Second chance for pony found starving on farm
A pony who was found starving on a farm in Northern Ireland has been given a second chance in life.
Crumpet was among 66 horses, ponies and donkeys rescued from a farm in Co. Antrim in 2011.
The animals were found without food, water or bedding and had worms, overgrown hooves and strangles.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary, who were involved in the rescue, took in 23 of the horses.
Theses equines were named after breakfast items and became known as “The Breakfast Club”.
Crumpet, a 11.3h Welsh pony, was very underweight when she arrived at the charity’s reception centre in Norfolk and had ringworm.
The pony made a good recovery and was prepared to be rehomed as part of the charity’s “guardianship scheme”.
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Louise Bull and her four-year-old daughter Daisy have given the pony a new home.
In June, less than a month after Crumpet moved to her new home, she won three first and three second rosettes at a gymkhana in Norfolk.
Louise said Crumpet has settled in “brilliantly” with her field companion, 11-year-old Pudding.
“We were smitten with Crumpet as soon as we saw her, and we were so excited when we were told we could bring her home,” said Louise.
“She loves hacking and having loads of cuddles. We love having Crumpet; she feels like one of the family and we can’t imagine life without her.”
Redwings’ operations manager Rachel Angell said: “When Daisy and her mum Louise first came to meet Crumpet it was love at first sight.
“Daisy went for a ride around the site, watched closely by her mum and our team to make sure everyone was happy.
“Thankfully, Daisy and Crumpet got on really well straight away, and we are delighted that Crumpet has found her perfect match.”
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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.