Horses and ponies, as prey animals, are by nature creatures of flight. For some, the flight instinct is heightened because of bad treatment, eventually causing them to distrust humans. While many may be won round with kind, consistent and experienced handling, others will remain anxious and troubled, lacking the confidence ever to become safe riding horses. However they can offer very rewarding roles as companions.
Many ponies and cobs currently in our care have been so badly neglected and abused in the past, they will never be able to be ridden yet still have plenty of affection and pleasure to give as companions. Horses and ponies are herd animals and are usually much happier and more relaxed with company of their own kind. In some cases having three or more rather than just two means there is always company for those left behind when one is being ridden?
Take Rusty for example. This little stallion was one of a large group of horses seized by the RSPCA and taken into Blue Cross care. The sad reality was that, even with his poor conformation, Rusty had been able to cover mares and produce off spring with equally bad conformation. Such indiscriminate breeding is fuelling in the serious welfare problem that equine charities are facing all over the country.
Rusty was scouring badly and was very under weight on arrival. Blue Cross has very strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of diseases at its rehoming centres so Rusty was isolated with a group of four others from the same case. He was examined by the vet and wormed. Bloods showed high GGT and GLDH suggesting liver damage, which may have been caused by toxins from the field he was rescued from. He was prescribed steroids tablets, which were gradually reduced as his blood results improved and he was also given probiotics to help with the diarrhoea. Once Rusty was strong enough he was gelded and is now ready to be rehomed to a very special home where people will understand his traumatic past and strive to give him the best possible future as a companion.
Clare Davey, vet and yard supervisor at Blue Cross Rehoming Centre in Burford worked with Rusty through his rehabilitation process. She said: ‘I found working with Rusty extremely rewarding — he was very unsure of people when he arrived and we had a few hurdles to cross before I finally won his trust — since then he has grown in confidence and is proving to be a nice pony, I look forward to seeing him find his forever home’.
Sally Dunford highly recommends taking on a troubled companion horse. She gave a home to Blue Cross Natasha a year ago. The young mare was heavily in-foal and in a weak and nervous state when she was admitted to Blue Cross as part of large rescue case. Sadly she lost her foal, which added to her distress. She desperately needed an experienced, considerate and caring home to help re-build her life and Sally was on hand to help.
‘Natasha's role as companion is essential in our little herd,’ said Sally. ‘We are on a continuous learning curve but when I think of how much she has progressed in the past year I feel I am going to burst with admiration for her. I had no idea that what I could offer to a sensitive, head shy, coloured cob would be far outweighed by what she would offer to me. I highly recommend it.’
Rusty is one of over 30 troubled horses and ponies now looking for exceptional companion homes. Blue Cross also has some excellent riding horses and ponies and unbacked youngsters seeking experienced homes. Anyone wishing to find out more should ring 0300 777 1570 or email equinerehoming@bluecross.org.uk