We are fundraising for the upkeep of Socks our much-loved family horse & stalwart at the Lonach gathering and in the community at local events.
***** UPDATE *****
We are incredibly grateful for all your support and so relieved to reach target.
crowd funder have given us the chance to set a scratch target.
Any donations made over and above our original target we will put towards repairing and/or replacing well worn harness for Socks.
Once again thank you all so very much for your support.
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We would love to continue supporting community events. Apart from Socks being a stalwart in the local community, attending these events aids us in training Socks. During these events, he is familiarised annually with the sound of the bagpipes, drums & tannoys. Sights, sounds & surroundings that are unique to highland gatherings. The sight of flags, traffic, balloons, brollies, amusements, bunting, lights and all the other hazards & surprises that can appear at these types of events.
Due to us losing his main sponsor three years ago we need to find the funds for grazing and ever rising liability insurance costs to attend these events.
The background
Thanks to the generosity of Derek’s previous employer, Socks had a field for grazing & carriage storage provided by the kind sponsorship of The late Mr Smith & Mrs Smith, Kildrummy; never with any expectation of public acknowledgment. However, after a huge change in circumstances and an unexpected relocation three years ago, we now have costs of around £2500 per annum for the upkeep of Socks.
Previously, we were able to fund his insurance, farrier & upkeep by charging minimal amounts for attending weddings with horse and carriage. However, during the COVID pandemic, all our wedding bookings were cancelled. Then, when we had to relocate, we had to sell our beautiful Landau carriage due to having no suitable storage space. So sadly we can no longer offer wedding or occasion hires to help with costs.
Socks attends The Lonach Highland Gathering and games and has become a much-loved visitor to the games each year on the 4th Saturday in August. He has been attending since 2015 when my father and I both marched with him on his first march. We see many of the same faces returning, year after year to say a friendly 'hello' to him in the breaks between his ringside appearances.
For his weekend away at the Lonach Gathering his grazing is kindly sponsored by Ian Stuart, Ledmacoy, Strathdon
The future
Sadly we can no longer afford to fund the ongoing costs of grazing and events insurance personally. We do not want to sell Socks as he is also a very much loved, loyal & faithful family pet. We have invested a lot of years and patience in training and nurturing him. We have owned him since he was just a yearling.Socks & the Gray team regularly support community events such as Corgarff Picnic & games, Rhynie Gala, Rhynie Christmas lights switch on with his sleigh, and his main outing The Lonach Highland Gathering and games. In true community spirit, we donate his transport costs, and our time and effort and have never charged for these attendances, or for carriage rides. In fact, in some cases, we have collected voluntary donations via carriage rides on behalf of Rhynie Gala, Towie School and Nursery, and Allachburn Care Home. Because we never intended to run a business with Socks, only to cover the costs of his upkeep. It was never for profit. Services were never widely advertised, only in the Lonach programme each year and through word of mouth.
Socks harness will probably do one more year but will need replacement over time due to wear and tear. Sadly I did not inherit my father's harness as it was stolen from the Luib many years ago. I made the sleigh myself and, the waggonette was refurbished by me. We meet the maintenance costs of these too. Sadly they are deteriorating as current storage isn’t ideal.
Any support would be very much appreciated.
Derek & Donna Gray
***** UPDATE *****
We are incredibly grateful for all your support and so relieved to reach target.
crowd funder have given us the chance to set a scratch target.
Any donations made over and above our original target we will put towards repairing and/or replacing well worn harness for Socks.