Home of Rest for Horses
Opened as a Charity in 1886, the Home of Rest for Horses became a refuge where horses and donkeys could rest and find peace and contentment following their devoted service to mankind. The reader should be aware that there were many millions of horses, ponies and donkeys working in terrible conditions on the roads and in mines in the days before mechanised transport was universally available. The charity initially used fields in North West London, but eventually a purpose-built stables was opened in 1933 at the top of Furzehill Road near the Barnet Bypass (A1).
The stables provided wonderful accommodation over the years for thousands of animals. When it was founded the stated objectives were to enable the poorer classes to procure skilled treatment and provide animals for temporary use while their own were resting in the home.
Following the First World War the stables also looked after quite a few of the many horses who were lucky enough to be repatriated from the Continent.
The home was a happy place for children to visit as many of the animals were real characters.
Grey Boy was a lovely old horse who would come to the stable door and ring a bell when he heard visitors approaching. During winter children could meet up with the donkeys who had given them rides on Hampstead Heath during the summer.
The Boreham Wood site was sold for building land in 1975 and the Home moved to Buckinghamshire where it thrives to the present day as the Horse Trust, now looking after 200 animals in over 200 acres of land.