Mum's the word

Mum's the word

A pony rescued earlier this year by World Horse Welfare has adopted an orphaned foal and warmed the hearts of staff at the charity's Belwade Farm in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

Lightning; a Welsh mountain pony, arrived at World Horse Welfare in January 2009, after she and five other thin and lice-ridden ponies were found living amongst car batteries, broken wood and metal. As one of the group was a stallion, Lightning was pregnancy tested but the results came back as negative. Over the coming months staff noticed she was putting on more weight than the others and decided to test her again and again, it was negative. So, it came as somewhat of a shock for Centre Manager Eileen Gillen when on the morning of 22nd July she came across Lightning with a chestnut filly foal.

"We couldn't believe it when we found Lightning had given birth, especially after two negative tests," says Eileen, "but sadly after a couple of days it became apparent that the foal was brain damaged and we had no option but to put her to sleep."

Continues Eileen: "We all held our breath as they were carefully introduced to one another but to our relief Lightning took to him straight away and has been a fantastic foster mum. She even lifts her hind leg to allow him to suckle more easily.

"Lightning has been through so much and she is such an amazing pony. It was a very special moment and there wasn't a dry eye in the house I can tell you." 

Jerry, who will soon be bigger than his adopted mum, will stay at Belwade Farm until he is old enough to be weaned and returned to his owners, whilst Lightening will be rehomed through the charity's loan scheme as soon as she is ready.

To find out about rehoming a horse from World Horse Welfare or how to become a member, please visit www.worldhorsewelfare.org