A horse rescued from slaughter has survived against the odds twice to become a star all-rounder.
Sad and lonely
Franc’s story reads like a gripping novel – with tales of starvation, mistaken identity, a killer hay thorn and loss of sight. But the 16.3hh chestnut gelding has taken all in his stride, winning rosettes and championships along the way.
Carrie Taylor first saw Franc on a website, advertising horses heading for slaughter.
“Franc was only a few days away from being slaughtered,” Carrie told H&C. “He had his head hung and looked sad and lonely. He was covered in muck – you couldn’t tell if he had white or black legs. We fell for him instantly, paid the meat money and had him transported over.”
Nervous wreck
When Franc arrived at Carrie’s yard in Whittlesey, Peterborough he was a half-starved, nervous wreck. According to Carrie he hid in the back of the stable and shook every time someone went near him.
After a week or so they began to gain his trust and were able to put a headcollar on – it was then they discovered he was only two years old, not five as stated in the advert.
Life-threatening
Franc was backed as a four-year-old and Carrie says he hasn’t put a foot wrong since, despite facing a life-threatening illness and losing his sight in one eye.
When he was five he developed an abscess between two teeth, which Carries thinks was caused by a hay thorn. Despite administering oral antibiotics, it spread under his eye and ear and then to the glands on the left side of his head.
“The vet didn’t think he would survive this ordeal, but he is still here today and fighting fit,” says Carrie. “He has slight loss of sight in his left eye now, which affects him some days and not others.
His loss of vision hasn’t impaired his performance, however, when competing in all types of disciplines from showjumping to showing.
One in a million
The pair gained two top ten placings at the Dressage Championships of Great Britain at the David Broome Event Centre in 2013, and finished third, fourth and fifth atthe ESUK (Equine Sport UK) championships last year.
“This year he has really come into his own, becomingworking hunterreserve champion at two different shows. We have also qualified for a number of classes at the Sunshine Tour at Hickstead as well as Equifest.
“I could never have imagined the fun we’d have together. He is a one in a million horse andwill never be parted from me.”
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