Two rescue horses feature in new charity campaign

Mrs Potts and Jodi
Mrs Potts and Jodi

Two horses rehomed at Writtle College after being rescued by World Horse Welfare feature in a new fundraising appeal for the charity.

Mrs Potts and Jodi were the second pair of horses to arrive at the College’s Lordships Stud after being rescued by the equine charity.

Mrs Potts, a six-year-old 14hh bay mare was rescued after being spotted roaming a housing development site bordered by a railway line. She was very thin, despite being heavily pregnant, and suffering with an abscess in her hoof.

Her filly foal Jodi was born at the charity’s Rescue and Rehoming Centre just ten days later on 8 May. The pair came to Writtle College’s Lordships Stud in June when Jodi was six-weeks-old and will stay with the College before being returned to the charity for rehoming.

They are now the ‘faces’ of a fundraising appeal for the charity and will highlight the serious problems faced by neglected and abandoned horses across the UK.

Caroline Farr, Stud Groom at Writtle College, said: “The pair now live in a small herd of mares and foals and are a fundamental part of the students’ learning. After weaning, Jodi will stay here and go through youngstock training with the students, assisted by staff, and at age three will be backed.

“We’re really pleased to have this link with World Horse Welfare. It is very rewarding for the College’s staff and students to be able to give something back.”

World Horse Welfare Deputy Chief Executive Tony Tyler said: “We are grateful to Writtle College for their continued support in rehoming our horses and giving them a new lease of life. It’s particularly important for our youngsters as it gives them the opportunity to experience new environments and develop their education.”

World Horse Welfare is currently celebrating Rehome a Horse month which shines a light on the horses and ponies who are looking for homes. The campaign also showcases the stories of the 1,700 World Horse Welfare horses and ponies currently out in homes around the country, from those competing at eventing, dressage, vaulting and showjumping to pleasure-driving, hacking, side-saddle and those who provide faithful friendship to their re-homers and equine companions.

Tony continued: “We are delighted to see the public’s greater interest in rehoming which is so important to the sustainability of our work in helping horses. We have worked hard to promote the variety and quality of our horses and ponies as well as the genuine advantages of rehoming over buying or breeding. Our rehoming scheme groups horses into several categories dependent on their age, experience and suitability for different activities and covers everything from non-ridden companions to those with potential to make competition horses.”