Five-month-old foal rescued from muddy ditch
A five-month-old foal has been rescued from a muddy ditch by equestrian charity HorseWorld.
The colt, who has been named Joey, was spotted by a member of the public on Thursday (4 February).
They called workmen to help get him out of a deep, muddy ditch, but he was too cold and weak to stand.
HorseWorld, the RSPCA and Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Blue Watch were then called to rescue him.
“Avon Fire and Rescue Service helped us to lift Joey clear of the ditch and into our trailer,” said HorseWorld’s Mark Owen.
“He was freezing cold, shivering and near hypothermic. B&W Vets met us back at HorseWorld and administered glucose and fluids.
“We couldn’t get him up to get him out of the trailer so had to roll him onto a rug in order to drag him into the stable where the grooms had prepared a big deep bed for him.
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“We used heaters and hot water bottles to bring his temperature to a safe level. The grooms then kept an eye on him throughout the night. Staff from all departments including the offices came out to help warm him with heaters and hot water bottles.”
Joey is now able to stand and eat on his own.
“The fact that he’s eating is a great sign but he’s certainly not out of the woods,” said Sarah Hollister of HorseWorld.
“He’s mentally very shut down and still shivering despite his temperature being normal now.
“The vets have administered steroids, painkillers and antibiotics this morning. He’s painfully thin so the vets have also taken blood samples to check for underlying issues.
“Joey was found in Avonmouth, an area of Bristol where fly-grazing is a huge problem. It is very unlikely the owner will ever be found and brought to justice for this act of neglect. He was named Joey after the film War Horse as the conditions he was found in were like the trenches and he’s a little fighter.”
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.