AN equine rescue centre based in Launceston was overwhelmed by the support they received after their premises flooded following recent stormy weather.

Adamsfield Equine Rescue, near Canworthy Water, reluctantly appealed to the public after stormy weather and an influx of rain flooded their large barn and stables over the Christmas period. Supplies like hay, bedding and tools were also damaged during the flooding.

The equine centre is run by Sophie Pooley and cares for 24 ponies and horses.

Sophie said the team has never experienced any problems with their barn in the ten years they have been running the rescue centre. She said: “The barn has a concrete floor, but it was laid in sections and the water was coming up through the gaps.

“We think it is a combination of the extortionate amount of weather we have had and our neighbours recently diverted their drainage water from one of their fields into a ditch, which unfortunately runs behind the barn — it was likely a combination of the two.”

Sophie said she doesn’t like asking for handouts but it was imperative a new home was found for the horses and ponies quickly. She said: “We are all quite proud. We have managed to do everything for ourselves for ten years now — we had no start up funding or anything so we didn’t really want to ask people for help but we really didn’t see that there was any other choice.

“People have been so generous, we really can’t thank them enough for the support we have received!”

On Tuesday, January 2, a neighbour and friend was able to provide the team with a dry, large barn space to house the animals temporarily whilst maintenance work is carried out on their premises.

Sophie said: “We put out a call on Facebook that we would be needing a few things to see us through and the next day our friend and neighbour contacted us and said they had a spare barn we could use. It was perfect, we had no idea they had a spare barn and it is literally just up the road. We were so grateful and spent most of the day moving the horses into the new space.

“We feel bad enough about having to ask for help but at least the ponies are safe now, which is the main thing.”

The rescue centre set up a PayPal system for people to donate to and were overwhelmed at the response they received. Sophie said: “We set up a PayPal account so that we would be able to use the money directly for the things we need — for example paying our account with Terry Doidge who provides us with all of our straw. Everyone has been so generous, we cannot thank people enough for the support they have given us during this time.”

Sophie said hopefully the rain will hold off until they are able to carry out repairs, adding: “We have just had storm after storm — we are now praying for no more rain!

“Hopefully next summer, we will have lots of work to do, but we are hoping to have made repairs to the barn and stables.”