Equestrian

Former Beaminster student in mercy

By Dan Goater

newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk

A West Dorset-based haulier has delivered 24 tonnes of aid to horses in Ukraine who have been left neglected by the Russian invasion. Charlie Bailey, who owns General Haulage of Great Britain, approached Horse Aid UK to help them deliver food, bedding and blankets to horses in Ukraine left abandoned by the outbreak of war. Former Beaminster School pupil Charlie, 23, is a national level event jumper with a lifelong love of horses who wanted to help the horses that have been left to fend for themselves by Putin’s invasion. He said: “I have been very heavily involved with horses for my whole life, ever since I could walk. When my friends let me know about Horse Aid UK and the work they were doing, delivering donations for horses to the UkrainePoland border, I immediately contacted them to offer my services as a haulier. “My company goes to Europe all the time, and the paperwork since Brexit has been complicated to say the least, so I’m in the ideal position to transport goods for Horse Aid UK because I have all my paperwork in place. “Horse Aid UK has been absolutely inundated with donations. When I approached them to offer my help they asked if I would be willing to take a load of donations to the border, so that’s what I did.” Charlie along with transport drivers from Horse Aid UK, delivered 24 tonnes of horse blankets, food and bedding to the Ukraine-Poland border close to the Ukrainian city of Lyiv earlier this month. They have posted pictures of their success on the haulage business’s Facebook page. Charlie said: “Horses are very close to my heart and always have been. “There are a lot of companies and charities who are sorting out donations for humans, but the horses that have been left behind have not been

mission to help the Ukraine’s horses

IN FOR THE LONG HAUL: Charlie Bailey, 23, seen left and right at showjumping events, took tonnes of donations to the Ukraine to help the nation’s equines.

RIDING TO THE RESCUE: Charlie collects pallets full of feed from ynnstay Country Stores at Bridgwater

getting a mention. “I wanted to do something to help them.” Charlie, whose haulage company is based at Pilsdon Pen, suffered a severe injury to his left foot in a lawnmower accident when he was a child. Despite this setback, Charlie has been riding horses since he was four years old and has been competing at a national level since childhood. Charlie added: “That love of horses has never gone away and I knew I had to help the horses left abandoned in Ukraine.” To support Horse Aid UK and its work please search for ‘Horse Aid UK’ on Facebook. To support General Haulage of Great Britain’s efforts to help Ukraine’s stricken war horses, please search for ‘General Haulage of Great Britain’ on Facebook.