Grants totalling £149,000 have been awarded to 39 small charities and voluntary groups across Dorset, thanks to the Dorset Community Foundation’s Neighbourhood Fund. The fund supports grassroots projects tackling challenges such as poverty, disability and isolation. With grants of up to £5,000 available, this round of funding will have a wide-reaching impact across the county. At Dorset Lavender Farm Project in Sturminster Newton, £4,800 will fund new pathways between gardens and buildings – improving access for disabled volunteers. ‘That sense of being part of a team, of peaceful, purposeful work – it’s invaluable,’ said project leader Jo O’Connell. Artsreach will use its funding to establish four new daytime hubs in rural areas, aimed at over-65s and those living with dementia. Planned locations include Blandford or Sturminster Newton, Martinstown or Drimpton, Swanage, and Sixpenny Handley or Canford. ‘We want to create regular events that are joyful, inclusive, and a lifeline to those feeling isolated,’ said Development Officer Kerry Bartlett. A £2,500 grant to Bridport Foodbank will help replenish stock after a drop in donations. ‘We’ll be able to buy fresh food and toiletries – the essentials that are harder to come by,’ said treasurer Lisa Pinch. ‘This support will make a real difference.’ Dorchester Men’s Shed has been awarded £3,000 to improve workshop safety, following an air quality inspection last summer. ‘We’re modernising our equipment and installing better dust extraction to create a healthier, safer space,’ explained secretary Andrew Rennison. Bournemouth’s Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs received £5,000 to continue its work in schools. The group’s specially trained dogs work with pupils experiencing anxiety, autism and other challenges. ‘The dogs create a calming presence, helping pupils – and the staff supporting them – thrive,’ said CEO Peter Rufus. Dorset Community Foundation Chief Executive Grant Robson said: ‘All of the groups who have received funding have annual costs of less than £250,000 – many are under £50,000 – so while these grants are relatively small, the funding means they can continue with vital projects that add real value to peoples’ lives and impact them in an incredibly positive way.’
A beacon and lamps of peace will be lit in Sturminster Newton to ‘shine a light’ on the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe. On Saturday 3rd May there will be a 1940s dance at The Exchange: dance to the Big Band soundsof the Moonlight Swing Band to truly bring the 40s party to life. Tickets £15 – dress for the 1940s, there’s a prize for the best costume. On VE Day, Thursday 8th May, there will be a civic service at St Mary’s Church at 8pm. The community will join together in the Railway Gardens from 8.30pm onwards to commemorate 80 years since VE Day and the end of World War Two. An act of remembrance at 9.20pm will be followed by a 1,000 beacons being lit across the country at 9.30pm in a shared moment of celebration, marking the end of many years of darkness. Red Lamps of Peace will also be lit to remember the many animals who served – a tradition started on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. There will be plenty of free tea and coffee – please bring your own mug. For full details please see the posters around town.
Four men have been convicted of illegally hunting a fox with hounds following a detailed investigation by Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team.
The incident took place on Monday 4th December 2023 near Buckhorn Weston, a village within The BV’s North Dorset heartland, during an event held by the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt. It was reported that hounds pursued and killed a fox during the meet.
Pack of hounds (for illustrative purposes only). Image: Shutterstock
Footage and evidence submitted by members of the public who had been monitoring the hunt were central to the police investigation. Dorset Police confirmed that expert review was undertaken to help establish that an offence under the Hunting Act 2004 had taken place.
Four Somerset men – Conall McGrath, 23, and George Pierce, 33, both of Charlton Horethorne, as well as Andrew Osborne, 60, and Freddie Osborne, 34, of Templecombe – were subsequently tried at Poole Magistrates’ Court. All four were found guilty of breaching section one of the Hunting Act 2004.
McGrath and Pierce were ordered to pay £1,140 each in fines and costs. The Osbornes were each fined £930.
Detective Constable Steve Allen of the Rural Crime Team commented: “Dorset Police is committed to investigating any alleged breach of the Hunting Act 2004 and ensuring anyone breaching the legislation is held to account. This case saw us work with experts and the CPS to compile evidence and build a compelling case.”
