We’re delighted to introduce Shadow, one of the newest ponies you can now sponsor at The Horse Trust. At 18 years old, Shadow is a charming Shetland Pony with a gentle soul and a story that reminds us why your support is so vital.

Shadow’s Beginning

Shadow was one of nine equines rescued from a failing community interest company, where ponies were used for parties and claimed therapy sessions for vulnerable people. When he arrived at our partnering rescue charity, Shadow was in a shocking condition. He was underweight – scoring just 1.5 out of 5 on the body condition scale – and covered in lice so painful he required daily medication. His hooves were severely overgrown, making him wobbly and uncomfortable. He even had bright paint on his coat, suggesting recent involvement in children’s activities, despite his poor health.

Thanks to expert care, Shadow’s transformation has been remarkable. His hooves have been trimmed and rebalanced, his weight is now healthy, and the lice and worm burden are under control. He did suffer a painful bout of colic early in his recovery, but emergency veterinary care helped him through.

Shadow Today

Now safe in the Chiltern Hills at The Horse Trust, Shadow is thriving. He’s made friends of all shapes and sizes – from our rescue cat Ninja to the cavalry-sized horses in the field. Though independent, he enjoys grazing with older Shetlands like Fred and Piglet and is forming bonds across the herd. He’s still a little nervous during feeding time but shows incredible bravery when helping his field mate Darth Vader in confidence training.

Shadow’s adorable whinny, curious nature (especially when checking the vet’s notes!), and fluffy winter coat – recently trimmed to keep him comfy – have already won hearts here. He’s now frequently in for health checks and physio and can often be spotted meeting visitors during our open days.

Sponsor Shadow

Sponsor Shadow today and help fund his ongoing care, treatment, and physio. With your support, we can continue giving this lovely veteran Shetland the comfort, love, and life he truly deserves.

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