were fortunate at this time to have two long-standing helpers, John & Lyn Allan, and their two daughters Fay & Stacey, who were prepared to move into Oaklands and manage the premises and care for the horses on behalf of the Group. Oaklands needed a lot of work to be done but thanks to everyones efforts Oaklands became a lovely home for the horses. We still only have eight acres, but we have been used to managing a small site!
We became a registered charity in 1990 but have still remained a small group of volunteers, dedicated to the care and protection of horses and ponies.
The existing trustees and members of the Group are still very much governed by the thought "What would Hilda have wanted?" and we know that, not only have we not strayed from her priorities, but we have also expanded the work to enable us to help more horses and ponies. So by providing a permanent and safe home for the original nine horses that Hilda knew, and all the others who have come along since, we intend to continue as we have done since 1977.
A full copy of our history can be viewed using the link below: