HORSES and their handlers will be decorated in bright colours as part of a new show to mark a murdered animal lover’s birthday.

The Essex Horse and Pony Sanctuary, in Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, will host the Rainbow Show on Sunday, September 11 in memory of worker Laura Davies.

Sanctuary supporters Sara Day and Claire Howlett are organising the memorial horse show, with all proceeds going to the registered charity.

Sue Allery, sanctuary manager, said she hopes it will become an annual memorial event.

Horse groom Laura, 21, was stabbed 81 times by controlling boyfriend Jordan Taylor on Friday, July 3 last year, after she decided to break up with him.

The pair were living together in the grounds of the sanctuary after Laura took in Taylor, 22, who had been made homeless.

He was convicted of murder and jailed for a minimum of 23 years in January.

Mrs Allery said: “The show is going to be a celebration of Laura’s life, because she achieved so much in her short time.

“We have decided to call it the Rainbow Show because everybody in the animal world knows about the rainbow bridge.

“When an animal dies, they go over the rainbow bridge to heaven.

“The last showing class of the day will be a rainbow bridge class to end on the note of remembering Laura and all the horses and ponies who have crossed rainbow bridge and are now with her.

“Everyone in that class is going to dress up outrageously bright and as colourful as they can.

“The horses are going to be decorated - you can get special paint that washes off so I expect some of the handlers will be using that.

“It is Laura’s birthday on September 4 so we have picked a date close to then.

“It should be a fantastic event.”

The Echo reported last week that the sanctuary, which became a registered charity in 1983, is facing a funding crisis.

It is struggling to rescue horses, pay for extensive medical treatment and fund the upkeep of its buildings.

Although staff say that they will not close the sanctuary, they need a large injection of cash to keep delivering a good service and ensure its future.

For more information on the event, search for Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society on Facebook.

For more information about fundraising for the charity, email fundraising@ehpps.org.uk.