From rags to richesSanta strikes goldA tiny, scrawny black foal rescued by the RSPCA
found a home with double Olympic gold medal
winner and dressage star Charlotte Dujardin.
Named Santa by his new owner, the tiny foal
could barely stand when he was first found,
along with another young pony. The pair was
surrounded by faeces and, although there was
a tap close by, their water bucket was empty
and they were desperately thirsty.
Their owner had previously been given a
five-year disqualification from keeping equines
yet witnesses, who contacted the RSPCA
out of concern for the equines' welfare, said
that she had 14 horses, ponies and foals. She
had rehomed or sold most of these, apart
from two. As well as keeping the horses while
disqualified, the woman had caused both
animals to suffer by failing to recognise their
obvious poor condition and act accordingly.
The foal was emaciated with a body score
of 0.5 out of five. When interviewed the
woman said he was "probably a bit ribby"
but she did not think his condition required
veterinary attention. He was in fact suffering
from a parasitic worm burden and a severe
lung infection that needed antibiotic
treatment. RSPCA Inspector Suzanne Smith
doubted the foal would have survived much
longer without veterinary treatment as he
was so weak.
The second pony was found to have a body
score of one out of five, yet the woman
considered him to be "reasonably alright". Joe Murphy/RSPCA Photolibrary
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