Helping hand for horses

Liana has been running Hibiscus Coast Horses for almost 17 years, but says since she started her Facebook page, demand for her services has taken off, although she doesn’t take on all the horses that she is offered.

“Sometimes an owner just needs some advice or options, and I’m happy to do that,” she says. “But it is hard to say no.”

For the past year, Liana has been keeping the horses she rescues at three grazing sites – two in Dairy Flat and the other in Whangaparaoa.

The largest site, of around six hectares, is no longer available to her, leaving her with just two hectares of grazing – a situation she describes as “desperate”.

Currently she has seven rescued horses, and had to turn down five others in the past month because of lack of grazing.

The remaining sites are provided free of charge, and one friendly neighbour even throws hay across the fence to help her keep the horses fed. North Shore Riding Club donates covers to keep out the winter cold.

Liana says it is this kind of generosity that keeps her going, as all the other costs associated with caring for the horses, including vet bills, come from her own pocket.

Some of the horses are in dire straits when she hears about them – starving, sick, abused or abandoned, while others are what she calls “hand overs”, when people simply can’t look after them any more.

Once the horses are rehabilitated, which for some means getting them to the stage where they can be handled, and for others returning them to full health, Liana looks for good homes.

The money she receives for the horses goes straight back into providing food and care.

“I certainly am non-profit – sometimes with the amount people charge for grazing they obviously think I’m making heaps,” she says. “Any money goes straight back into the horses.”

She is in the process of registering as a not for profit organisation, but says she needs a reliable grazing base before that can happen.

She hopes that someone may be able to offer her some land free of charge in return for keeping down the grass and general care and attention.

“The horses are my sole responsibility and I feed and water them as well as taking care of the property and fences,” she says.

Liana says she can easily spend all day with the horses in summer, and in winter is with them four to five hours a day, rain or shine.

Unable to work fulltime, this single mum is dedicated to the horses’ welfare and that’s the way she likes it.

“It’s really hard at times, but I make the horses my number one priority,” she says.

Info: phone 022 025 0552 or look for Hibiscus Coast Horses on Facebook.