Pony Star abandoned and barely able to walk

13.08.12

A pony has been found wandering abandoned in a country lane with back legs so infected and sore that she could barely walk.

The black-and-white piebald mare, named Star by our staff, was discovered in an appalling state at Rook Lane in Chaldon, Surrey early in the morning on Tuesday, 7 August.

Potentially fatal condition left untreated

Star’s hind legs were swollen with cuts and grazes and covered in flystrike, a painful and potentially fatal condition caused by green bottle fly infestations.

RSPCA Inspector Lucy Chillery was called to the rescue and after organising for vet treatment, has taken Star to an animal centre for intensive care treatment. It's thought she has a bacterial infection which must have been untreated for well over a month.

Lucy said:

I was so shocked when I saw this poor animal’s wounds. She was in such a pitiful state that she had to lift one foot after another off the floor to ease the pain. 

She had clearly been callously dumped in the middle of the night by someone who then just drove away. She was found on a quiet country lane at such an early hour, away from any houses or paddocks, barely able to walk.

Staff have named her Star because she has been so brave and gentle throughout her ordeal and initial treatment, which must have been very painful.

The sad thing is this was completely avoidable, with early veterinary treatment this Pony would never have suffered.

Appeal for information

Can you help?

We are appealing for any information as to the owner of Star. Her markings are quite distinctive and we are sure someone must recognise her.

Star is around two-and-a-half years old and 11 hands, or 110cm, high. We believe she may have been kept in a stall or stable for some time and may have recently had a foal.

We urge anyone with any information to contact our cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.

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Horse crisis

We're increasingly being called on to deal with abanoned or abused horses and ponies.

In June we joined forces with other leading charities, welfare groups and equine experts to tackle the horse crisis, and plan for a better future for equines.
 

Read more in our news story:  Charities working together to tackle horse crisis.

You can help!

It can cost more than £5,000 to rehabilitate each horse or pony that has been taken into our care because of cruelty or neglect. Please, help us to help them:

Make a donation online today or text HELP to 78866 to give £3.

(Texts cost £3 + one standard network rate message.)
 

Thank you.