DAVE’S STORY

FELL pony Dave has undergone an “amazing transformation” since he was rescued by World Horse Welfare.

The then five-year-old was found grossly overweight and in pain caused by laminitis in Buckinghamshire last April.

“It turned out his owner had abandoned him in one paddock but the fences had come down, turning that into a very large paddock with a lot of grass. Left to fend for himself, Dave had just been gorging,” said World Horse Welfare field officer Chris Shaw.

Dave was taken to the charity’s Glenda Spooner Farm, where vet Anna Langford assessed him. His crest was so big, staff could barely get a headcollar on him.

“One of the biggest problems in this country is the two extremes — some horses who come into World Horse Welfare’s care are emaciated and at the other end of the scale are horses like Dave who are extremely overweight," Ms Langford said.

“The overweight ones can be much harder to manage.”

Dave has since lost 90kg thanks to a strict diet, exercise and physiotherapy programme.