Abandoned foal’s new lease of life

A horse which was rescued at just 10 months old from a freezing field with his emaciated mother and a group of other horses is now taking the competition world by storm.

Lucas was discovered in the bitter winter of 2013 with a small group of horses who appeared to have been abandoned in Norfolk with little food or shelter.

Lucas was still feeding from his mother, India, who was emaciated and also carrying another foal too.

Thankfully, they were all rescued just in time and taken to World Horse Welfare’s Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre where they received immediate veterinary attention.

Lucas thrived in the charity’s care and a year later he was ready to be rehomed.

That’s where Fife woman Colleen Macrae stepped in.

“To be honest, it was love at first sight,” said Colleen, who has raised money for the charity in the past.

“I was searching for a horse that would be a general all-rounder and happy to compete across various disciplines. In order to do that, I wanted a youngster who seemed bright, curious and willing to learn.

“When I first went to visit Lucas at Hall Farm, we walked a little around the field together, getting to know one another. He was completely obsessed with my gloves, so I took one off and threw it about 20 metres away from me. Much to my surprise, he went trotting off to go and fetch it, and we repeated it several times as if he was a Labrador.

“After that, I knew he would fit into our family perfectly.”

Lucas has now gone from strength to strength and Colleen and Lucas made their British eventing debut this year.

Last year, he participated in his first ever Techniques de Randonne Equestrian de Competition (TREC) competition and excelled in the PTV stage (obstacle course) to win his section at the Scottish Championships.

“Being able to provide a second chance of life for a rehomed equine is the most rewarding experience,” said Colleen.

Anyone interested in rehoming can visit worldhorsewelfare.org/rehoming for more details.

Picture: Action Replay. Lucas is now six years old and thriving after being rehomed by Colleen Macrae