A PLEA has gone out for Dorset businesses to support a Dorchester farm that helps adults with learning disabilities.

Cowden Care Farm based in Charminster offers adults with low to medium level learning disabilities hands-on jobs or work experience.

The farm has 50 adults attend each week and teaches small animal experience, equestrian skills, horticulture, growing fruit and vegetables, bedding plants, furniture restoration and computer training.

But last year’s wet winter affected the grass at the farm, causing the farm’s horses and rescue ponies to contact laminitus.

Laminitis is a disease that affects the feet of hooved animals, found mostly in horses and cattle.

Clinical signs include foot tenderness progressing to inability to walk and increased temperature in the hooves. Progression of the disease in severe cases could require aggressive treatment or even euthanasia.

Anna Hall, director at Cowden Care Farm, said: “Our animals at Cowden Farm are rescued locally from people and come to Cowden for life.

“Last year was a very wet winter which meant the grass never had a chance to stop growing, and here in Dorset we hardly saw any frost.

“This caught a lot of horse owners by surprise, as it did some rescue ponies at Cowden farm – which contacted laminitus.

“Laminitis is a serious condition and a considerable amount of horses or ponies have to be put to sleep with this condition.

“There is a great deal of effort from the vet or farrier and owner to support and comfort the animals through this condition, which takes months of stabling and care.”

Anna added that in spring, the grass has now begun to grow again and has a high level of sugar. She said a horse that has contacted laminitus cannot cope with this grass, and will have to spend its life back in a stable during the spring and summer.

Anna said: “Here at Cowden Farm we are now seeking help from tree surgeons, gardeners or anyone that generates wood chippings to help our horses.

“This is so our horses can stay outside during spring and summer. We want to cover an area with wood chippings but we need a considerable amount.

“Anyone who may be able to help can deliver the wood chippings to the farm at any time; just turn up and empty your truck.

“Anyone that can offer us free wood chippings would be giving our horses back their lives during the best time of the year – and to them we would be incredibly grateful.”

Any businesses who may be able to help should call the farm or 01305 250444 and ask to speak to Anna or Teresa.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 756032

e: tara.cox@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @DorsetEchoTara