A Year Ago ...

I met Tommy on the 18th June 2015!  

I had read a bit about him on the Blue Cross website and thought he would love living with my boys.  Then I met him and I just fell in love with him - no surprise, look at that face.  Everyone I spoke to at the Blue Cross said he was a very special pony. 

He did lots of campaigning for the Blue Cross and since he has been with me I have found lots of articles about him, here are just two  ....  (just to warn you - his story is sad and shocking).

Troubled horses in need of special British homes

Horsetalk.co.nz | 19 May 2015 9:19 am | 0 Comments

 

Tommy has learned to trust and love, overcoming the abuse in his past. Blue Cross groom Serena Jenkins, painstakingly earned his trust. Photo Blue Cross.

The British-based charity Blue Cross is seeking exceptional homes following an influx of troubled horses.

The charity has launched the rehoming appeal for companion horses and ponies, which its staff say can bring just as much reward as their ridden counterparts.

Many ponies and cobs currently in its care have been so badly neglected and abused in the past, they will never be able to be ridden, yet still have plenty of affection and pleasure to give.

Horses and ponies, as prey animals, are by nature creatures of flight. For some, the flight instinct is heightened because of bad treatment, eventually causing them to distrust humans.

While many may be won round with kind, consistent and experienced handling, others will remain anxious and troubled, lacking the confidence ever to become safe riding horses.

Tommy is one such horse.

In his early years he suffered horrific physical and psychological abuse. Confined to a small, squalid barn, he and four other stallions fought over a solitary mare, kept with them.

" Anyone knowing horses would really understand how dangerous and terrible it is to confine stallions together with a mare," said Vicki Alford, the charity's horse unit manager at its rehoming centre in Burford.

“Stallions will fight until the death over mares, so to be shut in with no form of escape is torture for horses. I would liken it to dog fighting. It is unforgivable.”

As if this wasn’t distressing enough for the animals, periodically the horses were forced, one-by-one, into a cattle crush and beaten with piping. For some, this resulted in permanent facial scarring and irreparable nerve damage.

Last year, the horses were seized by the RSPCA and taken in to the Blue Cross horse welfare centre at Burford in Oxfordshire. The mare, Tallulah, was so badly traumatised that she was beyond help and had to be euthanised.

Tommy on the other hand showed an inherently trusting nature. “He was very worried and anxious but underneath there was a real spark,” Alford said. “You could see he wanted to trust us but just had no idea that humans were nice.”

It was a long slow process but now, seven months later, Tommy has an admirable bond with his groom, Serena Jenkins, who painstakingly has earned his trust. He leads well to and from the field, can be groomed all over and have his feet picked up and is now ready to find a home for life.

“He gives so much love and affection that someone out there will fall for him in a big way and give him the home he deserves,” Alford said.

Tommy is one of over 30 troubled horses and ponies now looking for exceptional companion homes.

See the article here: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2015/05/19/troubled-horses-in-need-of-special-british-homes/#axzz4CE9kG7TB

Urgent appeal from the Blue Cross

by - 20/05/2015 - Comments ( 0 )

 

Companion horses and ponies can bring just as much reward as their ridden counterparts believe the charity experts. Many ponies and cobs currently in the charity’s care have been so badly neglected and abused in the past, they will never be able to be ridden yet still have plenty of affection and pleasure to give.

Tommy is one such horse. In his early years he suffered horrific physical and psychological abuse. Confined to a small, squalid barn, he and four other stallions fought over a solitary mare, kept with them. Last year Tommy was seized by the RSPCA and taken in to the Blue Cross horse welfare centre at Burford in Oxfordshire. Tommy showed an inherently trusting nature. “He was very worried and anxious but underneath there was a real spark,” said Vicki Alford, Horse Unit Manager at the Blue Cross Rehoming Centre in Burford. “You could see he wanted to trust us but just had no idea that humans were nice.” It was a long slow process but now, seven months later, Tommy has an admirable bond with his groom Serena Jenkins, who painstakingly has earned his trust. He leads well to and from the field, can be groomed all over and have his feet picked up and is now ready to find a home for life. “He gives so much love and affection that someone out there will fall for him in a big way and give him the home he deserves,” said Vicki

See the article here : https://www.animalife.co.uk/blog/urgent-appeal-from-the-blue-cross

 
So after some checks on me and where he would be kept Tommy came home :)

Last Autumn the Blue Cross put this article about him in their magazine ... 

I am so pleased that I was able to give him a home for life where he is loved and cared for as all horses and ponies deserve to be xx

This photo is his most recent picture and shows him walking across the field to see me - something he would NEVER have done even  4 months ago.

 

Did you see Wednesday's video 'One Day in June'  on my You Tube channel.   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!

Jo