12 July 2024

Ruby's Recovery - Part Four

Towards the end of last week, there were some big changes for Ruby and I am delighted to share them with you!

For their first two weeks together Ruby and foster-mum Cilla had been living in neighbouring stables, getting to know each other gradually thanks to the low partition between their stables. Ruby and Cilla had been taking turn to also stretch their legs in the bigger yard each day but we’d kept a partition between them at all times. Last week, with the help of Nic, Felicity and Alan and Clair (horse transporters and handlers extraordinaries!) Cilla and Ruby were introduced properly!

Introductions had to be managed carefully. Although Cilla had been gentle and friendly to Ruby we had to remember that Cilla is much bigger than Ruby, and we needed to make sure that Ruby was safe. We were not sure how Cilla would react when Ruby ran into her or maybe tried to suckle. Ruby would not know that Cilla does not have milk, and there was the potential that Cilla might get upset by Ruby’s efforts. Therefore, with Felicity holding Cilla on a headcollar, and Alan and Clair on hand if needed, Ruby was brought out into their turnout yard. Cilla was immediately curious, but she waited patiently for Ruby to come to see her.

Ruby, now a dab hand at her handling sessions, was on the hunt for scratches, so with a little magic from Nic he soon had Ruby and Cilla gently grooming and scratching each other with their teeth. Allo-grooming (or mutual grooming) is a key way that horses will bond, so this was a hugely positive sign!

Everyone breathed a small sigh of relief. Cilla was calm and friendly, and completely unfazed by Ruby’s foal antics as she darted and skipped about! She was acing her role as foster-mum.

Click the image to see the moment Cilla and Ruby groomed for the first time

Turnout time

With that hurdle conquered, the following day Nic, our Head of Welfare and Behaviour, set the ball rolling on arranging for them to have time together in one of our special care paddocks. In such close proximity to our Horse Hospital and Feed Barn, it’s the perfect spot as there is always someone around to keep an eye on them.

Clair led Cilla to the paddock, and Ruby followed more gingerly in her hoofsteps. After a moment’s hesitation when she cautiously sniffed the grass, Ruby was soon enjoying what can only be described as zoomies!!

Much to the delight of the small crowd who’d gathered to watch (word of Ruby’s first turnout soon spread and several colleagues were very eager to see!) Ruby loved the opportunity to stretch her legs. She raced around, with several joyful bucks, before settling to curiously sniff her surroundings, and start to graze.

Cilla was completely calm throughout, and grazed happily throughout Ruby’s antics, even when Ruby accidently bumped into her with her exuberance!

Having watched it all unfold, Nic said to me: “That was a resounding success, so now Ruby and Cilla can spend more time out on grass, which will also be key to Ruby’s diet changes as she grows up. Importantly, it is also a huge positive step for her wellbeing. The stables and turnout yard, which we are very lucky to have at Redwings, were essential for the practicalities of safe introductions between Cilla and Ruby, and for necessary quarantine, but turnout on grass will allow her to express all the natural behaviours of a young foal, and she is certainly full of energy!

Perfect Cilla

So far Cilla has been an exemplary foster-mum for Ruby, and her role is crucial to our work to make sure that Ruby grows up to be a healthy, and well-adjusted pony. Cilla provides Ruby with key equine companionship, as well as being able to teach her the ropes of equine communication and dynamics – how to be a horse basically!

It’s no surprise that Cilla has been a complete natural, as this isn’t the first time she has looked after younger ponies. In fact, she was chosen to be Ruby’s foster mum because we knew she was experienced.
Cilla was originally rescued by SWHP (Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies) in 2015, prior to the merger between the charity and Redwings. She had been pulling a trap when she was struck by a car and sustained leg injuries. She was nursed back to health, and then successfully rehomed to a stud, where she was a nanny for foals and young horses.

When Cilla returned from the home, she came back to Redwings. Her experience of being a steadying influence for youngsters has proven invaluable for Ruby, and she is doing an excellent job – well done Cilla!