The law prohibiting the hunting of wild mammals with dogs came into force in 2005 under the Hunting Act 2004. While certain exemptions apply, police noted that this incident did not fall within those exceptions.
As our readers may recall, The BV reported on this case in depth earlier this year (Dorset’s Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt suspended, The BVFeb 24), as part of our continuing coverage of rural affairs and the complex debates around countryside law, land use and tradition. Speaking at the time, North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs told The BV: ‘We had really hoped that the presence of the drone would have stopped the hunt killing the fox. Unfortunately, it seemed they were making so much noise and were so engrossed in chasing the fox that they didn’t notice it until it was too late. It’s a sickening insight into what goes on and very upsetting for us all that we couldn’t save this fox.’
Hunts are lawfully allowed to go out on what are known as trail hunts. This is the practice of using a pack of hounds to follow a scent of animal urine, typically fox, that is laid in advance – the trail. If hounds accidentally deviate from the trail that has been laid for them and start following the scent of a live quarry, it is the responsibility of the huntsman and hunt staff to stop the hounds immediately.
No one from the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt was available for comment at the time. However, a spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance told The BV:‘There have been just a handful of hunts prosecuted since the Hunting Act came into force almost 19 years ago. It is estimated that around 12,000 days of lawful hunting activities take place across the country each season … demonstrating that the majority of hunting days are conducted within the law.’
Dorset Police are encouraging members of the public to report any further concerns relating to illegal hunting activities.
Rachel Hosford (Cook) of Durweston. Passed away at Forest Holme Hospice, Poole, after a short illness, aged 82. Much loved wife of Jonny, and greatly missed by Martha and Ben, and grandchildren Hector, Eliana, William and Thomas
Widespread dissatisfaction with the state of British politics has doubtlessly contributed to the relative success of Reform. Instead of addressing that situation however, both Labour and the Tories have tried to win back voters by adopting policies that lean towards Reform ideology. Their biggest mistake has been to row back on policies aimed at addressing global warming, thereby failing with government’s most important duty, which is surely to protect the lives and wellbeing of citizens. Kemi Badenoch has declared that achieving Net Zero by 2050 is impossible without a significant drop in our living standards and bankrupting us. Yet the CEO of the Confederation of Business Industry has stated that last year the Net Zero economy grew by 10 per cent and added £83bn to our national income. What we cannot afford is to sideline action on global warming. The consequences of carrying on with fossil fuel business-as-usual would be devastating. We are already seeing increasingly severe weather patterns develop, with prolonged periods of flooding and drought for example, impacting the ability of farmers to produce our food. Longer term consequences include disasters like rising sea levels as ice caps melt. Arctic air temperatures are rising faster than the global average, and so the massive Greenland icesheet, for example, is particularly vulnerable to global warming. It is kilometres thick, covers 80 per cent of the island … and has been steadily melting for the past 27 years as global temperatures rise. It contains enough water to eventually raise global sea levels by seven metres. In the UK that would wipe out whole farming areas, including Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Talk about a drop in living standards … While our contribution to climate change is much smaller than that of, say, China, we are responsible for a share of China’s emissions because so many of the things we buy are manufactured there. China has identified the clean energy opportunities and installed more renewable energy generation last year than the rest of the world combined – eight times more than America and five times more than Europe. Renewable energy creates jobs, cleans polluted air, and lowers energy bills. That’s what we have to gain – and can’t afford to lose. Ken Huggins North Dorset Green Party
Not many people can say they knew their calling at six years old – fewer still can say they stuck to it. But Abby Bunyard isn’t most people. ‘I was lucky that when I was younger, my sister used to ride,’ she says. ‘She’s four years older, so I was always dragged along, and was always around ponies. The farrier at the yard asked me what I was going to be when I grew up, and I told him I was going to be a farrier. He said, “Come find me when you’re big enough.” So I did.’ Dorset-born and raised, Abby grew up in Stalbridge while her father, a Navy man, ‘floated around the world’, as she says. ‘Mum and Dad had an agreement: it was his job, and the kids would stay rooted. Every time Dad came home, it was like Christmas. Sometimes we got four a year! We were lucky.’ Those early years around ponies lit the fuse. By the time she left her all-girls school – which viewed her ambitions with what we might politely call raised eyebrows – she was already fixed on her goal. ‘It wasn’t a career they really understood,’ she says. ‘But I’m fairly bloody-minded, and people telling me I couldn’t do it just drove me towards it, really. It was my passion. It was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to make a difference in an animal’s life – the biomechanics, the structure … I could see all the things that we humans were asking of these animals and I thought we needed to give back. The more comfortable we can make them, and the more efficient in their work we could make them, the better they would be and the happier they’d be.’
