January 2008. This is the adoption stories of Zeta aka Sweetie Pie, her foal Zara, Cindy and Baby Jake.

Zeta’s story.2003. She was a little Welsh pony who was picked up on the side of the road in Wakerville by Bobbie and taken into H.H.C Unit. She was pregnant and her left eye had to be removed due to injury. She came to me to foster and have her baby which was due we did not know when.



During her pregnancy the socket where the eye had been removed became infected and despite treatment grew worse and would not heal. She was diagnosed with Squanoma Cell Carcinoma and although we tried conservative treatment at that time it did not improve. The whole of her left side of her face was being eaten away. It was about the worst thing I have ever seen!

Zara’s story. 10 October 2003. Welsh cross?? Was born on the Friday night with no problems and although her front legs where very splayed she was a strong and healthy foal. Once she was born we tried using Chemo on her mother Zeta but cancer was too far gone and nothing could be done. When Zara was four months old her mother had become so bad that there was no option but for Bobbie to come and collect them both and euthanaze Zeta.



In the four months of her life Zara had become a very spoilt brat as she was pampered by all. They where so desperately sorry for her and her mother. Without her mother and favourite groom she gave the staff at the unit a very hard time and they could not wait to send her back to me. Problem, I had no suitable horse to put with her as a foster mother, so what to do?



Cindy’s (Cinderella) story. February 2004. Breed unknown. Came into our lives from the abattoirs where Bobbie had bought her for me as a companion for Zara. She had come into the market on a lorry from a farm with a load of other horses for slaughter. She could not have been more than 5 or 6 months old.



The two fillies arrived back here and the fun began.

Cindy had cuts and sores all over, was scared of everything, had never been handled, and could not eat or drink by herself. It was now Zara’s job to be the big girl and show her how it was done. We had been feeding Zara in preparation of being without her mother, so she knew the ropes and how to get titbits and be spoilt by everyone. Cindy learned quickly and settled down and thrived in her new life.



In the beginning they shared a stable and grew inseparable from each other. Now as big girls they each have their own stables but if one is taken away to ride the other still yells none stop! Both have grown up to be stunning ponies and are ridden by a little boy with Hemiplegia who they look after and have helped enormously. He can do anything with them and they happily comply.





Baby Jake’s story. March 2005. Miniature Shetland. Was bought by a client from a breeding farm in the Freestate as an unbacked wild 2 year old, for his 2 year old daughter!
He arrived exhausted and traumatized after having been tied up in the back of a covered bakkie without food or water, for how ever long it took to get here from the Freestate.



As the child was petrified of the pony let alone sit on his back the novelty of owning a pony soon wore off and his stabling account took longer and longer to pay. When pushed for the money the owner wanted to take this now tamed, well groomed, feet tended, fat, backed, happy pony back to the farm and let him run wild again. Ah ah this pony stays here with his fillies who he considers as his harem and I will take him in lieu of stabling. “No” says the owner “you have to buy him from me” Oh well what could I do? So here is Jake in all his splendour, who in his turn is doing a good deed and being ridden by a blind, spastic 2 year old who he will no doubt help in his small way.

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