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 From ‘foul play’ to ‘foal play’
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Admin
AL Admin


United Kingdom

1353 Posts

Posted - 26 Apr 2008 :  1:31:02 PM  Show Profile  Visit Admin's Homepage Bookmark this topic Add Admin to your friends list Send Admin a Private Message
PRESS RELEASE

22 April 2008

From ‘foul play’ to ‘foal play’

A one-week-old foal nicknamed ‘Lucky’ is thanking his lucky stars after being saved from a life of neglect and abandonment by animal charity The Blue Cross.



While in foal with Lucky, his mum Minnie and six other ponies were rescued from a neglectful owner and taken in by The Blue Cross as part of an operation involving the RSPCA and Surrey Police last May. They were some of the first horses to be protected by the Animal Welfare Act (2006), introduced in April last year, which requires owners to provide for the essential needs of their animal.

The ponies had been found in a state of neglect after being left to run wild in a small field in Staines. The field had very little grazing but was covered in poisonous ragwort and littered with rusting scrap metal and machinery, including abandoned vehicles. The fencing was made up of pallets, loose barbed wire and baling twine with exposed nails and wire.

Owner Edward Reay was ordered to pay costs of £6,000 and banned from keeping horses for ten years at a Staines Magistrates’ Court last month for his failure to move field hazards and provide proper fences for the ponies, and for keeping a stallion confined in a shed for several months.

On arrival at The Blue Cross, the seven neglected ponies were examined by a vet who found that Minnie was in foal. She was underweight, infested with lice and worms and had badly overgrown hooves. The vet was concerned that she may not carry the pregnancy without complications.

Fortunately, Minnie’s condition has improved drastically over the last year with constant care from Blue Cross staff and regular visits from the vet and farrier. Under close monitoring, her foal continued to develop as it should and its arrival has been nervously anticipated by staff. ‘Lucky’ was finally born at 11pm on Friday 11 April and thankfully he is in good health.


Vicki Alford, centre manager at The Blue Cross equine welfare centre in Burford, Oxfordshire, said: “Lucky seemed like the perfect nickname for the little foal, whose life could have turned out so differently. It’s awful to think that these ponies were left to run wild and free to breed when they could barely survive themselves. Thank goodness Lucky made it through the pregnancy and can now look forward to a secure future with The Blue Cross. He’s only a week old but already full of beans and loving life!”

Lucky is guaranteed a lifetime of security at The Blue Cross, which always retains ownership of its horses to ensure they never fall into the wrong hands. He will remain at one of the charity’s dedicated equine centres until he is old enough to be backed and trained in preparation to be placed in a suitable home, usually at about four years of age.



RSPCA Officer Alan Ramsey, who was involved in the rescue operation, said: “All credit to The Blue Cross they were wonderful. The Burford equine welfare centre provided expert care and improved the ponies condition immensely up to their subsequent confiscation following the court case. I am delighted that the ponies will now be rehomed through The Blue Cross rehoming scheme and live happy contented lives."

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paul_exe
Platinum Member


United Kingdom
2022 Posts

Posted - 26 Apr 2008 :  1:35:46 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add paul_exe to your friends list Send paul_exe a Private Message
Thank you for sharing that Admin

Paul



Get over yourself: You breathe, you fart, what makes you different?

Gloriously Sunny Devon
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georgiauk
Platinum Member

United Kingdom
2605 Posts

Posted - 26 Apr 2008 :  3:43:05 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add georgiauk to your friends list Send georgiauk a Private Message
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DenmoorStud
Gold Member

739 Posts

Posted - 26 Apr 2008 :  4:17:18 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add DenmoorStud to your friends list Send DenmoorStud a Private Message
what a happy conclusion to a sad story, and to see something posted in this section


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vjc
Platinum Member


United Kingdom
4952 Posts

Posted - 26 Apr 2008 :  4:34:21 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add vjc to your friends list Send vjc a Private Message
heartwarming end to a sad story, thanks for posting it for us to see.


Edited by - vjc on 26 Apr 2008 4:35:21 PM
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avanti
Platinum Member


England
2222 Posts

Posted - 27 Apr 2008 :  06:59:27 AM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add avanti to your friends list Send avanti a Private Message
Lovely when things are put right

Mandy
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Judith S
Platinum Member


Wales
15686 Posts

Posted - 27 Apr 2008 :  3:51:15 PM  Show Profile  Visit Judith S's Homepage Bookmark this reply Add Judith S to your friends list Send Judith S a Private Message
Thank you Admin for posting this

What a sweet foal

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Jingo
Platinum Member

United Kingdom
3632 Posts

Posted - 27 Apr 2008 :  3:58:14 PM  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Jingo to your friends list Send Jingo a Private Message
What a lovely ending to a sad beginning - thanks Admin for posting it.


Jude
www.auchmillanarabians.org.uk

photos:Anthony Reynolds,Sweet,Deano,Real Time Imaging
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Kazhak
Silver Member


Australia
352 Posts

Posted - 07 May 2008 :  8:22:04 PM  Show Profile  Click to see Kazhak's MSN Messenger address Bookmark this reply Add Kazhak to your friends list Send Kazhak a Private Message
why oh why can't we get that kind of law happening here in aus, its great to see that this kind of action has taken place to improve the lot of all the horses involved including having the "owner" pay a substantial fine


Last Picture Taken by Matt Bennet
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