A pony rescued from ‘appalling conditions’ has won her first rosettes with her four-year-old rider.
Prison sentence
Crumpet was one of 65 horses, ponies and donkeys saved from death at a farm in County Antrim, Northern Ireland by Redwings Horse Sanctuary. The animals were found without food, water or bedding and many were suffering from strangles, worms and overgrown hooves.
The owners – father and son Robert and Conor McAleenan – pleaded guilty to 17 animal cruelty charges. Both received prison sentences and were banned from keeping horses for 25 years.
Redwings took in 23 of the horses, now known as The Breakfast Club, as they were all named after breakfast items.
Sweet nature
Welsh pony Crumpet was very underweight when she arrived at Redwings in Norfolk and suffering from ringworm.
Despite her difficult start in life, she has a very sweet nature and was an ideal candidate for the charity’s rehoming programme.
She was fully rehabilitated and trained as a child’s riding pony, which she took in her stride.
According to Redwings operations manager Rachel Angell, when four-year-old Daisy and her mum Louise came to meet Crumpet it was “love at first sight”.
‘Perfect match’
“Daisy went for a ride around the site, watched closely by her mum and our team to make sure everyone was happy,” said Rachel. “Thankfully, Daisy and Crumpet got on really well straight away, and we are delighted that Crumpet has found her perfect match!”
Daisy’s mum Louise Bull said they were “smitten” with the 11.3hh pony as soon as they saw her.
“We were so excited when we were told we could bring her home,” said Louise. “She has settled in brilliantly with her field companion, 11-year-old Pudding.”
One of the family
Less than a month after Crumpet arrived with the Bulls, Daisy took her to her first ever show, where they won three firsts and three seconds in the gymkhana.
“She loves hacking and having loads of cuddles,” added Louise. “We love having Crumpet; she feels like one of the family and we can’t imagine life without her.”
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