MORE than £4,000 was raised at the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies’ Christmas open day on Sunday, (3rd December) the first since the charity suffered the loss of chairwoman Jenny MacGregor last month.

The winter feed appeal benefitted from around 300 visitors who supported the hardworking equine charity through the various stalls, raffle, tombola, tack sale, refreshments and stockings for individual horses and ponies.

A commemorative bench was also unveiled on the day in memory of long-term friend of SWHP, Maggie King, who passed away recently.

Maggie had raised more than £40,000 for SWHP over 40 years through bric-a-brac stalls, selling merchandise and more.

A spokesperson for SWHP said: “We were all devastated at the sad loss of Maggie King this summer. Maggie had been friends with Jenny for more than forty years and every fortnight she visited with a smile on her face, a box of cakes for the staff and the proceeds of her sales.

“Maggie always wanted to look around the yard meeting the ponies and taking a keen interest in their progress.

“Maggie’s contribution to animal welfare was amazing. All of us here at SWHP will never forget her loyalty and support”

The Christmas open day made a grand total of £4,250, which will go a long way to caring for the resident and new rescues, and the starving herds on common land across South Wales through the long winter.

Visit swhp.co.uk for more on the charity.