A second chance, thanks to you
Last December, just in time for Christmas, two vulnerable young ponies were rescued by our member charity World Horse Welfare. Found abandoned and in a terrible condition, Buddy and Bauble were severely underweight, frightened, exhausted and showing clear signs of long term neglect.
When they arrived at Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Lancashire, Bauble — an 11hh piebald colt — was clearly unwell. Buddy, a chestnut colt standing at 11.2hh, was so weak he couldn’t stand up without help.
Assistant Centre Manager Hayley remembers how the team felt when the pair arrived: “The team all fell in love with them straight away and were absolutely determined to nurse them back to health.”
For several weeks, staff gently lifted Buddy to his feet every morning. Once he was up, he was able to stand by himself to eat his hay. Both ponies were determined to keep fighting, and the team matched their spirit with unwavering care.
Everyone was delighted when Buddy finally became strong enough to stand up on his own.
Buddy and Bauble received round‑the‑clock care in those early weeks, along with daily handling sessions and then embarked on personalised rehabilitation plans. Slowly, they grew in strength and spirit under the patient, expert care of the team and the two colts began to show their bright, curious personalities.
Just months later, Buddy and Bauble were thriving — they were healthy and ready to find new homes. Buddy was rehomed in June, and when his new family learned about his close bond with Bauble, they couldn’t bear to separate the pair. They chose to rehome Bauble too, giving both ponies the chance to continue their journey together.
Despite their heartbreaking start in life, Buddy and Bauble now have a bright future — safe, loved and full of possibility.