BBC DEVON

70 horses and foals rescued in 15-month operation in Devon


Caroline RobinsonSouth West

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary A close up of a grey Icelandic foal, with a black mane and light brown inner ears. It has blue eyes. Behind it are two larger brown horses blurred and green grass. The Mare and Foal Sanctuary

A foal with bright blue eyes was taken in as part of an operation to rescue 70 horses

Seventy rare-breed Icelandic horses and foals have been rescued in a 15-month welfare operation by animal charities.

Public concerns were first raised in May 2024 about the herds of semi feral horses kept at several sites around Devon. The reports prompted a complex welfare operation by The Mare and Foal Sanctuary and RSPCA.

The sanctuary said there was unmanaged breeding among the herds and its staff found in-foal mares living alongside fighting colts and stallions, with some suffering life-threatening injuries.

The sanctuary, which also worked with Horse World Welfare to safeguard the animals, said 13 of the rescued animals remained in its care.

70 horses and foals were rescued in the 15-month operation in Devon

It said the horses’ owner had cooperated with the rescue and the animals were signed over to the three charities in stages across several months.

The process was vet-led, the charity said, and injured horses and those deemed most at risk were removed first. Healthy mares and foals were taken last.

The charity has now asked its supporters to name one of the rescued colts which is being cared for at the sanctuary.

‘Fallen in love’

Pippa Quelch, the sanctuary’s campaigns manager, said its care team had fallen in love with the four-year old colt’s “bright blue eyes and stunning markings”.

“He’s a very handsome young colt. He came to us a few weeks after his birth in the summer, with his dam Mavis and another Icelandic mare and colt foal,” she said.

“They were completely unhandled on arrival… this little foal was quite reserved around people at first. He’s now relaxed and confident and loves to be groomed and scratched.”

She said the name chosen for the foal would be announced on 30 October.

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary said there were only around 1000 Icelandic horses registered in the UK and they were quite rare.

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary A mixture of horses and foals stand in a grass field. One of the horses is looking directly at the camera. Trees surround the field.The Mare and Foal Sanctuary

Several of the horses are still being cared for at the sanctuary



Source link

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *