SPIDER
Spider was a nine month old colt when he was rescued and brought to The Horse's Voice in April 2006. He was being abused in trotting races and ridden and he was beaten if he didn't win. He was a week away from death from starvation and was so thin you could count every bone in his body. He had completely lost his spirit.
But thanks to regular monitoring and care, sometimes required on an hourly basis, Spider learned not to be afraid anymore and his condition improved beyond recognition.
Photo of Spider with broken spirit on arrival at THV
Spider is now doing really well in his foster home. He stands at 15.2hh and his foster carers are training him to ride and drive. He enjoys being long reigned in his harness and carries himself very proudly.
 
Spider at his new foster home
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PADDY
In February 2008 the RSPCA asked us to take in PADDY, a teenage Shetland pony stallion who had been left on a tether to fend for himself on what can only be described as a rubbish dump after his owners were evicted from the site 3 months previously. This poor little pony had bleeding sores from lice infestation, he was undernourished due to worm burden and lack of food, he was also lame due to overgrown hooves and had a nasal discharge and swellings behind his ears due to the tight head-collar he was tethered with. Paddy responded to treatment and TLC, but he is permanently lame due to a degenerative condition in his shoulder that affects smaller ponies, contributed to inbreeding. Being tethered hasn't helped as he's never had the chance to build up his muscles. He is not in pain with it, he has restricted movement but he can still get around the paddock, bucking and playing.
Now, after several weeks of TLC and rehabilitation, Paddy has turned out to be a fabulous and friendly pony, a real favourite at the centre and has recently been re-homed locally under our fostering scheme as a companion.
Paddy’s story has a happy ending, but there are hundreds of ponies like Paddy whose lives of misery and suffering continue every day. Please help us to help more ponies like Paddy…
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MOLLY & WEETABIX
Weetabix is a coloured 11hh native-type gelding. He was 13 years old when he came to THV in May 2005 with his friend, Molly, a Shetland pony mare. Weetabix and Molly had been sadly neglected, crippled by overgrown hooves. They were rescued by the RSPCA who tended to their feet and prosecuted his owner who was subsequently banned from keeping horses. On arrival at THV they had worms and lice and were lacking vital vitamins and minerals.
 'Weety' has an old injury in his hind leg that sometimes makes him hold his leg up...he also suffers from sore front feet and we have bought him some special boots for him to wear when the ground gets hard and he finds it painful to walk...this gives him respite although occasionally he disgards one and we have to trudge over the paddock to find it. 
Molly is sweet-natured providing you are not a vet!!! And now that she is able to move comfortably she likes to chase the dogs and ducks if they go into her paddock. She has a cheeky character that she hides beneath her angelic face.
Weetabix in his new boots! Molly
Due to Weety's poor feet needing constant attention he and Molly are now permanent residents at THV where they are firm favourites.
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CHARLIE
 An aged minature Shetland gelding, Charlie had been kept on a grass verge with his back legs shackled together and he was constantly abused. He was deliberately burned, beaten and poked with sticks. He had bricks and stones thrown at him, and cars and motorbikes driven at him. He was under-nourished with worm infestations, diarrhoea and badly over-grown hooves. So traumatised by his inhumane treatment, this poor little pony had panic attacks whenever a human approached. However, Charlie needed to be in a much worse condition before the law could intervene!!!
Finally safe at the Centre, Charlie responded to tender loving care – but it took a lot of time and patience for him realise that he wasn’t going to be hurt anymore. He now lives in peace at the Centre with his little friends, where he will stay for the rest of his life.
Click to sponsor Charlie
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WILLIAM
William was a 6 month old New Forest colt foal when he was rescued in a pitiful state from a horse sale in 1993. He had been taken from one sale to the next without adequate food and water and was totally exhausted and dehydrated. Covered in lot number stickers, by the time he had reached the Midlands he was little more than skin and bone. He had a swollen belly, sunken eyes and his legs were buckling beneath him. THV had to purchase William in order to rescue him from being sold for meat.
Once at the Centre we made William a thick, cosy bed to lie on. The Vet confirmed that William was in a very poor state and for the first two weeks William was so poorly that he was very close to death. But over many weeks of intensive treatments and tender loving care William turned into a playful young colt, getting up to all kinds of mischief. He developed into a very loving and trusting young pony, loved by everyone at the Centre.
When he was old enough, William began his training and loved every minute of it and spent several years as a popular riding pony, helping to teach young riders to ride. Now he's fifteen years old he's needs a quieter life and has a new foster home nearby with one of our carers.
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POPPY
 A Shetland mare, abandoned in a field for more than six months. Suffering from sweet itch, the whole of her little body was covered in open, weeping sores. She had been so neglected that she had never been handled and her feet had never been trimmed.
Poppy’s owner, a traveller, could not be found until a very kind supporter of The Horse’s Voice tracked him down and paid £50 of her own money to rescue Poppy and bring her to the Centre.
Once at the Centre, Poppy responded well to treatment and her sores cleared-up. We bought her a special Boet blanket that enabled her to be turned out during the day.
Poppy now has a loving, happy home at the Centre and due to the special daily care that she needs she will remain as a permanent resident here, living with her own little herd of Shetland friends.
Click to sponsor Poppy
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JACK FLASH
Jack Flash was a 7 year old 13.2hh registered cob type gelding when he was rescued from the horse sales in 1993. Taunted and poked by youths, Jack was very afraid and he was bumping into the metal bars of the pen. He had cuts and swellings all over his body and was lame in his hind legs. The other horses were biting and kicking him. Jack had been brought to the sales to be sold for meat. He had lost an eye after being impaled on a metal spike and this was why no one wanted him. But all Jack needed was a kind home and a second chance. So we rescued him.
Once at the Centre he became a kind and good-natured pony who took to jumping like a duck to water. He became well known at the local shows where he always won when jumping against the clock.
After 12 years at his foster home Jack sadly had to be put to sleep in July 2007 following an illness. Jack was 21 years old and had a full and active life. We thank his foster carers for providing a loving, caring home and for being with him when he passed away.
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CHERRY and TWIGGY
Cherry was rescued from the New Forest sales in 2001 with Twiggy when they were only 16 weeks old and too young to have been separated from their mothers. They have both blossomed into beautiful little mares. Twiggy is now living locally in her new home with a mature foster carer where she enjoys hacking out along the bridlepaths and country lanes of South Leicestershire. Cherry is also enjoying her new foster home in Lincolnshire where she has won many Pony Club trophies and rosettes from various outings. I'm sure you will agree from the photo of her with her young rider she is looking really well.
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