Stew was rescued from appalling conditions by the RSPCA before arriving at our Burford rehoming centre last October, where he has spent nearly three months recovering from his ordeal. As well as being starving and mentally traumatised, the five-year-old native pony stallion was in pain with every step he took as his previous owners had not looked after his hooves and had cut them back themselves.
Vicki Alford, Horse Rehoming Manager, said:
“Stew was mentally traumatised from being in a stable for so long and being intermittently starved. He was quite aggressive around food at first, as he had been fed so randomly before, never knowing when food was coming. Physically, his hooves were in an appalling state.”
Stew was castrated which calmed him down and his groom at Blue Cross worked hard to build his trust.
“This took a lot of time”, said Vicki. “He was very untrusting of his groom at first and would lay his ears flat and charge at her. But once he realised that food would come freely and there was no fight for it, he began to settle and his groom was gradually able to touch him and then start working with him.”
Vicki continued:
“We have worked with him using food as a reward to make his association with people a positive one. He is now happy to be led, will pick up all four feet and can be groomed all over. He is adorable and loves his groom now. It’s a remarkable turnaround.”
Thanks to all of the work Blue Cross has put in to rehabilitate Stew, he is now ready to find a home.
Vicki explained:
“Stew still gets a bit concerned about being left alone and is quite attached to his friends in the field, but we are hopeful that this dependency will lessen as his confidence grows. We feel he would make a lovely driving pony or he would do well in the show ring. He needs someone who is understanding of his past and will work slowly with him to build his confidence.”
If feel you can give Stew the home he deserves please visit bluecross.org.uk or contact Blue Cross Burford on 0300 777 1570. You can also make a donation to help Blue Cross help even more sick, injured and abandoned pets through our rehoming centres and hospitals.
