2011 Spindles Farm Update: Three Years on, The Horse Trust Celebrates the Progress Made by the Rescued Equines

“Tarna and Angel were moved into the same field in the summer of 2008 and they have been friends since. Tarna leads Angel to the haylage and defends Angel from the other mares. The fact that one eye is supporting both horses is amazing,” said Ali. “Tarna and Angel are now inseparable and I wouldn’t dream of bringing them in separately from the fields unless it’s only for a few minutes. If Tarna is left behind she stands and screams until Angel comes back.”

Other animals that have made a good recovery include jenny donkey Gladys, who was unable to stand unaided for 10 days after she arrived from Spindles Farm due to starvation. A few of the younger Spindles Farm horses have made such a good recovery that they can be rehomed. Geldings Disney and Dazzle have been found new homes, but Star and Walt are still waiting for someone to offer them a home.

Sadly, not all the horses rescued from Spindles Farm were able to recover. Despite receiving intensive veterinary treatment for a year after arriving from Spindles Farm, colt Bill died in January 2009. His death, caused by parasite damage to his intestine, was a legacy of the neglect he suffered at Spindles Farm.

Some of the young horses from Spindles Farm still need veterinary treatment  so cannot be rehomed, unless their condition improves such as Duke who underwent sarcoid treatment at the University of Liverpool in summer 2010 and has since suffered from severe colic. Gelding Ben has had problems with intermittent lameness for which he is receiving treatment and it is uncertain whether he can ever be rehomed.