Our Founder

Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria Inc., originally known as Project Hope Horse Rescue first began in 1973 when a concerned Val Collingwood of Wallan, Victoria, wrote into RIDER magazine regarding the number of neglected horses in Australia.

She outlined a scheme whereby someone could co-ordinate the rescue and rehabilitation of these unfortunate animals and she suggested the name “Project Hope” in memory of a terribly neglected, supposedly aged, buck-jumper from Queensland. She had taken him home to try to save his life, giving him the name “Hope”, although he had very little. He died three weeks later from massive worm infestation at the tender age of three.

People responded to Val's letter, assuming that she was to be co-coordinator and the scheme became loosely organised on a district basis.

Gradually, the organisation grew until it became necessary to use newsletters for communication, to introduce memberships fees to help cover costs, and to draw up a constitution. The group steadily grew from there and with the help of a logo and media coverage became a more familiar name in equine circles within Victoria. In 1993 the organisation became an incorporated and in 2005 was endorsed as a registered charity by Australian Taxation Office. The need for our existence however, is still as strong over 35 years on.