Abby Bunyard at work in a Dorset stable yard
The UK is the only country where farriers must legally be qualified and registered, so she entered the UK’s formal apprenticeship system. At the time, the Hereford School of Farriery was the only college offering the training. Abby joined a class of 34 of whom only two were women – and the other only lasted a year. ‘She was Spanish: away from home in a male-dominated industry, doing a hard physical job in a different language … it was tough.’ Abby, however, didn’t flinch. ‘I definitely had to work twice as hard. But I had an exceptional boss – so many people told him taking me on was a terrible mistake, but the more people told him that, the more determined he was!’ Even so, it took time to find her place. ‘It took a week before anyone even spoke to us at college. I don’t think they knew what I was. Was I a threat? A joke? A random? No idea. But I went into it to become a farrier. That’s all that mattered.’ The day she walked on stage to receive her qualification from the Worshipful Company of Farriers, she received a standing ovation. ‘I cracked them,’ she says. In 2025, things are different: ‘It’s 100 times better now.’ But Abby hasn’t once in her 30-year career considered quitting. ‘No. I genuinely haven’t done a day’s work in my life. I get up and do my hobby. I’m a farrier. That’s it. It’s a way of life. I adore it.’
Hot shoeing: after the foot has been trimmed and rasped and is ready for the new shoe, a farrier will heat the shoe in the forge and place it briefly on the foot to sear the path where it will ultimately lie
The day job There’s no such thing, Abby says, as a normal farrier’s day: ‘I have absolutely no idea where we start and where we end! I train apprentices – someone gave me a chance, so I owe it forward. We get in the truck at 7.15am, and we laugh all day. We tag team so no one takes all the strain, and each horse we shoe, we discuss. Nothing is ever shod the same – it’s individual to the animal’s needs at that point in time. What needs to be done today might not be what’s needed in four weeks’ time. ‘The phone starts going Sunday night – “Any chance?” or “I forgot to book in…” or “can you just …” Monday morning the trucks are stocked and you have your list. But though you’ve got the horses’ names, you don’t know what’s changed in the last four to six weeks. Has it done more work? Less? If it has done less work than normal, why? Is the client OK? It’s not just about the horse. While you’re shoeing the horse, if the shoe pattern or wear has changed, you assess why is that changed? What has changed? Why has it changed? Was it changed conformationally? Is it uncomfortable due to biomechanical disruption? Every horse is unique, and each one demands thoughtful, individualised attention‘ But it’s never just about the horse. You walk onto a yard and say, “Hi, how are you?” and that starts the whole job. Someone tells you Aunt Hilda’s died or the kids are sick or work’s gone crazy, and you suddenly know why the horse hasn’t been ridden as much or why its wear pattern is different. You have to be fluid. You’re a farrier, but also a counsellor, a mind reader, a biomechanics geek. It’s holistic. It’s art.’
Abby has a complete mobile forge in her trucks
And then there was Edna ‘The best thing about this job is the difference I make,’ she says. ‘Big or small. When you walk a horse up and see it landing laterally – putting more medial strain on, because it will have a secondary medial landing – but if you then shoe that horse and walk it up and it lands flat, the entire limb or biomechanics of that animal are now in tune. I’ve made a massive difference … What’s more important? The laminitic pony that’s keeping a child with cancer alive because they can see their pony, and it’s just got to be okay? … or the not-100-per-cent-conformationally-sound animal that’s got to stay sound through a five star event?
