HorsePower Denmark‘s second horse, Popeye, was in fine fettle on Saturday when Anglican Church’s Mustard Seed Op Shop volunteers turned out to meet him.
The volunteers had gathered at the Denmark Equestrian Centre to be shown appreciation for their $3000 donation to purchase the gelding who had his own ideas about expressing gratitude.
The 14 year old gelding joins the pony, Bambi, bought in 2022 with another donation of $3000 from the Anglican Church.
HorsePower Denmark provides equine-assisted therapies at the Denmark Equine Centre for people with physical, intellectual and social challenges to help empower them to discover new abilities.
Leading up to the purchase, Popeye had been leased for free for a year but the owner had wanted to sell him.
HorsePower secretary Louise Swan said that idea of losing the thoroughbred was unthinkable because horses of his quality were few and far between.
As an accredited HorsePower horse with the most amenable, if showman like nature, Popeye was considered a valuable mount.
“We were devastated that we might not be able to come up with the funds,” Louise said.
In April, Sally Prickett from the Anglican Church had asked HorsePower Denmark if they might have another project in mind to which they could donate funds.
“We remembered Sally’s offer and contacted her post haste,” Louise said.
HorsePower was delighted when Anglican Parish of Denmark Walpole treasurer Harold Luxton said the church was happy to donate $3000, again, this time for the purchase of Popeye.
Louise said the local community did not hear enough about the Mustard Seed’s generosity from funds raised by the volunteers manning their excellent op shop in town.
“So, Popeye’s future with HorsePower Denmark is now secure and we have managed to keep another favourite at the centre for our teens and adults to learn to ride and interact with our beautiful equines,” she said. HorsePower now owns four horses Popeye, Bambi, Romeo and the yet to be accredited Magenta.
Fourteen riders can either ride or lead the horses.
Sally said the Mustard Seed operated with 47 volunteers and through its fundraising provided $6000 a year to the Denmark Community Resource Centre for vouchers.
People in need could use the vouchers for food, petrol and gas cylinders. Vouchers were also available for bedding, clothes, toys and household goods.
Every six weeks $1600-$2000 was donated to local, Australia wide and international charities.
These had included Medecins Sans Frontieres, and people in war-torn Gaza and Ukraine. Money had recently been given to two women in Africa wanting to buy sewing machines so they could earn money to support themselves and their village.
See all the pictures in the issue.
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 1 August 2024