The Horse Trust CEO

Jeanette Allen on heading up the world's oldest equine charity, changing horses' lives and a right royal faux-pas

- Eleanor Jones

I'd never heard of The Horse Trust before I saw the advertisement for this job. I'd started in the commercial sector, had my own company and sold it then went into the charity sector. I ended up as CEO of the MedicAlert Foundation, but the problem was I'd always cared more about animals. I was desperate to get into an animal welfare charity but it's not the easiest thing to do then I randomly saw the ad.

I arrived at The Horse Trust for the interview and knew at once I really wanted this job, and it's still the same; every time I drive through the gates, it takes my breath away. There's something magical about this place. In 2010, I moved in and I've lived and worked here ever since.

The charity was a bit unsure of itself when I started. It had its grand history [as providing sanctuary for service horses since 1886], but it was during a recession, there was no active fundraising, and although the website said "working horses", only 30 of 100 really had that background.

So I asked the trustees: "What are we doing, and what do you want us to be doing?" I spoke to services that have horses and asked if there was a need for us, for the modern working horse. They said, "Yes, there really is."