Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s oldest resident has passed away at the age of 36.
Heart condition
Laddy was suffering from a worsening heart condition, so the difficult decision was made to put him to sleep.
When the palamino gelding arrived at Redwings in July 2010, he had severe problemswith his teeth caused by a poor diet and dental care. As a result he was unable to graze properly and was extremely underweight.
Laddy’s owner attributed his emaciated condition to old age rather than neglect. However, she was later found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and was banned from keeping horses for ten years and given a 12-month community order.
Quality of life
“Just because a horse is old, does not mean it is ‘normal’ to be underweight,” said head of welfare Nicolas De Brauwere.“The fantastic recovery that Laddy has made since he has been in our care is proof of that.
“With good dental care and the right nutrition an elderly horse can still have an excellent quality of life. There is no excuse for allowing your horse to get into such a state and the severity of the sentence in this case reflects this”.
Sorely missed
Under the care of Redwings, Laddy made a full recovery and enjoyed the last few years of his life out in the field with his best mate Lester.
“Laddy will be sorely missed by all,” said Redwings Chief Executive Lynn Cutress.”His journey to recovery, his character and his gentle nature touched so many supporters and all of us here at Redwings.”