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. His passion project has connected with thousands of people online, with over 111,000 likes on social media.
From street rescues to a sanctuary
Smith began rescuing clothes horses in 2016 after seeing many dumped next to bins, often with broken hinges. He took them home, named them (favourites include Rita and Ruth), and created extensive backstories for each one. Soon, he had nine in his small flat, and a friend offered land in the countryside where the 'herd' now grazes.
'Clothes horses are the quiet heroes in pretty much everyone's house,' Smith told Metro. 'Everyone's had one, whether it's at your childhood home or in a uni room. And most of us also have a memory attached to a clothes horse – it breaking or getting your fingers caught.'
Daily life and adoption process
At the sanctuary, Smith checks on newly arrived clothes horses, especially those with broken legs, to prevent hinges from rusting. The 'animals' enjoy recreational activities near the river and in the countryside, and sometimes go into town. Evenings involve team building exercises before they go to their paddocks.
His ultimate goal is to get each clothes horse adopted, spending hours on local forums advertising them and scanning for newcomers in need of household items. He emphasises that no clothes horse is a lost cause, often repairing them with discarded fans or parts of an old hoover.
Online following and support
Smith started documenting his journey on social media recently, gaining thousands of followers. Comments range from 'a clothes horse is not just for Christmas' to 'Thank you for doing this important work'. Some users have expressed interest in sponsoring clothes horses at £3 per month, which helps keep the operation afloat. Future sponsorship packages may include Christmas cards and clothes horse plushies.
Underlying message
While the humour of this bizarre crusade might reel people in, Smith's real message is about 'repairing, reusing and valuing things rather than treating them as disposable.' He has reached a point where people bring unwanted clothes horses to the sanctuary instead of throwing them away.
'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,' he told Metro.