All of those things matter. You’re not just treating the animal. You’re helping the person attached to it stay afloat.’ Sometimes it’s about the rider. Sometimes, it’s about the horse … and sometimes, it’s both. ‘There’s an older lady I visit, I do trims on her elderly pony. She always comes out with a teapot on a silver tray, proper biscuits … you can’t miss that trim. I cannot miss that trim. Because she gets up every day for that pony.’ One of Abby’s most memorable cases was Edna the injured pony: ‘Edna was a massive achievement. She got her rug caught in the fillet strings, and it severed through part of a deep digital flexor tendon. The owner just didn’t have a pile of spare money to spend on it, so my apprentice and I fabricated a pattern bar shoe, and the clients kept her in the box for six months. There really wasn’t much hope for her … but now, she’s out doing Pony Club stuff! We didn’t do it all by the book, but the owners listened to us, and it was such a great result.’
NO smoking …
Be the best me Today, Abby is not only a highly respected working farrier, but president of the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association – the first woman ever to hold the title. ‘I didn’t go in to become president,’ she says. ‘I just realised one day I was sitting around grumbling about things I didn’t understand. So I decided to get involved. The more I learned, the more I realised what the Association could do. Soon I was treasurer, and the Association needed help getting back on its feet. As treasurer, with a group of 12 other people, I made a hell of a difference. It was fantastic. And then I was made vice president … and when they put the president’s chain on at the AGM, the weight of that … I just thought, “Oh my God. What, what have I done?” I could feel the weight of its history.’ The president’s chain is 125 years old, and has the name of the founder of the BFBA engraved on it, as well as every president since. One year in and Abby is already making an impact: she is determined that the Association is the backbone and strength of leading the industry, and is pushing for greater inclusivity, accessibility and openness. Abby has never identified herself as a ‘woman in a man’s world’ And she resists being labelled a ‘female farrier’. ‘That pisses me off,’ she says. ‘I’m not a female farrier. ‘At no point – aged six, 14, 21, 32 – have I thought I was a female farrier. I’m a farrier. I don’t want to be the best female anything. I want to be the best me. That’s what matters.’ Being a farrier is so much more than shoes on horses. It’s also anatomy, diagnostics, mental health … and for Abby it’s long-haul travel too. The British Association is the crème de la crème of the farriery world and she has lectured on and shod horses all over the globe – Belgium, Geneva, Australia, New Zealand and the US. She is currently working toward the highest professional qualification in her field: the Worshipful Company of Farriers Fellowship. There are only 52 fellows in the world. Fewer than a dozen are women, and none, until now, from Dorset. ‘It’s not a doctorate, but it’s the pinnacle in our profession. I’ve done the practical, I’ve just got the thesis to finish. It’s a whole new learning curve – writing isn’t my comfort zone – but I strive. I strive. I can’t see how I can train apprentices without continuing to learn myself. Otherwise you remain stagnant. And that is not good for animal welfare.’
Abby on becoming president of the British Farrier and Blacksmith Association: ‘I could feel the weight of the 125-year-old chain’s history.’
Eyes wide open And she’s not done yet. Abby is also the driving force behind Focus. A decade ago, it was an international farriery competition with three gazebos and a burger van. Held at Stoneleigh, home of the BFBA, for 42 years, Abby says every farrier in the world wants to compete there: ‘It’s the farriers’ mothership. And now we have 18 international teams of farriers, the best in the world, competing to be the international winner. Alongside that, it’s now the biggest international educational trade fair in the world. We have about 70 trade stands, a lecture theatre, a demo area, a members’ area … We had 1,800 people through the door last year – bear in mind, there’s only 2,500 farriers in the whole of the UK. I stopped in the doorway, just for a second, and looked around, soaking it up. The noise, the energy – it was bloody epic. That was our team … We built that.’ So what advice would Abby give someone considering farriery? ‘Eyes wide open. It’s hard graft. But it’s rewarding beyond words. You learn every day. The skills are vast – the science, the communication, the precision. And the life it gives you is incredible. You’re not stuck in an office. You’re outside, doing something real. And yes – you can make a good living. The United Kingdom’s farriery qualification will allow you to shoe all over the world. But it’s not a nine-to-five. It’s a total way of life.’ Abby’s already thinking about the next client, the next horse, the next puzzle to solve. For her, it’s not about being the first, or the best, or the most awarded. It’s about doing the job – and doing it properly.
