Yep, you have read this right! The person who vowed to never run the London Marathon ever again is running in 2024!

Am I mad? yes definitely but this time rather than getting in on the ballot like last year, I received an offer I couldn't refuse. I was selected as one of the 6 runners chosen to take on the LM for World Horse Welfare, how could I turn that down?

My connection with WHW runs quite deep, since I was a child I actively supported them when they were the ILPH and then when I was a zookeeper at Colchester Zoo I met the most amazing three horses: Meg, Bruce and Homer. All three were rehomed by the league to the zoo and came with their own stories which I will share with you.

Meg

Meg was a beautiful shire X and was reported to the league by a member of public with a horrendous foot injury. When the inspector arrived, I don't think they were quite prepared to see what they did and witness Meg still standing on her feet. Her hoof was split all the way up to her coronet band, whats more shocking is that Meg was actually in relatively good body condition meaning she was being looked after. She had a maggot infestation and was immediately seized and taken back to the branch. The farrier did some incredible work and created a special plate to bring megs hoof back together. For years after, her hoof would always have a groove from her toe to the coronet band. Affectionately, the staff at WHW named her RoboHorse. Meg lived at Colchester Zoo until the day she was put to sleep, in her final years she developed an extremely painful eye condition that worsened to the point that no further treatment was going to work and the whole team working with meg (myself included), senior zoo management, the team of vets working with her at the time and the league, made the sad decision to let her go. I will miss her to the end of my days, she was incredibly special.

Her owner was not prosecuted- picture of her injuries are included in my gallery

Homer

Homer was reported to what was then the ILPH as a hrose with a severe injury to his face. When they found homer, it was evident a headcollar was embedded into his facea dnw as covered in maggots. It turned out, a headcollar was put on Homer and left for 2 years, this was never increased in size and his face eventually grew into it leaving terrible injuries. It is amazing Homer survived and the only saving grace which is horrendous to think about is that his noseband broke allowing him to breath. If that hadn't of happened he would of eventually suffocated. During this time, he was seen by his owner every single day! The owner was prosecuted £5000 and banned from keeping horses for 15 years (which ended in 2018/2019) as back then that was the top prosecution level.

Homer was loved so much by everyone who knew him, he was a real softy and complete sweet heart. He sadly was returned to WHW on welfare grounds as sadly homer outlived all the horses and was left on his own. As there was no immediate plans to reestablish a herd and the amount of heartbreak homer went through it was the absolute best and hardest decision the team have ever made. Homer was rehomed and is now living with what myself and team all hope, the last ever heartbreak he will experience.

pictures of his injuries are included in my gallery.

Bruce

Bruces story is very different to Meg and Homer, he actually was well loved and was competing with his owner. Sadly after some arthrtici changes in his neck, it meant they wouldnt be able to progress and he was rehomed to the league; As he would never recover, he then came to the zoo. Bruce wasnt like the other two, he was kind and sweet yet he KNEW his strength. There was no holding Bruce, if he was going.. he was going! The amount of times I would be dragged to X Y and Z because he just didn't want to experience something. He loved a fuss and would cock his leg for under the leg tickles, he had the droopiest lip and gave the best cuddles. We lost Bruce 6 weeks after Meg, he was unable to turn properly without pain and his arthritis was no longer able to be managed. Whilst the decision for Bruce was a little easier for us all, it still broke our hearts.

So here I am, preparing to run again only this time I am training properly with a full Strength and Conditioning plan, managed runs and more time dedicated over the winter. I am so excited to see where this year takes me, lots of things plans to raise as much money as possible!

I have to raise £1500 as a minimum so please donate where you can and help more horses like Meg and Homer experience a second chance at life when they had such a terrible start.

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