Horse project gains lottery funding
Cyrenians Cymru, a charity for the disadvantaged and homeless, has created the Community Horse and Pony Scheme (Chaps) with its lottery win of nearly £795,000.
Chaps is a three-year project that intends to tackle both horse abandonment and drug abuse - two issues that have risen dramatically in Swansea, where the charity is based. The project will include the set up of a community-led equine facility in the area.
Abandoned horses and ponies will be used to aid drug addicts in their recovery, a project similar to those currently taking place in both Ireland and Sweden.
Horse impoundments increased from 71 to 129 between 2010 and 2011, and heroin addiction has increased by 180 per cent over the last three years in the Swansea area, according to Cyrenians Cymru. The charity added that both issues put growing financial pressure on the local authority.
Chaps is hoped to provide training in horse care, woodland management and health and safety, as well aiding those on rehabilitation programmes. The project will also adopt riding ponies to engage youth in the community, with the long-term goal of becoming a community-led riding school.
Cyrenians Cymru has been tackling proverty and deprivation in south-west Wales for 40 years, but Chaps is a brand new project - expected to open within a year - solely funded by winnings from the Big Lottery's BIG Innovation programme.
Polly Stone, the charity's marketing and partnerships coordinator, explained that Chaps is a response to the number of abandoned horses in Swansea.
"The animals can be bought so cheaply now," she said. "A horse can fetch under £5 as people exchange them for drug money. We want to change people's ideas about horse ownership and this will be an innovative way of educating and engaging people."
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
