Sue Briscoe can still remember the day of her first animal rescue.
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It was a defining moment in the then young girl's life when she snatched a tiny kitten away from a group of boys who had been kicking the defenceless animal around in the streets of a County Durham town in the north of England.
Since that time Sue and her sister Lillian, who run Beechwood Lodge Equestrian Centre at Bungwahl, have rescued hundreds of horses, dogs and cats from the death chamber.
At the moment the women have an assortment of thorougbred, brumbie, standardbred and station horses grazing on lush pastures of the 27.5ha property and a handful of much loved dogs.
They're horses nobody wants; horses destined for the knackers, Lillian said.
Now, they are our forever horses, she said.
"The get fed, brushed and looked after; I love everything about them, they are beautiful.
"I cannot handle the thought of what happens to them and how they are treated."
They deserve a chance to have a good life and to know there are people in the world who love them.
- Lillian Briscoe
She said many were a by-product of the racing industry or from drought affected areas.
"They deserve a chance to have a good life and to know there are people in the world who love them."
Growing up in Hartley Pool, in England's north east, Lillian had 'always' wanted to own a pony.
But the tiny suburban backyard of their two-up, two-down cottage wasn't large enough to accommodate Lillian's wish.
"I did promise my mum I would walk it every day," she laughed.
However, seven years after migrating to Australia and at close to 30-years of age Lillian's dream came true.
By then Sue had joined her sister and the two women learnt all aspects of riding before pooling their money to buy their first mount.
They later bought a retired pick-up horse called Della.
It was around this time the women began their 'rescue'.
They refused to get rid of their first horse when Della came along.
"They have put up with us riding on their backs; I wasn't going to get rid of it," Lillian said.
Lillian bought the Bungwahal block in the late 80s and retired to The Lakes Way property in 1995.
At the time the women had more than 20 horses on agistment - buying the property was a cheaper option.
Since then they have sown down pastures to ensure the horses always have plenty of feed, and constructed an Olympic-sized arena, which is well-used for lessons and hire.
While Sue continues to work in the retail industry, Lillian does much of the day-time work attending to their charges.
During the summer months the horses are left to graze on the lush pastures, while during the winter their diet is supplemented with additional feed.
Older horses are rugged against the chilly winter evenings, which also can extend into the day.
Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
