RESCUE UPDATE
Ever wondered what happens to the rescued horses and ponies you read about in the news? Wonder no more…
PRINCE HAD A shaky start to life when he was found abandoned in a field in December 2016. The stunning Arab gelding was discovered with a horrific leg injury that had exposed parts of his tendon. It’s not clear what had happened to Prince, now six years old, but he was extremely wary of people so it’s thought that he’d been subject to trauma and neglect in the past. Thankfully, the RSPCA came to Prince’s rescue. After treating his leg injury, the staff at RSPCA Lockwood were able to provide care and rehabilitation, with an emphasis on making Prince comfortable around people. After more than a year of TLC, Prince was in a position to be rehomed, but due to his nervy nature it required someone very patient and understanding to take him on. Step forward Melonie O’Hearn from Essex. “I was actually looking to adopt a Shetland when I saw Prince on the RSPCA’s website and I just fell for him,” says Melonie. “I’m known for liking naughty horses anyway, but when I read the article about Prince and that he was a bit of a handful, I couldn’t stop thinking about him and what a trauma he’d been through.” Melonie, who has owned horses for 27 years, went to visit Prince and it was love at first sight. She began to gently brush Prince and, before long, he started to groom her back. He’d chosen his human! “Prince has settled in to his new home very well and we’ve already overcome many hurdles,” adds Melonie. “He really is a prince, and he knows it — but he’s also affectionate when he wants to be. It’s so rewarding watching him grow and trust me more. When I go into the fields in the morning I can hear him calling me for his breakfast, and it makes me so happy that I adopted him.” Find out more about horses in RSPCA care at rspca.org.uk.