Images of horses pulling logs and ploughing fields evoke memories of simpler times, before Britain’s skies filled with the smoke and sounds of the Industrial Revolution.
Two women are hoping to encourage north-east farmers and foresters to use the animals for work once more.
Hilary Anderson and Maggie Brown, who started Equine Lifeline, a charity which helps save horses facing a gruelling journey across Europe for slaughter, now hope to establish a rural skills centre.
The centre, which will run courses in skills such as drystane dyking, farmhouse cookery, painting, and working horses, will also offer courses in equine-assisted learning.
Mrs Brown, 51, of Cairnie, near Huntly, said they toyed with the idea of opening a centre promoting horses for use in forestry and farming only.
“Their placid temperaments and reasonable size, combined with huge strength and agility, lend themselves perfectly to what they are still used extensively for in France, which is forestry and farm work.
“Then we got to know the breed better and we realised how our skills and backgrounds working with people provided a perfect opportunity for something really useful here,” she added.
Mrs Anderson, 47, also of Cairnie, near Huntly, said the horses “are great levellers and very honest tools in any programme”. She has used them for corporate training to help develop team-building, communication and leadership skills.
She said: “This is the next step, which will help to ensure the continuing rescue of many more horses.”
Equine Lifeline buys horses and ponies at meat prices from butchers or livestock dealers in France, transports them here, and loans them out for a fee.
It is trying to raise money to save Olive, a six-year-old mule, Tartine, a two-year-old Comtois filly, and Polar Fizz, a thoroughbred brood mare.
Polar Fizz changed hands for a lot of money at one time in the UK and bred several winners and well-known horses – including comedian Mel Smith’s racing horse Imbibing.
But Polar Fizz was sold outside the UK racing industry two years ago and transported to France, where she was discarded last winter, aged 15, after losing a foal.
A French rescue organisation highlighted her case but could not find anyone to take her because her tendons are so bowed.
Equine Lifeline is proposing to care for her in her retirement, unless a special home can be found, once money for her transportation has been raised.
Mrs Anderson said: “According to old newspaper articles, Mel owns and races Imbibing, one of Polar’s foals. We’re sure that he would be willing to help us with this rescue.”
She said she has tried to contact him, but has had no success so far.
Anyone interested in donating to the registered charity can do so by visiting www.equine-lifeline.org or phoning 07798 725845.