Blackberrys rescue story

Blackberry's rescue story Part 1 - told by Hazel who found her.

(Scroll down to watch Part 2 of the rescue story in a full size video)

My first sight of Blackberry was as a little pony grazing in a field of highland cattle. During last summer I would often see her but she was never close enough for me to get to know. In the November some teenage girls told me they thought she was very neglected, never groomed or handled in any way and unwanted by her owners. My immediate reaction was to approach her owners to verify the information. The owners informed me they would give her to me as soon as I could take her away. I went to see her. She looked dejected and unkempt, very wary and unused to any contact. She was trying to be friendly although she seemed lost and isolated and in a generally poor physical condition. 

 
Blackberry Before

As I watched her that afternoon I determined that a brighter future must be possible and I promised Blackberry this would happen. At that point I agreed with the owners that I would visit her regularly until I could get her used to a halter and then lead her to join my animals.

Despite being an animal lover and having always wanted my own horse, I realized that I needed some knowledgeable advice on how best to proceed. I contacted Voices for Horses and spoke to Emma and told her the story so far.

I immediately felt I was no longer alone in the situation, Emma told me that Voices for Horses would support me, assuring me that if Blackberry's plight worsened or I felt I could not cope they would help me find a solution.

The owners had moved her to a shed beyond the cattle yard.  I grew increasingly desperate about her as she only had  what I was able to take to her with no other supply of grass, hay or even water and was standing knee deep in cow muck.

 
Blackberry After

My time with her was very restricted and no sooner had I deposited her basic requirements and spoken a few gentle words to her that the cattle, including a bull, were milling around the yard and I had to leave!

She was beginning to respond, whinnying on my approach however her situation had deteriorated from one of chronic neglect over many years to that of acute deprivation and my original plan of gradually introducing her to another life had been made impossible.

It also became clear when I was able to get a closer look at her that she had many problems that I did not have the expertise to deal with. Emma had been only a phone call away during this time and now agreed intervention was needed and suggest I contact Adrian at the Lluest Horse and Pony Trust. With only the briefest description of Blackberry and her circumstances he said he would come to see her the following morning.

I was immediately impressed with the calm and understanding way in which Adrian and Tabby a member of Lluset staff approached Blackberry who was suffering from a skin condition, possibly laminitis and mudfeaver. Adrian assured me we would have blackberry out of there in a few days. Until then I continued to provided food and water and what company I could in extremely difficult circumstances.

The day dawned when Blackberry could begin her new life. Adrian reversed the lorry as far as possible down the muddy track to the barn. We managed to funnel her to the ramp of the lorry, I caught her eye and willed her top go in. She realized she had no option but to be brave and we shut the doors.

Tabby kindly phoned me that evening and said that Blackberry had a good journey, and she was settling into her stable beside a new friend. A few days later Emma went over to visit Blackberry and reported back that she was doing well and responding to the care and attention.

Blackberry and I am very grateful to Emma at Voices for Horses and everyone at the Lluest Trust. With their help I had kept my promise to Blackberry to help her find a new life.


To know more about Lluest Horse and PonyTrust please visit: http://www.lluesthorseandponytrust.org.uk