Hello there, 

FB; Wizzy Doyne-Ditmas. Also FB; Altitude Horseriding.

My Name is Wizzy and I  live and work at the foothills of Mount Kenya. Many would be envious of the lifestyle, however it is equally challenging to live and earn here... just as it is amazing.

My story is one that some may find hard to take in....

Living only 10km from a town but with a rogue lion about... has turned life upside down since Sept 15th, the date of my first attack. The horses in my care have been targeted by said big cat and our small base visited by him at least half a dozen times.

We have been attacked twice, lost one horse and have two more  injured, one badly.

It is very unusual to have a lion in our area and the authorities are trying hard to capture him and relocate him(there is a trap in place on the smallholding) However it can be very difficult to achieve and even if they do so we have no idea how many weeks or months that will take. Meanwhile we must do the best we can to protect the horses from him. Easier said than done and actually as we have found out very costly. Locally based compensation is a dream rather than a reality, and hence this honest appeal.

I am trying to raise funds to help pay the considerable vets bills, health products bought to support the vets work and the horses healing, plus cover some of the cost of turning my base into 'lion free zone' with a secure yard and cleared bush surrounding us.  I would also love to at least partially compensate my friend for the kind loan of her horse who died as a result of this ordeal. I realise money can't replace him but.

My cashflow  just cannot cope with all if this in such urgency and any way in turn it has affected my income for the time being.      In some ways I know I am very lucky to live where I do, but I am by no means financially well off.

The horses are all lent by super people for the purpose of me teaching others to ride. This is how I try to make my living here in Kenya. I could not possibly purchase horses, so I am very fortunate this way, but a the same time its a huge responsibility; with a lion about, over and above the normal considerations of  looking after an animal that has been lent to you!

The first attack on Brando was bad enough and he was starting slowly to recover from his wounds when we suffered a second attack on the base to two others-, sending him into shock and resulting after a two day colic - of his death.Apart from the obvious trauma for all of us involved, now i am down to 5 horses with two more injured from the 2nd attacked 23rd September. These two, Rocket and pony are recovering well, but the care and cost is considerable, as lion mauling is very risky as far as infection goes.

The horses and i live on our nerves until this cat is either safely caught or i have made my place a lion free zone! 

Some parents are even afraid to bring their children in case the cat comes to visit my riding arena (highly unlikely but of course one has to respect their fear) Anyway, as it is currently I  have half the number of horses I require to teach with. Amazingly, I am still being offered horses to top my team back up, but of course cannot risk any more on site until the situation is under control.

Since the 2nd attack we have had to keep horses off their normal grazing fields (they would normally live mainly out, just coming into a yard to be attended to and to work daily) and in the house garden by day, and in a yard only meant for daytime use overnight. We are having to modify our base to make it less likely to receive another attack. The horses are personally guarded plus have lights and a basic siren alarm fitted in the yard, and fires lit outside - to deter the cat. We have cleared half an acre of natural bush outside the yard to defer his approach and that alone has taken two weeks and three men to achieve.                      The immediate area has been made safer, but I cannot let the horses out to graze until the remaining 8 acres are cleared in the same way, as recently the fields have been thought of as a good hiding ground for lion- when he sees fit

There are many challenges I have to face living in Kenya over the last Decade, but this one truly beats them all! Here right in my face I have seen the modern wildlife /human/domestic livestock conflict that so many conservationists speak about worldwide. Its real ....and tricky!

 I love the wildlife in Kenya and the fact that it is not restricted to parks and conservancies, and I certainly wish this cat no harm. I have not long moved to this particular place and part from the big cat problem, its fabulous. I hope in the future to offer come stay with me, go on safari(we have some of the best conservancies right on the doorstep) and ride the horses based here(some of the best hacking you will have ever encountered) even climb Mount Kenya!                                                                                                                                I would like to think some of the donors could come stay to appreciate this wonderful place but with serious hidden challenges behind it.  I would offer you a healthy discount as a thanks for helping me out of this true African life challenge. Please also note the ticket award and the other perks i am offering to encourage help with donations.

Asante sana ( big thanks) for reading my plea.

Any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I am an open book and will gladly answer!