ABANDONED FOALS UPDATE PLEASE READ

These four baby colts are the survivors of an utterly devastating situation.

They were forcibly separated from their mothers and dumped on land with no care, no shelter and no plan, left to fend for themselves. During this ordeal, one foal tragically lost his life, becoming stuck fast in deep mud before help could reach him.

While we were legally required to wait for the abandonment notice period to end, working alongside the landowner, members of the public stepped in and did everything they could to ensure the remaining foals survived. Without their vigilance and compassion, there is no doubt the outcome could have been very different.

Once the notice period ended, the boys were carefully penned, allowing us to load them safely onto our transport.

Little did they know, that long journey home was the very beginning of their new lives.

In honour of those efforts, and of what these babies endured, we have named the boys.

Please welcome Ash, Danny, Chris… and the remaining foal who was left unnamed, whose absolutely gut-wrenching blue eyes stayed with us from the very first moment, we named him Blue 🤍

On arrival at Woodfield Animal Sanctuary, it took approximately 30 to 40 minutes for the foals to unload. We didn’t want to push them and allowed them the time they needed to come off in their own time.

It was clear to see in their arrival video just how exhausted, wet, cold and hungry they all were.

Once settled, they were tucked into big warm beds with plenty of haylage to munch on. After everything they had been through, it was a relief to see them rest well through their first night.

But the next morning, the reality of their ordeal became clear.

One foal, Ash, has a severe and long standing eye injury that had received no previous treatment. From the moment we first saw it, we were deeply concerned he may lose the eye.

Our vet attended and sadly agreed. At present, it is leaning towards eye removal surgery. However, if there is any chance the eye can be saved, we will pursue that option with everything we have. No expense spared.

Ash and his little friend Blue were loaded up and taken straight to the veterinary clinic for further examinations. Ash has since had an injection directly into his eye, and we are hoping desperately for some form of reaction that would allow treatment to continue. At this moment in time though, it is still looking more likely that his eye will need to be removed.

Alongside Ash’s urgent veterinary care, all four colts will require castration, microchipping and passporting before their rehabilitation journey can truly begin.

These essential procedures typically cost approximately £250 to £350 per foal, but more complicated castrations, such as rig operations, can cost around £1,000 each.

Woodfield is run with just two members of staff, caring for over 50 rescued horses and ponies, and everything we do relies entirely on public support.

These babies have already suffered more than any foal ever should. They were abandoned, traumatised, and one of them paid the ultimate price. We promised the remaining four a chance, and we are determined to keep that promise.

Sadly, this is not a one off.

Every year we are called to abandoned foals, dumped colts, sick stallions and unwanted horses. We step in when others walk away. We pick up the pieces of irresponsible breeding, lack of education, and a system that allows vulnerable animals to fall through the cracks.

Alongside rescue and rehabilitation, we work tirelessly to educate, raise awareness and campaign for change, because saving individual lives is only part of the solution. Until breeding is addressed and people understand the lifelong responsibility of owning a horse, stories like this will continue to repeat themselves.

If you are able to help, please consider donating via our JustGiving page. Your support will go directly towards Ash’s ongoing veterinary care and the essential costs needed to give all four boys the safe, healthy future they so greatly deserve.

Every donation matters.

Every share helps their story reach further.

Thank you, as always, for standing with us, and with Ash, Danny, Chris and Blue