24 August 2023

Tragic road crash pony gets special visit from rescuer

A miniature Shetland pony rescued after a road accident in Suffolk last year has received a very special visit from her namesake.

The police officer who got her to safety after a crash on the A11 came to see Mariah at our Caldecott Visitor Centre, near Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk last week.

Mariah and her friend Carey, a cob cross filly whose mother was killed after the three ponies got onto the road in January 2022, were named after Suffolk Constabulary’s PC Mariah Hammond by our staff when we took them on.

Mariah, who visited during her holidays, said: “I didn’t recognise her, she looks amazing. When I first met her she looked a lot different, she was much scrappier. She was very nervous then as well.

“It took a lot of hours to get near her. The night team had been out for seven hours, and I came in at seven that morning and I think it took about an hour and fifteen minutes to catch her.

“She had her friend with her, Carey, and the third one obviously - the circumstances around that are a bit sadder - but I’m glad we caught her. I crouched down and managed to grab her mane.

“I’m so happy that she’s at Redwings and despite only having moved to their visitor centre at Caldecott a few days ago she’s obviously settled with her little friends, it’s lovely to see. I’ll definitely be a regular visitor.”

Mariah has become friends with Redwings Adoption Stars The Gangsters, a small herd of miniature Shetlands who normally live at Redwings Aylsham but are visiting Caldecott at the moment, and who she has now joined.

Carey, meanwhile, is living with her new friend Pickle at our Aylsham Visitor Centre. Pickle is a young cob who came into Redwings with a serious eye injury, and ultimately had to have the injured eye removed.

Both Mariah and Carey are available for visits at the centres which are open seven days a week, 10am – 4pm (paddocks close at 3.30pm) including Bank Holidays.

If you’d like to help Redwings to continue to rescue ponies like Mariah and Carey please call 01508 505246 or donate here.