Refuge For Mistreated Horses At Compton

Published on: 24 Aug, 2015
Updated on: 10 Sep, 2015

Mane Chance Sanctuary is a refuge for mistreated horses based at Compton. Dani Maimone meets its founder the well-known actress Jenny Seagrove.

A stable was the last place I expected to be holding a celebrity interview but then the actress concerned is an extraordinary lady, with a passion for horses, so I guess I should not have been surprised.

Jenny Seagrove and Grimbo clearly have a strong bond. Picture by Dani Maimone.

Jenny Seagrove is the founder of the Mane Chance Sanctuary; a very special refuge for mistreated horses based in Compton, nestled among the Surrey Hills in a wonderful spot just off the A3.

It’s just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Watt’s Gallery.

Jenny is better known for her more recent role as QC Jo Mills in the TV series Judge John Deed, starring Martin Shaw (who I note is one of the charity’s patrons,) than as the founder of a Surrey horse rescue sanctuary. However, it is here among the horses that Jenny’s passion for what she is doing at Mane Chance is very evident.

I have to confess that until I met Jenny and some of her team, I hadn’t fully understood what the charity was about.

It was earlier this year as a member of Guildford District Rotary Club at its annual sponsored walk, that I became aware of a team of some 15 or so walkers taking part to raise money for Mane Chance. You couldn’t miss them. They were all sporting branded T-shirts and many were carrying balloons. Curious about the work they were doing I later got in touch to find out more.

The charity is relatively new and has only been in operation since 2011. I was curious as to how a famous TV and film actress based in London had become involved with rescuing horses in the middle of nowhere in the Surrey Hills.

Some of the horses at Mane Chance Sanctuary. Picture by Dani Maimone.

“Let me tell you a story,” she says in her lovely eloquent voice that we have come to know so well from her television work. “I had a friend,” she continues, “who was doing great work looking after rescued animals, I had been supporting her for years but one day I received a call from her telling me that she had run out of money and that the animals hadn’t eaten for four days.”

Jenny had always had a love of animals and immediately sprang into action. Within a matter of weeks she had formed a charity, phoned around some of her friends asking for money and support and started searching for land to house the huge variety of animals, not just horses.

She visited a well-known businessman (she doesn’t give me his name) and within five minutes of him making a phone call he had found 37 acres of land rent free near Compton.

“We survived the winter,” she adds reassuringly, “but only just.” She continues: “The landowner said you can only stay there for a short time as I want to sell it.”

Come the spring the sale fell through and Jenny was asked if she wanted to buy the land herself.

She sold her flat in London coerced some of her trustees to get involved and low and behold they become the landowners for Mane Chance.

It became clear at this time that the land could only sustain a certain number of animals so some of the horses and the variety of other animals, including chickens were rehoused.

This is not any ordinary horse rescue sanctuary, here they are going one step further and pioneering work to give the horses a purpose. Something Jenny feels very strongly about.

James French, an animal communicator who has pioneered something called the Trust Technique, a gentle amazing therapy with horses and other animals, heard about Mane Chance and offered to get involved with managing the sanctuary.

He runs his own consultancy but continues to work closely with Mane Chance.

The Trust Technique is a form of mindfulness and it works very well with horses. It is a very powerful and effective technique that combines healing with mental communication.

Mane Chance also works with terminally ill children and a variety of vulnerable young people alongside the horses and have proven that this extraordinary method can benefit both horse and child at the same time. It may sound unbelievable and the sort of thing one might have been burnt at the stake for 200 years ago as a sort of whichcraft mumbo jumbo but it does actually work.

You can check it out online and watch James in action with the horses at http://www.manechancesanctuary.org/trust-technique/

In the picture: front row: Jenny Seagrove and Ashlie Stevens, part-time groom.
Back row from left: Roger Foreman the site manager; Sheila Watts, volunteer: and Dawn Hutchings-Decker, Planning and Construction advisor. Picture by Dani Maimone.

It’s this special work that makes the place so unique. In Jenny’s words: “It gives the horses a value and it’s something that we would eventually like to roll out across the country. Mini Mane Chance’s working with horses and people in the community at the same time.”

Regardless of how the Trust Technique works, it is lovely to see so many wonderful horses that were previously mistreated, now functioning and happy and frolicking about the acres of land at the Sanctuary.

It’s fascinating to see that strong bond develop between human and animal. It’s clear that the horses love Jenny.

She takes me to see a wonderful Shetland pony, Grimbo, who she says was headed for the meat market. One wonders how anyone could even contemplate such a thing with such a sentient creature. He greets her enthusiastically and very gently nuzzles up to her, feeling very much at home and clearly very relaxed.

Like any small charity, funding is forever an issue and they are always in search of more volunteers.

Roger, the site manager says: “ We rely heavily on our volunteers, whether they are helping with fundraising, cleaning the yard or simply mending fences every bit of help they provide counts.”

Roger lives on site and admits that in many ways he has the perfect job even though it can be pretty full on.

Shetland at Mane Chance Sanctuary. Picture by Dani Maimone.

With around 25 horses on site and a several more supported off site, around 50 acres to manage overall and 30 plus volunteers to co-ordinate, there is never a dull moment.

Dawn Hutchings-Decker is a volunteer as well as a professional architect and has been with Mane Chance for over three years now.

Once Jenny discovered she was an architect she made sure Dawn helped with planning applications for new sheds and much needed buildings and so on.

Volunteers taking part in the Rotary Club of Guildford District sponsored walk to raise money for the Mane Chance Sanctuary.

Dawn is also clever at persuading many contractors to donate items and is clearly a huge asset to the charity.

Even her 78-year-old father, Bob, is involved and can often be seen out about fundraising or spreading the word about the great work at Mane Chance.

He took part in the Rotary sponsored walk this year even though he has replacement hips and an artificial knee!

It’s clear that everyone associated with Mane Chance is well and truly passionate about the place, especially working with the horses of course.

As I leave I candnot help but feel that I have just encountered something really quite special and met some truly dedicated people. Jenny is amazing with boundless energy and enthusiasm for what she is doing and her staff and volunteers echo that.

Last year’s summer open day. Picture supplied by Mane Chance Sanctuary.

If you would like to find out more about Mane Chance Sanctuary then why not go along to the open day this coming Sunday, August 30.

There will be tours of the park, stalls, games, cream teas a barbecue, and a chance to meet the actress and founder Jenny Seagrove as well as sports presenter Chris Kamara.

The gates open at noon and tickets are £10 for a family of four if purchased in advance or £15 on the day. Individual tickets are £6 each. Jenny and the team look forward to seeing you there.

For further information or to book tickets in advance call 07512 363 400 or email office@manechancesanctuary.org or check the website at www.manechancesancturay.org.

Click here to listen to Dani Maimone’s interview with Jenny Seagrove broadcast on Brooklands Radio.