A mare involved in a suspected arson attack last month is making good progress at the vets and it is hoped she can return home in time for Christmas.
Juwireya (“Hettie”) suffered serious burns in the blaze on 26 November, in which her son, two-year-old gelding Impossible Dream, died.
The horses belong to Brian and Janet Vokes, who bred Welsh Grand National winner Dream Alliance, and are based in Cefn Fforest, Caerphilly county.
A JustGiving page set up to help the Vokes rebuild their stables and pay for Hettie’s treatment has reached almost £10,000 in donations.
“She’s coming on lovely now,” Janet said of the 10-year-old’s progress. “It still looks horrendous but it is healing.
“The vet is happy with her face. Her eye has opened and she hasn’t lost her sight.
“Her whiskers are starting to grow back and her eyelashes.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“In the beginning after the fire when we gave her an apple she would take it with her teeth as her lips were burnt but now she is using her lips again.”
Janet said that Hettie has been well behaved throughout her rehabilitation.
Hettie soon after the fire
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
“She has the most wonderful temperament,” she said.
“For the first four or five days they were checking on her at night and she would be a little bit agitated — I don’t know whether that was flashbacks from what happened.”
Janet added that the footing has been laid for new stables, but the work has been delayed because of snow.
Janet said: “We’ve been here for 30 years and never had any trouble, but it’s just one of those things. We are heartbroken but life goes on.”
Photographer Ami Robertson was inspired to write the blog post after a fatal collision in Surrey
She added that her vet is confident Hettie will be able to be put in foal once more when she returns to full health.
Simon Sweeting, who stands Schiaparelli for Godolphin at Overbury Stud, offered the Vokes a free nomination after he heard about the fire.
Schiaparelli was also the father of Impossible Dream.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
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
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.
