News stories
Amersham pony is surrogate mum!
A pony taken in by Redwings during the high profile Amersham rescue has become a surrogate mum to an orphaned foal also in our care.
In January 2008 miniature shetland Gretel was rescued from Spindle Farm, Amersham, along with over 100 other horses, ponies and donkeys. Two months later Gretel gave birth to her foal, named Belle by her carers at Redwings.
A natural mum with a grown-up foal, Gretel sprang to mind when Redwings was faced with an orphaned foal. Shetland Lewis was born in May in a private home local to the charity. Very sadly his mum died from colic just six weeks after he was born, and his owner asked us to help when they found themselves unable to cope with his care..
Gretel (left) and baby Lewis!
“Hand rearing and nurturing an orphaned foal like Lewis is something we have done many times before,” explains Redwings Head of Welfare Nic de Brauwere. “But a foal needs the guidance and social skills that can only come from its mother so it was vital we teamed Lewis up with another equine resident who would love and nurture him while showing him how to be a pony.”
After a couple of failed attempts, Gretel was the third pony we tried Lewis with, and this time the bond was instant. “Gretel clearly enjoys mothering Lewis and he seems to appreciate the ‘shelter’ being with his new mum gives him emotionally,” concludes Nic. “Gretel being such a fantastic surrogate mum is particularly poignant to us as she came from such a large rescue where the outcome could have been very different. Lucky for Lewis!”
