Have you ever thought, while slogging through the mud in the dark of a Monday morning in January, whether you’d have been better off taking up stamp-collecting instead of riding?
Well now you can do both – sort of. A grateful equine charity has been so inundated with donations of used stamps it is on the hunt for vital volunteer “stamp snippers” to cope with the influx.
Lincoln-based Bransby Horses charity said it has had huge numbers of “kind donations” of used postage stamps in the past few weeks, which are sold to raise funds.
“We need more hands to help trim them before selling them to raise funds for our welfare work with horses, ponies, donkeys and mules,” said a Bransby spokesman.
“These used stamps help the team give equines a second chance at a happy and healthy life.”
The spokesman added the stamps are vital to the charity.
“They bring in much-needed funds, especially at this time when we are recovering from the severe flooding in November 2019,” he said.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“If you are wondering about how much impact used stamps can have, in the last 90 days, we have raised £9,780 solely from selling donated used stamps on to collectors.”
Executive assistant Paul Sharp said the charity has “incredible” supporters who have sent lots of stamps in recent weeks.
“It must be all the Christmas post which has been coming through people’s letterboxes. Whilst we are dealing with the aftermath of the flooding, tasks like these are difficult for us to undertake but are so important,” he said.
“We are looking for volunteers to help cut around the edges of stamps and while this role takes time, it is such a vital role in turning sacks of stamps into funding. If you have used stamps please think of us before you bin them, as every single one we are sent makes huge difference to us. Please keep them coming.”
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Hannah Ghest at volunteer@bransbyhorses.co.uk.
Would you like to read Horse & Hound’s independent journalism without any adverts? Join Horse & Hound Plus today and you can read all articles on HorseandHound.co.uk completely ad-free
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
