As Redberth Croft [a 100% volunteer-led community farm near Kilgetty] celebrated just its second anniversary in April, the veteran and lived experience-led community farm is asking the public to help transform the life of a young Thoroughbred who never got the chance to fulfil her own potential.

An unnamed four-year-old Thoroughbred mare, affectionately known as Rose, has become the face of Redberth Croft CIC's new fundraising appeal.

By the internationally renowned Godolphin stallion Iffraaj (GB) out of Labise (IRE), Rose was bred for a future on the racecourse. Instead, she never raced. She was never officially named.

She now lives with a painful club foot, leaving her intermittently lame despite possessing one of the kindest temperaments the team at Redberth Croft have ever encountered. Despite her condition, Rose has already begun quietly changing lives.

Working alongside veterans, neurodivergent indivduals, unpaid carers and vulnerable members of the community, she has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to help people feel calm, safe and understood.

Now Redberth Croft hopes the community will help change hers.Following specialist assessment at Cotts Equine Hospital, Rose has been diagnosed with a Type 1 flexural limb deformity (club foot). Veterinary surgeon Richard Coomer has recommended specialist surgery followed by rehabilitation and corrective farriery, offering an encouraging prognosis.

Around 80% of horses undergoing the procedure show resolution of the condition, and in an extraordinary gesture of support, Cotts Equine Hospital has agreed to undertake the surgery at a significantly reduced charitable fee.

The organisation has now launched The Rose Appeal, aiming to raise £3,000 to fund specialist surgery, post-operative veterinary care, rehabilitation and long-term corrective farriery.

Founder Daisy Coleman said: "Two years ago Redberth Croft began with one simple belief: that people and animals should be valued for what they can become, not defined by the challenges they've faced. Rose embodies everything we believe in.

“She was bred with enormous potential but never had the opportunity to fulfil it. Yet despite living with pain, she spends her days helping other people rediscover confidence, purpose and hope. Now it's our turn to help her.

“We often say that our rescue animals save people just as much as people save them. Rose is already proving that to be true."

The appeal follows a few months after Redberth Croft's second anniversary, marking remarkable growth for the volunteer-led Community Interest Company. Since formally registering in 2024, the organisation has generated more than 4,100 volunteer hours, created over £311,000 of independently calculated social value, developed a regional reputation for strengths-based community support and this year became one of only 20 organisations in Wales to be awarded the prestigious Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award.

Unlike traditional rescue centres, Redberth Croft deliberately chose not to become a licensed rescue centre.

Rather than being measured by how quickly animals are rehomed, the organisation focuses on providing long-term sanctuary, rehabilitation and purposeful lives for animals who’s behavioural, medical or welfare needs often make them unsuitable for conventional rescue models.

The organisation believes rescue should be measured by outcomes, not throughput.

As part of that vision, Redberth Croft has developed an Equine Rehabilitation Centre and has long-term aspirations to offer equine-assisted therapy programmes alongside its rescue work.

The organisation's resident Thoroughbred Up For An Oscar has already helped demonstrate the impact horses can have within community wellbeing initiatives and was shortlisted in both the Retraining of Racehorses Community Impact Awards and the BBC Make a Difference Awards last year.

Importantly, Redberth Croft is not, and has no plans to become, a riding school. Instead, it works alongside specialist equestrian organisations and proudly signposts those wishing to learn to ride to experienced providers such as Jess' Horse Haven and Harvard Stables, allowing Redberth Croft to remain focused on rescue, rehabilitation, education and meaningful human-animal connections.

One particularly special aspect of the appeal is that, despite being four years old, Rose has never officially been named. The organisation hopes that, as part of a significant donation, a supporter may become part of her story by choosing her official registered name, subject to Weatherbys' approval.

To support The Rose Appeal, visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/redberthrose

“Every donation, no matter how small, brings Rose one step closer to the pain-free future she deserves,” added Daisy.