A young pony grazes in a large field of grass.

06 September 2024

Ducky has a future to look forward to

In November 2023, as part of a welfare project, Redwings’ welfare vets were assessing a herd of semi-feral ponies, living on an upland common in south-east Wales.

One foal was spotted looking quite listless; she had laid down, separate from the rest of the group. It became clear that none of the mares in the group were taking care of her.

Little Ducky would not be able to face the approaching winter alone. She was just four months old, underweight and rainscald ran the length of her back. The vet team decided to remove the orphan filly foal from the common that afternoon.

A young foal stands alone on vast common land.

Donate to the appeal

£17

could help a previously unhandled pony overcome their fears through behaviour training.

£23

can provide the antiseptic skin cream and shampoo to treat rainscald and the effects of neglect.

£28

could support a field project to manage the health and welfare of a semi-feral herd of ponies.

Rescued on the same day

From another area of the common, an unhandled mare and her foal had been loaded on to the horsebox. The mare, who we named Daisy, was suffering with a tooth infection which presented as an abscess on her face, and her foal Della was lame.

After a brief stay at a nearby holding yard, where Ducky was given fluids to help rehydrate her, the three ponies were brought into our quarantine yard.

Ducky was less nervous than her companions, but when treating her skin for rainscald her carers handled her as gently as possible. By making these interactions as positive as possible, the team helped Ducky grow in confidence.

A young pony enjoys a chin scratch from one of her carers.

Ducky, now a young pony, enjoys chin scratches from one of her carers.

The start of a new chapter

Welfare vet Chloe describes how Ducky continues to change. She said: "We're really pleased with how Ducky has settled in with us. She is still a little nervous about being caught but loves a nice scratch and is very good for the vet and farrier."

These small steps are encouraging signs that Ducky is adapting to a life where she will feel comfortable with regular contact with people.

Being part of a group of ponies has also been key to Ducky’s wellbeing. In Della, she has a friend her own age and Daisy has been a surrogate mother, giving Ducky the guidance and reassurance that she did not have as an orphan foal, all alone on the common.

In June this year, the group was joined by one-year-old Ogden, a Shetland pony who came to Redwings from a rescue carried out earlier in 2023.

All four ponies have recently moved to our Behaviour Centre to take the next steps towards a secure, more confident future.