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World Horse Welfare rescued Basil the pony during one of the worst winters we have seen in years. The two year-old has been transformed after almost a year at our Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Snetterton, Norfolk. Basil’s story is the focus of World Horse Welfare’s Christmas fundraising appeal.

The 13.1hh bay gelding was found just before Christmas in 2010 in a field with no food or water in freezing conditions. Our Field Officer Jacko Jackson visited the site accompanied by the police, a vet and an RSPCA Inspector, and at the time said: “We initially received a call from a concerned member of the public and when we then visited the site and saw Basil, he was shivering so much that it was almost impossible to examine him. He had icicles hanging off him because there was absolutely no heat left in him. It was -4 degrees with freezing fog; I was frozen so I dread to think how he was feeling.”

Basil was found on about a quarter of an acre of fenced land with no grazing and he was half his normal body weight, infested with lice and frozen to his core. Now though, one year on, he is going from strength to strength.
 

Justina Smith is Assistant Manager at Hall Farm and says: “Basil has responded really well to our care so far, he has put on a lot of weight and he looks fantastic. He’s quite laid back, but he can also be quite cheeky! He’s good with other horses and likes to play with the other youngsters in his field.

“We are now about to start doing some core stability work with him and hopefully if he reacts well, we can potentially put him up for rehoming next year. We would look to rehome him with a knowledgeable rehomer who has the expertise to break him in as a youngster and bring him on.

“This case just goes to show with the help of the public, horses which have been abused or neglected can be rescued and go on to have a positive future. Now Basil can look forward to a happier Christmas this year”.

Justina added: “During the winter months we see an increase in the number of neglected and vulnerable horses that need our help. While Basil will be spending Christmas safe and warm at Hall Farm, we hope people are inspired by his story and respond generously to our appeal to help us protect other less fortunate horses this winter”

Full details of the appeal are online at: www.worldhorsewelfare.org/christmaspresent

For more information on our horse rehoming scheme, the largest of its kind in the UK, and to see the horses and ponies that are currently looking for new homes please visit: www.worldhorsewelfare.org/rehoming.