RSPCA: First ever Rescue Horse/Pony of the Year hailed as resounding success
RSPCA rescue pony overall winner at Equifest
The first ever RSPCA and PRP Rescue Services Rescue Horse/Pony of the Year was hailed a resounding success after taking place at Equifest on Saturday (18 August).
There were 25 entries for the in-hand class and another 18 for the ridden class. Ten of the best ponies and horses in each class then went into the championship which took place on Saturday evening in the Peterborough Showground Arena.
Show judge Clare Frost, who judged the ridden class won by Sundae, said: “It was an honour to be asked to judge the show and one of the most heart-wrenching, but fulfilling experiences I have had as a judge.
“It was wonderful to see the animals coming into the ring, having seen the horrific pictures and read their histories, then seeing how beautiful and loved they now looked.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house on Saturday night and by far the best part was to see the trust which these horses and ponies had regained in humans.”
A bay Dartmoor gelding, named Little Ted, won the in-hand class and went on to take the overall Champion Rescue Horse of the Year title. He was removed from his owner in March 2010 after being found severely emaciated and collapsed. He had to be placed on a drip at the scene and his condition was described by an RSPCA officer as the most distressing thing she had see.
Little Ted’s former owner, a show judge and breeder, was banned from keeping horses in September 2011 after admitting causing the pony to suffer.
Little Ted made a remarkable recovery and is now owned by Sharon Harris who adopted him from the RSPCA in July along with Jessie, another Dartmoor pony who came second in the in-hand class. Sharon, who came all the way from her home in Cheshire for the show, said: “We were thrilled when Little Ted won, he was so well-behaved. He had already been very well-handled while being cared for on behalf of the RSPCA and we’ve been able to give him and Jessie lots of attention as they’ve settled in with our other four native ponies.
“Peoples’ perception of a rescue pony is often just a coloured cob, but the show proved that the RSPCA has a huge variety of horses and ponies which can all go on to lead successful careers in any equine discipline and which desperately need caring owners."
A chestnut cob mare named Sundae won the ridden class and came 2nd or ‘Reserve’ overall. Sundae came from a large scale case in Amersham, Buckinghamshire in which a horse dealer was imprisoned and banned from keeping equines after being found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to 40 horses and ponies and failing to meet the needs of a further 114.
Sundae is now ‘school mistress’ at the RSPCA’s Felledge Equine Centre* in County Durham where she is a permanent resident. This means that she is used to assess the riding ability of young riders and potential adopters. She was ridden on Saturday by Felledge yard supervisor, Mo Brown. The centre’s deputy manager, Lisa Paulin, said: “I am over the moon with Sundae, she worked so beautifully. We entered her in the show as she’s our little star. We’ve had her since 2009 and have done all the schooling with her. She has excellent manners, looking after everybody, and we would never part with her.”
All entrants were given a rosette and the two overall winners received trophies, sashes, rosettes and prize money, all provided by sponsor PRP Rescue Services.
Equifest attracted more than 10,000 entries for its showing, show jumping, dressage and carriage driving classes, and took place between 15 and 19 August.
The RSPCA had a display unit at the show which was manned by our specialist equine officers. We were joined each day by other equine charities including Redwings, Blue Cross and the Horse and Pony Protection Association (HAPPA).
RSPCA national equine coordinator, chief inspector Cathy Hyde said: “The new rescue classes went so well and we will be doing it all again next year when we hope it will be even bigger.
“It was so well received, with people visibly moved to see these horses and ponies alongside a slideshow featuring photos showing them in the awful states that they were in before being rescued and adopted by fantastic new owners. I think it helped to introduce many new people to the RSPCA who might not have been aware of the work we do in rescuing and rehabilitating horses.
“We have more than 600 horses in our care at the moment and had plenty of people coming forward to sign adoption and fostering forms. This is great news as our main aim was to show that rescued horses and ponies are every bit as able and rewarding as other equines.
“I can’t say thank you enough to Equifest and to PRP for believing in rescue horses and ponies and helping the RSPCA to get this off the ground.”
To find out more about rehoming a horse from the RSPCA please visit http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/horses/rehoming
*C&C Horse Transport kindly donated their horse boxes, drivers and grooms to the Felledge equine centre so that four horses, including Sundae, could travel in style to the event.
Notes to editors
Extra judge’s quote:
John Bourne, who judged the in-hand class, said: “It was absolutely amazing. I’ve judged at the Horse of the Year Show and other top shows but this was something else.
“Seeing the before photograph of Little Ted laying in the straw on a drip at death’s door and then him coming into the show-ring in such good condition was very emotional.
“I was surprised by the amazing condition the ponies and horses were in after they had all had such bad starts in life – the standards were far higher than I expected.”
For more information on PRP please visit http://www.prprescue.com/
For more information on transporting horses internationally and UK-wide please visit
http://www.candchorsetransport.com/
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