Nursing Manager Lou stands with little Shetland pony Marjorie outside some stables.

03 January 2025

A new beginning for Marjorie

Thanks to the expertise of Redwings' dedicated vet team, little Marjorie underwent successful surgery to extract one of her teeth and treatment for an infected sinus.

After recognising the symptoms in September last year, our vets quickly started work to diagnose the problem and move Marjorie from her home at Redwings Ada Cole, in Essex, to our Horse Hospital for treatment.

Little Marjorie arrived at Redwings in January 2024. Prior to her rescue, life must have been very disruptive and painful for her, but she was now being looked after by people who cared for her and she finally had a place she could call home.

A little Shetland pony stands in the Redwings horse hospital with two members of the vet team undergoing dental treatment.

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£18

could provide essential early treatment to a rescued pony like Marjorie.

£22

could help to pay for dental hand tools that are vital for caring for teeth and gums.

£30

could provide a resident pony with expert dental care in the year ahead.

Starting a new life

Marjorie had been rescued four weeks prior to her arrival at Redwings by police responding to a call to help a Shetland pony that was loose and roaming close to a busy area of Harlow in Essex.

Despite the efforts made to trace them, Marjorie’s owner could not be found.

The police took Marjorie to a place known as a ‘holding yard’; a safe place where she could receive immediate veterinary care.

Marjorie was very nervous, had injuries from improper tethering and a painful mouth caused by problems with her teeth, so dental treatment started straight away.

When Marjorie’s stay at the holding yard had to come to an end, the people looking after her contacted Redwings. They knew that she would need help for a long time to recover, regain her confidence and continue to receive dental care.

On the day that she arrived, Marjorie was joined by Matty and Tiny, fellow Shetland ponies who were also staring life in our care. The three soon became good friends and together settled into life in a new home at Redwings Ada Cole.

Marjorie became used to her new home and to the routine of being checked and cared for each day. When she was vaccinated for equine flu and tetanus, she showed signs that she was overcoming her nerves around people.

Marjorie stands outside her stables in a headcollar.

Marjorie is on the road to recovery.

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Expert care

One day, Marjorie's carers spotted discharge coming from her nose. Tests showed that the discharge was not the result of infectious disease, so the cause needed closer investigation.

An X-ray and dental examination revealed that her problem teeth were the likely source of a sinus infection and it was important that she was given expert care as soon as possible.

At our Horse Hospital, a poorly formed tooth was extracted from the back of Marjorie’s jaw. Over the following weeks, regular treatment from our vet nursing team also helped to clear the infection from Marjorie’s sinus.

Marjorie was relaxed about the whole experience and happily she made a good recovery from treatment.

As well as the expert care to help her physical recovery, Redwings has given Marjorie the companionship of new friends, a secure home and the reassurance of routine in her day. While we know nothing of Marjorie’s past, we can give her the future she deserves.

"The little Shetland mare being described to me had been abandoned nearby. She had sustained some injuries because of how she had been tethered and was in a very depressed state."

Jo Franklin

Senior Field Officer

“Marjorie has been a model patient during her stay in the veterinary hospital and quickly became a firm favourite. She allowed us to perform her daily sinus flushes without any sedation, just a few cuddles and treats.”