MANE EVENT FOR ROBERT
Haircut raises equine funds
A prize- winning Strath Highland pony breeder has raised £ 600 for a charity close to his heart – by having a haircut!
Not one to bother with hair salons, Robert Davidson usually has his locks lopped off on his annual visit to the Royal Highland Show.
However this year, with the absence of such gatherings, his hair was more wild than usual.
Friend Annette Noble explained: “I have known Robert for around 40 years. We met at the Highland Show as he was showing his Highland ponies and I was showing my Clydesdales.
“Every year at the show Robert gets his hair cut by my friend Helen Smith and raises money for charity. As there was no show last year we decided to set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Equine Grass Sickness.
“With the lockdown his hair went wild and he kept phoning and asking when she could get up to cut it, so in the wee break when we were allowed to travel Helen went to Robert’s and cut it outside.”
Grass sickness is a frequently fatal disease, affecting grazing horses, ponies and donkeys.
The precise cause of the condition is unknown but research, much of which is financed by the Equine Grass Sickness Fund, continues to be a vital element in understanding the devastating disease.
Annette continued: “Normally horses and ponies don’t survive grass sickness but one of Robert’s stallions, Ruairidh of Mendip, actually survived grass sickness and went on to sire a foal which is really unusual.
Robert added: “It’s really important that people are aware of the condition.
“It’s good to have been able to raise some funds which will go towards research into grass sickness. I’m pleased to have been able to do my part.
“Thank you to everyone who donated.”