THE National Horse Trust, which raises funds to help neglected horses and started up three Horse Care Units, is currently in dire straits and is looking for people to become members at a cost of R500 a year.

The Trust’s fundraising efforts have yielded results far below budget and it has had to temporarily halt its support of three Horse Care Units, the Highveld Horse Care Unit, the Eastern Cape Horse Care Unit and the Coastal Horse Care Unit. It receives no government grant support.

Horse stakeholders have been approached but between R250,000 and R300,000 is urgently needed just to fill a short-term shortfall in Trust funds. To become a member of the National Horse Trust dial 011 683 4388.

Another way the general public can help is by getting a My Village Card at no cost by dialling 0860-100-445 or by logging on to www.myschool.co.za. My School is one of South Africa’s biggest fundraising programmes and gives more than R3 million every month to more than 9,000 schools, charities, environmental and animal welfare organisations. Cards can be swiped at any of 12 retailers, including Kalahari.com, Engen, Jacks Paint and Hardware and Altech Netstar.