Whilst all industries in the country are suffering to some degree, some are doing better than others, online retailers might have "staffing issues" but their turnover and profits are rocketing, the leisure and retail market have closed their doors and furloughed their staff, meaning very little to no expenditure and when the restrictions lift they can open the doors and begin to sell the stock from the shelfs. We can't furlough the team, we cant set the horses free and we cant afford 2 winters worth of feed, bedding and vetting without a season in-between. Promised government help has not yet been approved and others that we know we can get have still not been administered by the local council.

We have stripped everything back to the bone, downgraded insurances where possible, cancelled personal utilities such as sky and downgraded our already poor broadband all in a bid to reduce our monthly outgoing and insure every penny we have goes towards the future continuation of Argyll Adventure @ Dalchenna Farm.

Despite cutting everything we feasibly can, including securing some payment holidays with the bank and some governing bodies, with only a tiny income from the livery customers, which realistically is ring fenced for their own individual horses, we have had next to no income for the last 6 months, If make our target then we should break even over the next three months, if lockdown continues longer and we are unable to salvage any kind of open season we will need to look at our options at that point and perhaps ask for further support, however, whilst there is a tiny light at the end of the tunnel and with many more in a similar boat I refuse to ask for more than we currently need.

There has been an equestrian aspect to the farm for well over 40 years, Dalchenna has been responsible for introducing thousands upon thousands of people to horses with the multiple levels of enrichment this brings. Following a massive transformation in the early 2000's when Argyll Adventure was born The farm has played a massive role in the local community, both socially and economically.

I took over the business at the end of the 2018 season, with only one (very wet) full season under my belt, this year was crucial in the continuation of a small local business, Ive invested every penny back into the business since taking ownership, ive not taken a wage to purposely keep the money in the 'new business' to help ensure it had the best chance to continue providing a fantastic facility to both the local Argyllshire communities along with maintaining a valuable additional attraction to the tourist market which is the beating heart of Argyll.

All money raised during this period will be used towards the ongoing costs of keeping the horses in top health until we can stand on our own feet again.

Many thanks in advance for your support during this time. We hope to see you all again soon and for anyone supporting that's not yet been, thank you! we would love to see you sometime when this has all passed over.

Kind regards & Good health,

Andy