28 June 2024

Redwings Matty is a Champion!

Redwings Matty, Sarah, Nicola, Lynn, Redwings Edward and Claire

From left to right: Redwings Matty with Guardian Sarah, Redwings welfare vet Nicola, Redwings CEO Lynn, Redwings Edward and Guardian Claire

Everyone here at Redwings is celebrating after a foal who came into our care eleven years ago, emaciated and with a maggot infested wound to his leg and hoof, went overall Champion in the Rescue classes at the Royal Norfolk Show yesterday (Thursday 27th June).

Matty was found collapsed in a field in 2013, and the woman who discovered him called Redwings for help. He was severely dehydrated and covered in lice and sores.

Happily, he made a full recovery and now lives in a Guardian home with Sarah, who is also one of our vets!

Redwings Matty and his Guardian Sarah

Redwings Matty when he was rescued

Six Redwings horses and ponies in total competed in this year’s Rescue class, and Redwings welfare vet Nicola Berryman, who watched the class ringside with her family, was present at each of their rescues.

Nicola (pictured at the top of the page) said: “To see them all do so well has made me so incredibly proud. I remember all their rescues, but Matty’s story does stick in my mind, and it was me who introduced Sarah to Matty. It was Sarah’s first day working at Redwings, and he was a tiny and weak young foal. Sarah fell absolutely in love and then patiently waited to rehome him when he was older - and the rest, as they say, is history!”

Reserve Champion also went to a rehomed Redwings horse - Redwings Edward who lives with his Guardian Claire.

Guardian Claire was beaming with pride when Edward won his class

In what was a brilliant day all round, Redwings Jerome and Guardian Milly took 2nd place in the In-Hand Rescue class after Matty came in 1st place, and Redwings Honey and Guardian Elli-May went 2nd in the Veteran Rescue class behind Edward.

Redwings Yarn and Redwings Destiny, who had been attending the Show’s Rescue Village to help promote rehoming a rescued horse, placed 4th and 5th in the In-hand class respectively.

Could you offer a home to a Redwings pony, and possible showing star of the future? Click here.

Redwings Jerome and Milly in the ring

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“I feel such incredible pride on days like today. These horses came to us from such terrible backgrounds, some of them in utterly awful condition like Matty. To see them as they are today, well, it’s like a dream and the reason we do the hard work that we do.
“Their Guardians of course deserve so much credit, and it’s wonderful to see the love they have for their Guardian horses.”
Lynn Cutress, Redwings CEO