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Joey
Joey arrived at The Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire in November 2003.
Aged about 14, he was in a severe state of neglect - he had not been seen by a farrier
for a long time and his feet were badly in need of trimming. He was suffering from
laminitis and, because this condition makes the feet grow faster than normal, Joey's
feet resembled those of a Shire horse rather than a 13hh pony. His teeth hadn't been
rasped and because the grass on which he’d been grazing was so short, he’d ground his
teeth down in an attempt to satisfy his hunger. Joey hadn’t been ridden for around 5
years at least. He was overweight and also riddled with worms, since no attention had
been given to the conditions in the field in which he’d been kept. It had been neither
properly fenced nor kept clean.
Joey and his companion were kept in a rented field. The land was subsequently sold and
the new land owner had no experience in caring for these equine sitting tenants. She was
extremely worried about what should be done with them and, following advice, she fought
to gain ownership of them from the owners.
The Home of Rest for Horses - who had been asked for help - advised the lady on how to
secure ownership, and although this took a while, eventually they became the property of
someone who was most concerned about their welfare, although not in a position to care
for them. The horses were then taken in by The Home and, with correct feeding, treatment
and plenty of loving care, they have made a remarkable recovery.
It was decided that Joey was not ready for retirement and still young enough to do something
useful with his life, so he was sent to Vauxhall City Inner Farm in London where he is now
being trained to help with the Farm’s Riding for the Disabled Programme. Every summer he returns
to The Home of Rest for Horses for a holiday, where he and his friend are still visited by their
previous - although temporary - caring owner, who is clearly devoted to both of them and who
fought hard to ensure that they had a secure and happy future.
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