Students at Sexey’s School were treated to a high-energy live performance and a powerful discussion on mental wellbeing last week, thanks to a visit from Somerset band The Entitled Sons. The rising stars – four brothers Charlie, Rafferty, Billy, Laurie (who allow dad Graham to play the bass and ferry them around) – are known not only for their music but for using their platform to raise awareness of mental health. Alongside their set, they delivered a heartfelt talk urging students to open up about their emotions, support one another, and challenge the stigma still surrounding mental illness. They spoke candidly about the pressure of social media, the value of real friendships, and the importance of embracing differences. One parent shared how deeply the message resonated at home: ‘My stepdaughter had an amazing time experiencing a live performance and was deeply moved by their speech. She came home and opened up to her father about her feelings, which led to a really positive conversation about mental health over dinner. The band’s words inspired her to speak up and seek support, which is such an important message for young people.’ Headteacher Steve Clayson said: ‘We’re incredibly grateful to the band for taking time out to visit. Their performance was fantastic, but more importantly, their message truly connected with our students. These kinds of conversations are essential if we’re going to normalise talking about mental health.’ Sexey’s School has placed a strong emphasis on wellbeing in recent years, ensuring students feel safe and supported. The band’s visit offered an authentic and accessible way to encourage open dialogue – and proved just how powerful music and shared experience can be. What began as a school concert turned into a catalyst for change – one that will echo far beyond the day itself.
The Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society has named a new President – and she’s no stranger to championing British farming. The Right Honourable Baroness Minette Batters, a Wiltshire farmer, political campaigner and former president of the NFU, has taken on the honorary role ahead of this summer’s Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show.
The Right Honourable Baroness Batters is the 86th President of the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society
Baroness Batters – now the 86th President in the Society’s long history – brings with her a formidable track record of national leadership. As the first female president of the National Farmers Union from 2018 to 2024, she steered British farming through Brexit, the pandemic, and pivotal policy reform. Now a crossbench peer in the House of Lords and recently appointed to lead DEFRA’s farm profitability review, she continues to influence national food and farming strategy at the highest level.
Taking up her new role as President of the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Society, she said: “I hope I can continue the legacy of those that have been President before. They’ve all done an amazing job.”
Based just over the Dorset border in Downton, where she runs a 300-acre mixed farm, Baroness Batters is a passionate advocate for the farming community. Her appointment is expected to bring new visibility to the Society’s education work – particularly its Student Support Fund, which helps local young people access land-based training and careers.
She added that in her new role she was most looking forward to hosting the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Show which takes place on 13th and 14th August.
“It’s my local show so I’m just feeling very privileged to be involved. In this challenging economic climate, our county shows offer great value for money and a wonderful day out for the whole family. The future is about being relevant to the customer, people who have grown up with the Show and attracting newcomers.”
Baroness Batters combines farming with her political life Credit: Lawrence Looi / NFU
Now a registered charity, the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society has been a cornerstone of the community since 1860. Its annual Show – held at Turnpike Showground in Motcombe since 1993 – draws thousands of visitors and over 1,300 livestock entries, with a growing focus on heritage, education and innovation.
“Programmes like Clarkson’s Farm have brought farming to a new audience,” said Baroness Batters. “When I left the NFU I was so pleased to see how popular farming as a job that’s respected has become with the public. It’s second to nursing. The highest rating it’s ever had.”
Soupy dinners, a lorry full of mice and a dreamy back end – Basil begins his first season with Jess Rimmer with power, promise … and carrots
Jess Rimmer on Basil at the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park
I’m writing this from my horsebox in a very sunny, bustling lorry park at the Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park. The atmosphere is just brilliant – it’s the first international of the 2025 season and home to the prestigious 4* Grantham Cup. Many combinations are using this run as a preparation for Badminton 5* in May – as you can imagine, the standard is sky-high! So, what am I doing here this weekend? I’m here with a new character for you all to meet: The Spice Merchant, known to his friends as Basil (or Baz, Bazman, Big Baz… you get the idea!). Basil and I are participating in the 3* short, and it willl only be our third time out competing together. He is a brilliant horse, more special to me because of the story behind him. A good friend of mine, Alex Munn, bought Basil as a 7-year-old BE100 horse. They flew up the levels together and competed in some of the most prestigious events – Bramham, Blenheim, Millstreet and Hartpury – representing Alex’s home country South Africa. Thanks to the incredible generosity of both Alex and the Portman Ladies Syndicate, I’ve now taken over Basil’s reins – and it’s a full-circle moment, as Alex and Basil began their own eventing journey together at Fox-Pitt Eventing, and they were based here for two years.
