We have some exciting news to share…
On Wednesday 8 November, we gave sanctuary to a beautiful Welsh moorland mare and her two-month-old filly foal after a multi-agency rescue. They are recovering well at our Beech Trees Veterinary and Welfare Centre.
Less than two weeks later on Monday 20 November, our welfare outreach and advice team led an operation to provide sanctuary to another moorland mare and colt foal from a complex situation in Devon involving 14 equines. The adorable Dartmoor colt, named “Chandler”, and his dam “Chandrani” seem to enjoy their new surroundings and are being given dedicated care at our peaceful welfare unit.
It’s thanks to your love and support that these mares and foals will now have a safe sanctuary for life. The foals will be able to enjoy growing up together as companions.
Naming our new arrivals
With almost 600 horses and ponies currently in our care, we appealed for the public’s help to come up with suitable names for the Welsh mare and foal. With over 500 name suggestions, our Welfare Outreach and Advice team selected Netty, submitted by Karen in East Sussex, and Nia, submitted by Lucy in Tavistock.
Syra Bowden, Head of Equine Welfare says: ‘We were overwhelmed by the huge response to our naming competition and delighted to have so many wonderful names to choose from. The welfare team members who rescued our new mare and foal were given the final vote. We felt the name “Netty” was perfect for our beautiful filly foal because it means “favoured one”. We decided to give her dam the name “Nia”, which is the Welsh form of “Naimh” meaning “resolve” and “brilliance”. It’s a name that really suits her.
‘Both ponies are settling in well, enjoying the peaceful environment at our sanctuary and Netty had her very first encounter with a dusting of snow last week, which she took into her stride well.’
Thank you for your incredible support
Thanks to your support, the new foals have a home for life and will be able to grow up in a safe, loving environment.
For each foal rescued or born at the sanctuary, we need to be around for the next 30 years to provide them with the expert care and training they need.
Their futures are bright. They may stay at one of our four sanctuaries in Devon, be placed in our rehoming scheme or become equine educators at our Coombe Park Equestrian and Education Centre near Totnes, helping people experience the incredible benefits of connecting with ponies and horses.”
We’ll keep you updated on their progress, share more stunning photos and tell you more about their rescues soon.
