Youngsters who enjoy the brand new Steven Spielberg movie War Horse, released Friday 13 January, are being offered free entry for a day out at leading West Country animal visitor attraction HorseWorld.

 

The popular Whitchurch-based charity is promising free entry to under 16s who have been to see the film and who produce their cinema ticket at HorseWorld’s admissions desk.

 

War Horse is a story of loyalty, hope and tenacity during the First World War. It is a tale of the remarkable bond that developed between man and his horse in traumatic circumstances. HorseWorld rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes horses that have often come from backgrounds of cruelty and neglect.

 

Any under-16 visitor who presents their War Horse cinema ticket is entitled to free entry to HorseWorld between now and Friday 10 February. Normal day visitor entry price for under 16s is £5.95 (including Gift Aid donation).

 

HorseWorld Visitor Centre Manager Sharon Crewe said: “We are expecting this fantastic new film to unleash a wave of ‘horse love’ through the West Country! We know how strong and rewarding the bond can be between a horse and its trainer. All the animals at our Visitor Centre are looking forward to welcoming youngsters who enjoy War Horse, giving them the chance to meet and be close to real horses that have been rescued and rehabilitated - many from their own traumatic backgrounds.

 

“There is no limit to the number of under 16s in a family group who can take advantage of the offer – so if a parent took three kids to see the movie then all three children can present their cinema ticket to gain free entry to meet our animals and have a great day out.”

 

For more information about HorseWorld, visit www.horseworld.org.uk or call 01275 540173

 

During 2011 HorseWorld hit national headlines for elements of its work including the remarkable rescue and recovery of:

 

- Buddy, an emaciated pony at death’s door when rescued early in the year, who needed to be manually lifted every two hours day and night by charity staff to eat and drink, yet who by the summer was able to greet over 2,000 well-wishers at the HorseWorld Visitor Centre in just three days

 

- Obese ponies, Jerry and JoJo, rescued with hooves upturned like Aladdin’s slippers grossly overweight having been forced to live with cows and eat a rich cattle diet, but now fit and healthy again

 

HorseWorld is a charity that rescues horses, ponies and donkeys that have been abandoned, mistreated and neglected. The charity is often the only lifeline to animals that have been treated so cruelly that they have given up hope of a life that is free from pain and suffering. Each animal that is rescued is nursed back to health and wherever possible, rehomed so they can have a second chance at life.

 

HorseWorld’s Visitor Centre plays an important role, allowing the public to meet some of the recovered animals and learn about animal welfare. It is home to rescued horses, donkeys, hens, ducks, goats, ferrets and Portia the pot-bellied pig. Funds raised from the Visitor Centre help support the charity’s vital rescue work.