Founder and Chair of the Monmouthshire-based Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies, Jenny MacGregor MBE has died, the charity has announced.

The statement read, ‘Jenny died very peacefully at home, surrounded by her close family and much adored pets on Monday 6th November 2017.’

Jenny remained actively involved in the running of the charity until very recently and was acknowledged throughout the equine world as a driving force in animal welfare.

A rescue spokesperson stated, ‘While we are all bereft at our irreplaceable loss, we continue as a united SWHP family, with Jenny’s ethos that ’the horses come first’ something we have followed since the charity was started by Jenny more than forty years ago with her late husband Alasdair’.

Jenny’s continued to run the charity after Alasdair’s death six years ago. Her total dedication to horses and ponies saw her awarded an MBE in recognition of her work in welfare. She was also a recipient of the British Veterinary Association Award for welfare and The British Horse Society Welfare award .

There will be a private family funeral with a request for no flowers, but donations to www.swhp.co.uk would be very much appreciated.

A memorial service for Jenny’s many friends and supporters is planned for Spring, 2018 to celebrate her life and achievements.

The charity have announced that the future of the SWHP, its team and all of the many horses and ponies in its care has been secured and its work will continue as usual.