Further information: The charity was founded in 1886 by Ann Lindo, who was inspired to help sick horses after reading Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty. Owners were encouraged to send their ill animals to the charity. The charity would supply a healthy animal in return while the first horse recovered.

Horses were essential for many jobs and industries in London at this time. The Cricklewood site was opened in 1908 and could accommodate more than 80 horses. The charity moved to Borehamwood in 1934 and is now called The Horse Trust.

A year after the film was made, horses were being recruited for the war effort. Some of the healthy horses from Westcroft Farm may well have been taken, though we have no further information on this.

An annual New Year's dinner was held for the horses, the oldest horse ringing a bell to announce the start of the feast.

One of the generous sponsors to the farm was the Honourable Pauline Cranstoun, who funded the new stables. She ran her own Home of Rest for Horses on the Isle of Wight.