Bonnie, Tyler and Jones arriving at Hapton

06 November 2025

Thanks to you, this winter will be very different for Bonnie, Tyler, Tom and Jones

In January, our welfare team discovered four fragile ponies—two mares and their foals—struggling to survive on Gelligaer and Merthyr Common in south Wales. Severely underweight and separated from their herd, they urgently needed help. Even their thick winter coats did not hide how underweight the ponies were.

After Redwings vet Nic had performed an urgent assessment of their condition, the four vulnerable ponies and a third foal also in need of help, were sedated, gently corralled and then loaded onto a horsebox to begin their journey to Redwings, and the chance of recovery.

Watch their journey so far here

Donate to the appeal

£17

could support behaviour training for a nervous pony

£22

could help fund a welfare vet to assess and rescue a pony in crisis

£25

could help provide vital care for a pony with long-term health needs

The road to recovery

Once safely settled at Redwings, a detailed examination from our vets revealed that each of the ponies was suffering with liver disease, but the main cause of their poor condition was an untreated parasitic worm burden. Sadly, the combined effect of these health issues proved to be too much for one of the young mares. Our best efforts could not halt her decline, and we took the difficult decision to put her to sleep to prevent her suffering any further.

Thankfully the other ponies started to respond to treatment. The surviving mare, who was just three years old was given the name Bonnie. She took on the role of guiding her own filly foal Tyler, as well as the two young colts, Tom and Jones, through the early days in their new sanctuary home.

Thanks to your generosity, Bonnie and the foals began to thrive. With food, specialist care and gentle training, they grew stronger and more confident. Bonnie, once wary of humans, is now learning to trust us through patient, reward-based care, under the expertise of our knowledgeable Behaviour team Thanks to your support, in just ten months the lives of these young ponies have entirely changed.  

Your gift can help transform lives.

Caring for rescued residents at Redwings is only possible thanks to your kind donations.

The dedication of our vets, nurses, carers and behaviour team can change the life of a rescued pony, through work that you make possible. This winter, they are warm, safe, and loved because of you.

Text HEAL 10 to 70450 to donate £10*

*You can give any amount – whole £s only up to £20. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting in to hearing more from us. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear from us, please text HEALNOINFO instead.

Redwings Press Office

For all enquiries please contact lplumtree@redwings.co.uk

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View appeals

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Thanks to you, this winter will be very different for Bonnie, Tyler, Tom and Jones

£17

£22

£25

Your gift can help transform lives.

View appeals

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It’s vital that we’re Ready to Rescue

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Caring for Gizmo in the months ahead

It’s vital that we’re Ready to Rescue

A new beginning for Marjorie

Facing the winter together

Welfare is at the heart of everything we do

Thanks to you, this winter will be very different for Bonnie, Tyler, Tom and Jones

£17

£22

£25

Your gift can help transform lives.

View appeals

Caring for Gizmo in the months ahead

It’s vital that we’re Ready to Rescue

A new beginning for Marjorie

Facing the winter together

Caring for Gizmo in the months ahead

It’s vital that we’re Ready to Rescue

A new beginning for Marjorie

Facing the winter together

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Welfare is at the heart of everything we do