‘More than just a horse’
Annie Connolly, 43, lives in Godalming, Surrey.
When I first heard about Cherry, no one else wanted her. A thin, flighty horse, she’d been rescued by a friend from a market abroad where she was being sold for meat. And, impulsive as it sounds, I agreed to take her.
You see, I had been having a hard time, too. It was 2013 and I’d been suffering from fatigue, hair loss and split nails. I was finally diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, Hashimoto’s disease.
But spending time with Cherry got me out of bed each day. As Cherry grew stronger, so did I, and soon I could ride her. To me, she was more than a horse, she was a soulmate.
In 2018, she fell ill. ‘I’m so grateful for you,’ I whispered as she slipped away.
Afterwards, I set up my charity Cherry Horse Welfare International.
I promised Cherry I’d help other neglected horses, and I’ll keep to it.