Pregnant mare found by railway line rehomed with foal
A heavily pregnant mare that was found near a railway line has been chosen to front a World Horse Welfare fundraising appeal along with her foal.
Mrs Potts, a six-year-old 14hh mare, was rescued by the charity in April after being found at a housing development by a railway line near Bedford.
She was very thin, despite being heavily pregnant, and had a hoof abscess.
Her filly, Jodi, was born 10 days later at World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm rescue and rehoming centre in Norfolk.
The pair moved to Writtle College’s Lordships Stud in Essex when Jodi was six weeks old.
Mrs Potts and Jodi now live out in a small herd of mares and foals at the college and are the faces of a fundraising appeal for the charity.
“After weaning, Jodi will stay here and go through youngstock training with the students, assisted by staff, and at age three will be backed,” said stud groom Caroline Farr.
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“We’re really pleased to have this link with World Horse Welfare. It is very rewarding for the College’s staff and students to be able to give something back.”
The charity has also dubbed September as “rehome a horse month”.
Comedian John Bishop and his wife Melanie have rehomed four World Horse Welfare horses and are supporting the campaign.
There are currently 1,700 horses in homes across the country who have been rehomed by the charity.
World Horse Welfare deputy chief executive Tony Tyler said the charity is grateful to the college for its continued support.
“It’s particularly important for our youngsters as it gives them the opportunity to experience new environments and develop their education,” he added.
“We are delighted to see the public’s greater interest in rehoming, which is so important to the sustainability of our work in helping horses.”
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.