20 May 2024

Redwings celebrates World Bee Day with story of three rescued ponies

A brown and white foal called Bee approaches the camera in his grass paddock. Another brown and white pony Bumble is grazing near him.

Redwings is celebrating World Bee Day (Monday 20th May) with the story of three ponies who were rescued at Gelligaer common in South Wales last year.

The Welsh cross ponies – pregnant mare Bumble, her foal at foot Honey and orphaned friend Mason – were removed from the common in February 2023 after concerns were raised for their welfare.

They were named in honour of Saint Valentine who is The Patron Saint of beekeepers and lovers. Baby Bee was born a few months later, last May.

The joint operation involved RSPCA Cymru, Caerphilly County Borough Council and World Horse Welfare alongside Redwings.

Ponies Honey and Bumble undergo a blood test from a vet during the rescue on Gelligaer Common. They are held behind large pen sections for their safety.

Bumble and her foal Honey undergo a blood test during their rescue at Gelligaer Common.

Emaciated and struggling

Nic de Brauwere, Head of Welfare and Behaviour, said: “I personally have been working with ponies on the common, in my role here at Redwings, for more than 20 years.

“We work with the Gelligaer and Merthyr commoners - landowners with rights to graze ponies on the commons - the local council and other charities to tackle issues that arise from abandoned and unclaimed ponies in the area, and indiscriminate breeding causing the population to outstrip what the land can sustain.

“We agreed to offer a forever home to this trio, if necessary, and worked with our colleagues to catch and assess them and provide the veterinary care they needed.

“Bumble was very underweight as well as being in foal, and her daughter Honey was lame. Orphan Mason, who was around the same age as Honey at just three months, was in a very poor state - emaciated and struggling to survive life on the common without his own mother.

"All three were suffering but also very frightened of humans, so they needed our intervention and the specialist care Redwings can give such ponies.

"After careful consideration every step of the way, it was decided that their fearful behaviour and complex veterinary needs meant the journey to Norfolk was the best way to ensure they would receive the care they needed from people experienced in working with such frightened ponies.”

Young pony Mason is seen laying down in the Redwings horsebox, too weak to stand.

Young Mason was too weak to stand when he arrived at Redwings.

A second chance

On arrival at Redwings, Mason was so weak he had to be helped off the horsebox and given round-the-clock care.

Tests confirmed he had a heavy parasitic worm burden, and his intestinal wall was damaged. He required lifesaving plasma transfusions and dewormers, with supportive intensive care.

After months of concern that he might never recover from such a difficult start in life, he finally showed enough improvement that his carers were able to find him a friend and give him the chance to live like a normal young pony.

He’s now living with another youngster, named Barney.

Black and white pony Mason is enjoying forage in his grass paddock with new friend, brown and white pony Mason, who is laying down nearby.

Mason enjoying time in his paddock at Redwings with new friend Barney.

Road to recovery

Bumble, Honey and Bee - who is now a year old (pictured in the top image) - are out on grass together in their family group at one of our closed sanctuary sites in Norfolk.

Nic said: “Their journey has not been an easy one. They have needed a lot of veterinary care and support but, a year on, we’re far less worried about them than we were.

“Thanks to our brilliant staff and generous supporters, whose donations allow us to do this work, all four of our Bees are living happy lives in sanctuary care.”