As Phoenix’s funky bandage designs continue to brighten life here at Redwings, we’re pleased to say that Phoenix continues to look brighter too. Although he still has a long way to go and he has a cough which we continue to keep an eye on, his most recent blood test results show some improvement, and Phoenix is also able to drink his milk better. When he first arrived, we believe that he may have had some damage caused by smoke inhalation that made drinking a bit more of a challenge, but now he is definitely guzzling it up!

Here at Redwings, we continue to be bowled over by your support for our very special chap.

This week our vet team sent their thanks: 

"All of us at the Redwings Horse Hospital wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has donated so far towards the care of Phoenix the foal, either by buying items from his Amazon wishlist or donating money. Thank you so much, reading all the lovely cards and social media comments has really been keeping us going.”

Download your free copy of Redwings' Field Notes for horse owners.

At Redwings we are fortunate enough to have a dedicated nursing team who work tirelessly alongside our vets to ensure our rescued residents receive the best possible medical care when they need it most.

The title ‘veterinary nurse’ was first used in 1984, which coincidentally, is the same year that Redwings was founded! However, it wasn’t until the year 2000 that the first Equine Veterinary Nurse qualification (EVN) was awarded.

One of the reasons we have high numbers of overweight horses in the UK is the difficulty owners can have recognising that their horse is too fat.

In one online survey only 11% of more than 500 horse owner participants correctly identified overweight horses.

Being overweight carries multiple health risks for any equine, yet a study in 2018 found that almost half of all UK horses were overweight, and up to 70% of ponies would be classed as obese.

This month, Beth Cooper from our Welfare Team talks us through how to assess a horse or pony's weight.

One of the most common reports we respond to involve horses which are described as being “skinny” or underweight. In 2019, 27% of our reports were about underweight ponies, rising to 37% in 2020. It is one of the most potentially serious reports we receive, and one of the most complex welfare issues Redwings has to deal with.

Get closer to our rescued horses and donkeys with our online club for young supporters!

We joined NKC Equestrian Training in providing an expert online talk into the painful hoof condition.

In July 2019 we shared with you a a new research initiative at the Animal Health Trust (AHT), the Surveillance of Equine Strangles project. Since then, there have been many more exciting developments in the project’s timeline, and Abigail McGlennon, from the SES team, is delighted to share these with you.

Read about Horse Hospital patient Orwell who underwent life-saving surgery.