A foal who was abandoned to die when he was less than a day old is thriving as he approaches his first birthday thanks to those who went to his rescue.
Biggles was thought to be less than 24 hours old when he was found lying in a field in County Durham, his umbilical cord still present. The horse owner who found him called Here4Horses, a charity based in the area.
“Severely dehydrated, weak and unable to stand, Biggles was in a critical condition and needed urgent veterinary treatment if he was to have any chance of survival,” a Here4Horses spokesperson said.
Charity trustee Wendy Suddes took Biggles to Clevedale Veterinary Practice in Upleatham, near Guisborough, where his treatment included IV fluids, antibiotics and feeding via a tube to prevent more dehydration.
Biggles in hospital
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
“Once stable, he needed round-the-clock care and was bottle-fed every two hours, day and night, by Wendy and the other dedicated Here4Horses volunteers,” the spokesperson said.
“Thanks to the expertise of vets Alistair Love and Lis Watson, alongside Wendy’s unwavering dedication, Biggles beat the odds and is now thriving ahead of his first birthday in June.”
Wendy said the first 72 hours after Biggles’ rescue were critical.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“We genuinely didn’t know if he was going to make it,” she said.
“We can only assume he’d lost his mum and had been abandoned because he needed intensive care. We threw everything at him and just hoped it would be enough. Clevedale Vets were truly exceptional, and everyone showed incredible care and commitment throughout his recovery.
Biggles keeping warm at home
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
“We always want to be in a position to help in situations like this one and young Biggles was so lucky because without public support we simply cannot continue.”
Clevedale Vets provides cares for all the Here4Horses residents and Mr Love has overseen Biggles’ treatment since his rescue.
“Biggles was in a very poor condition when he arrived, and there was a real risk we might lose him,” he said.
“Thanks to Wendy’s dedication and the intensive care he received, he’s made an incredible recovery. It’s fantastic to see him doing so well.
“It really was a team effort, but the credit has to go to Wendy – she was there around the clock, giving him the care he needed to survive.”
It is thought Biggles, a coloured cob, will mature at about 11hh.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
