HORSES' HEAVEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 68, 22 March 1938, Page 8

HORSES' HEAVEN.

HOME FOR THE AGED.

ARMY VETERANS AND OTHERS

AJTD—FAMIUES ON THE SQlf,

(By NKLLE SI. SCANLAN.)

LONDON, March 2.

I Not far from Boreham Wood is t \ home for old and disabled horses. I Jmj ! a look in the other day as I passed, i large rectangle of comfortable stalls ia I set in the centre of a lovely sloping SfU j away from the road, facing the sun jjj a magnificent view. Here, in peace and sunshine, many veteran horses will lira out their day in comfort, while other* overworked carthorses and waters' donkeys, come to rest and recuperat" Each stall, with its double door tfce upper half open and a head protruding to see what is going on outside, has * bed of hay, and a food and drink™, trough. Outside the door is a the name of the horse, its owner, its sm and record, if any, and its food chart, a] well as what it is suffering from. "Old George,"' a veteran of 33 yeare a big chestnut, with a long head, and bearing honourable sears, has been a cavalrv •horse, wounded in the, war. white hairs hung about it> face, which was very wise, but contented. There were several aged 30. and a hog* that had celebrated their silver jubilee Police horses, fire brigade horses, and ! army horses—some from the artillerywere among the number. The donkeys were too email to see over the half door and just a grey muzzle appeared pushing upwards with true Cockney curiosity Hunters, children's ponies, and three fine Scots Greys. Some have found here a permanent home; others have been eent out to rest, when the magistrate has found the owner working them with a sore back or lame leg. It muet be heaven to many tired old horses to be fed and cared for by expert grooms ia such a pleasant home. Groups of stalls have been erected br horse-loving men and women, and bear an inscription. Some are dedicated to a favourite hunter. One group, I noticed wae in memory of a child. • ' We are kind to animals, especially horses, in this country. I saw the other day that a further sum had been raised to buy "back a feu- more veteran armv horses that are still in Belgium, aid bring them home to end their days. \et not a mile awav a tiew little cinema town is in the throes of despair and the children are being fed at a sonn kitchen. '