A call came in from one of our supporters, who had been contacted by a family member working for a power company. The relative had spotted some ponies in a shed and was concerned for their welfare.
Five ponies were found in total; all barricaded into stables. The ponies had received hay, (thrown over the door) and water intermittently.
However, imprisoned in these boxes, their bodies and feet had become caked in layers of manure and soaked in urine.
As soon as Ninja was released and led from the barn, he threw himself onto the gravel yard and rolled and rolled. His delight at his new found freedom was clear for all to see.
Ninja was a stallion and had been stabled alone. He was thankfully in good body condition under the filth. His feet were a bigger problem, with very little of his frogs (an important part of the weight bearing surface of a horses’ foot), remaining. One twisted and curled front hoof in particular was causing him pain and making him lame.
With careful rehabilitation work from our skilled Farrier, his distorted foot is as good as it can be and he is sound.
Ninja has attitude to burn and is an unlikely child’s pony any time soon – we had therefore felt for some time that his future lay with Here4Horses and arrangements were duly made with the RSPCA, to sign him over to us.
Ninja is quite a character - a proper Victor Meldrew who likes plenty of personal space. He is known for making a scene if he takes a dislike to horses in close proximity and can become very vocal and confrontational indeed.
Like most ex-stallion Shetlands, Ninja firmly believes he is gorgeous and fancies himself with the ladies – strutting around tossing his mane in a wild manner.
Please support Ninja at Here4Horses.
