As we welcome 2022, we realise that this marks 10 years since the start of this wonderful journey. A journey that has taken many turns over the years but one thing remains at the heart of everything we do, the love and devotion that surrounds every animal under the Reanimate name. 

At the start of this journey there were many tears shed on both the arrival of Katie and her subsequent loss, those tears would fuel the fire that was to become Katie’s Cradle, a fire that would keep burning, even when it would be down to a tiny burning ember it remained and gave the strength to push through the tough times and lead us through to become Reanimate.

As with everything in life, we are taken on journeys to teach us new lessons and to help us grow and develop with each lesson we learn. Some of those lessons are so very hard and the loss of Lucien was one of those hard lessons. The excitement of gaining charity status in 2016 was quickly overtaken with Lucien becoming ill with Grass Sickness. I fought with everything I had to try and save him but sadly the angels took him. Never in my life had I felt pain like this and as I write these words the tears continue to flow, even six years on. Lucien marked a change in me, he gave me hope when I had none, courage to carry on in the face of every challenge that presented in front of me, he taught me how to ‘be’ with horses that has led us to our unique ways today. Devastation is too weak a word for what I was feeling and when it came to pass that he was lost, my last words to him were ‘I’ll be with you soon baby’. I genuinely didn’t want to carry on, what was the point! I was soon to realise what ‘the point’ was, I was needed. In my grief I had shut down, not only to the world but to the remaining horses and I refused to see them. I couldn’t face them, I couldn’t face their grief on top of my own, until one day, a friend called Bill encouraged me to take that important step and go to see my babies. I remember being so weak and I couldn’t stop shaking on the drive to the farm. As I made my way slowly towards the field Amigo noticed me and my heart completely sank, he ran to me and looked so lost. I felt so much guilt that I had selfishly not considered them and how much they had needed me and although there were others taking good care of them, they needed the one constant they had always known, and I hadn’t been there, from that moment I was back, once again pulled back to life by my four-legged friends. Lucien taught me so much and it was my job to carry on his message of love and give new hope to any and all animals who came to us, to always be there for them through thick and thin as they are there for us, not to give up when things become difficult, and I hope I’ve made Lucien proud.

Now, this may seem like ‘old news’ to those who have followed the journey for many years but times like this show what is at the ‘heart’ of the charity and the ‘heart’ of the charity always remains the same, love, care and nurture.

As the years past, more animals with not much hope came under the care of the charity and by 2020 we were home to around 40 animals, horses, cats, dogs, chickens, sheep and goats. 2020 was a difficult year for everyone across the globe, with the pandemic hitting the world and many people facing unimaginable challenges. As a charity we were no different, at the beginning of 2020 the animals were the focus and making sure they had their needs met which we managed successfully with the help of our donors and emergency funding.  As time went on, we would get contacted to assist people who had found their lives were being adversely affected by the current events and by 2021 we had The Heard Project up and running.

2021 has been a very busy year where we seen our vision starting to take shape, bringing animals and people together to overcome barriers, giving people a safe space to explore their inner being on their journey of life. I have witnessed some lovely stories over the past year and feel privileged to have been a part of people’s journeys. The animals have done themselves so proud this year (as always) and our little Lucien will be smiling down on us all with his mum Katie knowing the message he brought to this world lives on in every interaction that is inspired in his name.

"I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a fantastic 2022 and say a big thank you to all our supporters, you have made such a difference in this world."

"With much love & appreciation

Sharon Taylor"