On Monday 11^th January 2016, Redwings’ Senior Field Officer Julie Harding attended a field near Haddiscoe in Norfolk following a call to our welfare line. On attending the site, a piebald cob mare was discovered with a very sickly foal at foot.

Requiring immediate veterinary attention and with the help of Redwings’ Senior Welfare Veterinary Surgeon Nic de Brauwere and RSPCA Inspector Ben Kirby, the foal was removed with the mare and taken to our Reception Centre.

“It was essential that the foal was taken to a safe environment for treatment,” reflected Julie, “and we couldn’t have done this without nearby welfare charity Horse Rescue Fund who we called upon for help in transporting the horses to our Reception Centre.

“They helped us load the two relatively unhandled horses, drove them to our centre and even stayed to assist our vets in setting up the treatment for the horses. Their help with this urgent case was invaluable and we cannot thank them enough”.

Once at the Sanctuary, Nic – together with Welfare Veterinary Surgeon Nicola Berryman – provided care to the mare and foal through the night. “We’re very concerned about this young foal and diagnosis for his current condition is underway,” commented Nic.

This case comes just months after our rescue of Star and Rocket. As you may remember, in October 2015 we rescued Star with six-week-old foal Rocket at foot found on farmland near Harleston. The pair were both extremely thin and Star was in such a severe state of neglect that she sadly died less than two weeks after her rescue.

Investigations into this recent rescue are ongoing, but if you would like to help support our care for this foal and his mother, please donate.