Over the past month, local NGO RMJ's Horse Rescue appealed to the public to raise money to send seven rescued horses abroad. The organisation has been going through a difficult time as they may lose their stables after the landlord upped the rent fees back in June.

Earlier this month, RMJ's Horse Rescue announced that several of their rescued horses needed to be rehomed. Their aim was to raise the €10,000 required to #FilltheTruck with seven horses, giving them the opportunity to retire abroad. And in less than three weeks, the target was met thanks to generous donations, and now, these horses will soon be retiring in gorgeous fields in countries across Europe. These are the seven cuties who will be leaving our islands and entering retirement.

1. Xian Hornline

Xian is a 14-year-old Swedish mare who had a career in racing in Malta. She is now going back to her home country to retire and run in the fields.

2. Eelco Edel

Eelco is an 11-year-old Swedish gelding who is now being rehomed to England to a friend of a lady who has already rehomed two of RMJ’s boys from Malta. Eelco will definitely enjoy the English countryside!

3. Tom de Lauriere

The 12-year-old French gelding has been dubbed as “the BFG” by the NGO because although he is huge, he’s got a heart of gold. He is off to England where he will join Confess Arn and Velvet de Jiel, both of whom were rehomed recently by the organisation.

4. Leonas Kaiser

Leonas is a 10-year-old Swedish gelding who is going to be rehomed to Scotland. Joining him are his pals Brigadoon and Voila Dry. They’ll definitely have some fun running around in the Scottish greenery!

5. Brigadoon

This 11-year-old Swedish gelding is such a sweetie! Brigadoon will be joining friends Leonas and Voila Dry in Scotland. 

6. Voila Dry

Miss Voila Dry is a 10-year-old French gelding who finished a successful racing career in Malta and will be joining Leonas and Brigadoon in Scotland. 

7. Charlie

Charlie is a Maltese pony who came to RMJ neglected and starved. He's already improved a lot, but will be back to full health in no time after spending some time in the lush green fields of England. He will be joining Tom in their new home, and finally get to live out the rest of his life in paradise.

President of the NGO Corinne Farrugia tells us that Xian, Eelco, Tom, Leonas, Brigadoon, and Voila are “all racing trotters who completed their racing careers in their respective home countries Sweden or France. They were then sold to Malta to continue racing but have now also come to the end of their racing careers in Malta.”

“As an NGO we are very happy that the owners of these horses have chosen to put the horse's best interest first by choosing to come to us to help them retire abroad. This is what we are working towards, the idea that a horse does not become worthless once it finishes racing but it is our duty to make sure that after serving two racing careers they get the retirement they deserve,” she explained.

Safe travels!

RMJ's Horse Rescue