Basil at Strzegom 4* with Alex Munn in 2024
Lesson time It’s a bit of a ‘finding out’ weekend for us, actually: firstly, we’re seeing which bits of the lorry do (or don’t) work, which areas have/haven’t been eaten by our newly-resident mice (!), and which parts of the drinks fridge need/don’t need restocking (Gin? Tick! Bubbly? Tick! Fresh water? Errr … nope.) Lorry antics aside, it’s also an important weekend for getting to know Basil. I’m learning his ‘buttons’ and how to get the best tune from him, as well as finding out more about his personality and his particular likes and dislikes. So far, I’ve discovered he likes his dinner pretty much to the same consistency as soup, he loves having the inside of his ears scratched, and he sees grazing time as his own personal ‘Man (horse) vs Food’ challenge.
Basil in the South West Equine Water Treadmill near Wincanton, with owner Lisa Ford in the background
That big ole core His incessant appetite leads me nicely into my topic for this month. Basil, although an established top event horse, is a bit of a unit in his build – think less Mo Farah, more Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. In studs. He has the most immensely powerful back end (one I can only dream of having…), but that does mean he finds the stamina side of things more difficult. It is such a balancing act with horses – working to increase and maintain a high level of fitness, while at the same time protecting and preventing against potential injuries. We are incredibly lucky that the setup at Wood Lane is mindfully designed for keeping top competition horses in their physical prime. With access to an abundance of hacking as well as the onsite gallops the horses are able to have a varied, little-and-often approach to their fitness regime. Not only this, but we are also only a short lorry journey away from the South West Equine Water Treadmill, run by the very lovely – and very knowledgeable – Fred and Lisa Ford. Basil has been making weekly visits since his arrival last month. The water treadmill is a brilliant tool in our arsenal – it has huge benefits for horses and it’s very much as it says on the tin. It’s a big, sturdy treadmill not terribly dissimilar to those which you or I would run on (actually, not me, if I could possibly avoid it), except it’s horse sized, obviously, and it also fills up with cold water at the same time (yeah, I’m glad it’s for the horses, not the riders).
Equine water treadmills have a whole range of therapy benefits, but for Basil it’s being used as a fitness aid, ‘to help tone up that big ole core of his’
The water provides resistance as the horse walks forward on the treadmill at a controlled speed – usually walking – encouraging them to strengthen their musculoskeletal system while putting minimal strain on their legs and feet. It’s about the only time the horse is working harder than us for a change! The treadmill has masses of therapeutic potential and it is currently influencing the way many in the equestrian world approach injury rehabilitation. But for Basil it’s being used as a fitness aid, to help really tone up that big ole core of his! The stronger the horse the less likely they are to injure themselves.
Basil’s ‘most immensely powerful back end’
The fun begins Ok, so back to the here and now. Thanks to the help of William, Jackie, Lisa and Fred, Basil is fit and ready to go – we completed our dressage this morning, so now onto the fun part! I’ve walked the cross country course twice already – once with William and once with mum – which is why there are currently a hundred butterflies swarming in my tummy (excited ones, I might add!). The track is testing but not unfair, and none of the questions are ones Basil hasn’t seen before. It is slightly more nerve-wracking when I remember I don’t actually know Basil particularly well yet – but he is such a dude, and I have the utmost confidence in him. I’ll do one final course walk on my own in the morning, just to get into the right headspace, before my showjumping at 10.42. I head out of the start box just under an hour later, so will be all done in time for lunch (we might not be doing winter dressage any more, but my priorities still haven’t changed). See you on the other side!
image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
[PS: He was amazing! He made incredibly light work of it, as we knew he would, and jumped a super double clear. Big smiles, big pats and some extra carrots in his tea, I reckon!]
