Rest In Peace, Valentine

We inform you today of another melancholy loss from the Horse Trust herd. Former New Yatt Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) pony, Valentine has left our care for the pastures in the sky at the age of 27 years old.

A bonny skewbald pony standing at 13.2 hands high , Valentine spent 6 years with the New Yatt RDA group where he brought joy to many children with varying disabilities within the riding sessions provided by this wonderful RDA group. After several years of good work giving disabled children many fabulous rides, Valentine was no longer happy within his sessions and became a little anxious of the noisy children and toys involved. Taking this as his cue to bow out, New Yatt RDA retired Valentine to The Horse Trust back in 2022.

Arriving on a sunny day in June 2022, we were thrilled to welcome Valentine after his incredible service to his RDA group and all the disabled children who found pleasure in riding him throughout his career. Although he was smaller in stature than the majority of our retirees, Valentine wasn’t phased and fitted straight in with our herd here in Buckinghamshire. As is often the way, Valentine came to us starting to develop the ailments of old age and this was quickly recognised and carefully monitored by our veterinary team. He also spent a couple of months receiving training from our behavioural team to ease him into the routine of retired life. During this training, he received the affectionate nickname Valerie or Val from our trainers, as he didn’t really tolerate the playful behaviour from his younger herd mates and often it was handbags at dawn should someone dare incite him to frolic!

Valentine spent his retirement happily grazing in our fields here at The Horse Trust, being monitored, as all our horses are, by our tireless Equine Care Team. Sad to say, Valentine suffered a bout of sudden onset, severe colic and despite our veterinary surgeon tending to him immediately, initial diagnostic testing showed how serious the colic was. Sadly, with his contraindicating illnesses considered, the kindest thing to do was to aid Valentine on his final journey and put him to sleep. Tending to these geriatric equine superstars is our bread and butter. With this, we know that one day they will leave us forever and yet every loss is still keenly felt by the team who have so fastidiously cared for them in their final years. Rest in peace, little Valentine HTx