Chelsea, Brandy & Tiger Lily’s Story
To continue our 60th anniversary celebrations, we are sharing another heart-warming rehoming story of three beautiful horses who we cared for at Margaret Green Animal Rescue.
Introducing our terrific trio
Tiger Lily (Tiggy), a 6-year-old mare, came to our Church Knowle centre in 2005, following her owner being admitted to hospital. Just a year later, a bright future looked promising as Tiggy was rehomed.
But several years later, in an upsetting discovery, the RSPCA found her in a neglected state in a completely different location with her rehomers nowhere to be found.
Tiggy came to us severely overweight and overheated, having had a horse rug over her throughout the year – something typically removed in the warmer months. We took immediate action, offering a controlled, nutritious diet, thorough dental treatment, and chiropractic sessions.
Siblings, Chelsea & Brandy, came into our care in 2016 after being found in poor living conditions on flooded ground. The magnificent duo, aged 13 at the time, were among a herd of approximately 30 other horses – all feral, having had no exposure to handling.
With their owner suffering from ill health, the RSPCA stepped in and approached us, along with various other animal rescue charities, to take these stunning creatures into care.
Our team took their time getting Chelsea & Brandy used to human contact, with a gradual introduction to handling. The pair grew more comfortable around people, allowing regular grooming and accompanied walking with head collars.
Several years passed before all three horses found their forever home, as they needed ample support to prepare them for a new environment.
COVID also caused significant delays to rehoming all types of animals, with rescue demand spiking and outweighing the number of available new homes.
Shaping a new support organisation
In 2022, Georgette & Mark Wormleighton had just qualified for equine practitioner training and were looking for horses to launch their new horse therapy venture.
Equintervention, a registered Community Interest Company based near Bridport, offers horse therapy in the form of equine facilitated learning – a powerful approach to personal growth and healing.
While the organisation was in planning stages, Georgette & Mark Wormleighton were looking for horses to bring the concept to life, and we had the perfect companions in our care.
Georgette said: “We’ve always been fascinated by the impact animals can have on wellbeing, and the connections they grow with humans on a spiritual level. Horses have such a calming aura, and they ground people, regulating them in the moment and acting as non-confrontational counsellors simply by being present.
“We came up with the concept of Equintervention, but it was the horses from MGAR which are its foundation, as they really shaped the organisation and its way of working. We knew rescue horses would bring their own life experience and individual characters, so we needed to be flexible with our structure. We wanted the horses to teach us, letting them mould our activities to build trust between us.”
Unique personalities
Georgette continued: “We’d been watching Tiger Lily for over a year through MGAR’s social media pages while in our planning stages. We knew she was the right fit when we went to visit her in December 2022, winning us over with her stubborn, bossy mentality!
“Her character was endearing, and we knew she’d build meaningful connections with people. While she does as she pleases and is a bit of a recluse, she’s also there when you need her, generous, and very tolerant. She’s a great companion for those feeling overwhelmed.
“We took Chelsea home at the same time as Tiger Lily. She’s a gentle giant and has a very powerful presence about her which can bring you to tears. She makes you feel like a million dollars because she doesn’t just engage with everyone.
“In one example, we had a lady with mobility issues and depression visit us and Chelsea simply came over and put her head over her shoulder, staying with her for her whole visit. The lady has since made repeat visits to see Chelsea for the past two years. What Chelsea gives back is so rewarding, and she helps people become independent and resilient.
“A year later in October 2023, we fell in love all over again when we met Brandy by chance at an MGAR event and little did we know that he was Chelsea’s brother! In contrast to the other two, he’s super sensitive and very affectionate, wanting to be involved in everything.
“He’s transformed over the years from being quite anxious and jumpy, but now he’s gained confidence and is very comfortable, loving, and understanding of people’s emotions.”
Making a difference to people’s lives
Georgette added: “Our beautiful horses have helped so many people. One of our regular visitors is a lady with dementia, whose vocabulary has transformed dramatically since coming to see the horses.
“One of the activities she loves to do is make edible flower bouquets for them. We like to tailor activities based on people’s needs; anything from grooming to taking them on nature trails with the horses.
“Another regular visitor is a little girl who is autistic and has ADHD. She also has Pathological Demand Avoidance, a pattern of behaviour in which someone goes to extreme lengths to avoid the demands of everyday life.
“When around our horses, she simply stands in the same space and often just touches their necks. You can sense their silent communication and an understanding between them. The girl seems so at ease around the horses and absolutely dotes on them.
“Our wonderful horses have really enriched our lives, and those of so many people in our local community. We can’t thank Margaret Green Animal Rescue enough for their tireless efforts in supporting our animals and so many others.
“While our horses were in their care, the Church Knowle Centre Manager, Paula, came in regularly on her days off to work with them. The team will do whatever it takes to ensure all their animals are healthy, happy, and supported for life.”
We are so grateful to Georgette & Mark for sharing their experience with us and for giving Chelsea, Brandy & Tiger Lily such a wonderful forever home, where they continue to make such an incredible difference to people’s lives.
