Sam Smith, a 33-year-old social care worker and father of two from Brighton, has spent the last decade rescuing, caring for, and mending abandoned clothes horses. What started as a personal quirk has evolved into a fully-fledged sanctuary, complete with a dedicated social media following of thousands and over 111,000 likes. His mission? To challenge our throwaway culture by treating these household items with the same care we might give to animals.
From Street Finds to Sanctuary
Smith's journey began in 2016 when he noticed clothes horses dumped next to bins, often with broken hinges. He took them home, giving each one a name and a backstory. 'I started giving them all their own little stories. You know, “where have they been?”, “who was looking after them?”, “How did they end up here?”, “was it a drop-off in the middle of the night?”' he told Metro.
Soon, his small Brighton flat was overflowing with nine 'rescued' clothes horses. Recognizing the need for more space, a friend offered him a strip of countryside where the 'herd' now grazes. Smith describes their behavior with a straight face: 'Clothes horses have a mind of their own, so although I’d put them to one side, I’d just step around the corner, knock one over, and it would jump back into life.'
Daily Life at the Sanctuary
Each day, Smith checks on newcomers, especially those with injuries. 'If they’ve got a broken leg, you don’t want to leave them around with that injury, because the hinges will start to rust,' he explains. The routine includes recreational outings near the river and team-building exercises in the evening. 'Then in the evening everyone gets together for some team building exercises. Once that’s done they’ll usually go straight into their paddocks.'
Repairs are a big part of the work. Smith improvises with whatever is at hand: 'Some of the bigger medical procedures – like a snapped leg – are tricky but then it’s time to improvise. Some of our clothes horses have been repaired with old discarded fans or bits of an old hoover.'
Viral Fame and Sponsorships
Smith began documenting his work on social media recently, and the response has been overwhelming. Comments range from 'a clothes horse is not just for Christmas' to 'Thank you for doing this important work.' One user, @rainbow, admitted: 'I’m ashamed to say I’ve previously overworked and abused one of mine with a heavy blanket. Poor thing buckled under the weight but managed to make it. I’ll do better now.'
Fans can sponsor a clothes horse for £3 per month, with future perks including Christmas cards and plushies. Smith's ultimate goal is adoption, and he spends hours on local forums advertising the 'animals' to new residents.
Deeper Message Behind the Whimsy
While the humor is evident, Smith's mission carries a serious environmental message. He emphasizes 'repairing, reusing and valuing things rather than treating them as disposable.' The sanctuary even calls out 'Big Tumble' and discusses a petition to classify clothes horses as animals—a satirical jab at consumerism.
Smith's efforts have already changed behavior: 'We’ve reached a point where people are actually bringing unwanted clothes horses to the sanctuary instead of throwing them away.' He adds, 'I have a house and outdoor space full of them, and I’ve rehomed a number of clothes horses with people who genuinely want to give them a second life.'
As Smith's sanctuary grows, it serves as a quirky yet poignant reminder that even the most mundane objects deserve a second chance.
