An abandoned foal is being given a second chance thanks to The Horse Trust, a horse charity based in Speen, Buckinghamshire. Eight week old colt foal Theodore, fondly known as Teddy, was found starving and alone on a local roadside with no sign of his mother. He was rescued by Thames Valley Police Officers, who were assisted by a Councillor from Buckinghamshire County Council, and bought to The Horse Trust to receive the specialist care and treatment he needs.
Orphaned foals face many problems as they struggle to survive without their mother, but Teddy was also emaciated and suffering from an extraordinarily high worm count. Despite receiving round the clock care at The Horse Trust his health deteriorated and Teddy had to be rush to the Intensive Care Unit at The Royal Veterinary College (RVC). Thanks to the expert care of Teddy’s vets and veterinary nurses at the RVC Teddy has now improved enough to return to The Horse Trust. Against all the odds Teddy has pulled through and is doing well. He has even started spending a few minutes a day grazing in his new paddock with his new friend, a Shetland pony named George.
Animal welfare charities across the UK are reporting an alarming increase in the number of horses, ponies and donkeys found neglected or abandoned. Sadly colt foals like Teddy are at particular risk of being abandoned as they have little value in the current economic climate.
Jeanette Allen, Chief Executive of The Horse Trust, said “We don’t know what happened to Teddy, but the overbreeding of low-value horses means that a greater number of colts are being abandoned and left to die. Teddy may have no commercial value, but he is priceless to us and all of the many supporters who have been wishing him well.”
Buckinghamshire County Councillor and Cabinet Spokeswoman for Countryside Ruth Vigor-Hedderly, who assisted with Teddy’s rescue, said “Sadly this is not an isolated case and there are many more horses and ponies who need help.”
Sergeant Lucy Price of Thames Valley Police said “Teddy’s case is truly shocking. We are grateful for the support of other agencies including The Horse Trust in helping rescue Teddy and others like him”.
Teddy was found on Langley Park Road in Iver on 17th October 2012. We do not know who is responsible or how he came to be abandoned. If you have any information about Teddy, please call Thames Valley police on 101.
Teddy was abandoned through no fault of his own and The Horse Trust are keen to do all they can to give Teddy a fighting chance. Teddy already has his own Facebook fan club on The Horse Trust’s Facebook page with hundreds of people following his progress and wishing him well. It will cost £20,000 to pay for Teddy’s veterinary bills and to care for him for the next 3 years. Teddy’s supporters have already donated over £2,000, but the charity urgently needs the public’s help to raise a further £18,000 to help give Teddy a brighter future. To help Teddy please donate to The Horse Trust at www.horsetrust.org.uk