RSPCA rescues pony only days away from death in Hatfield Heath field

A young emaciated pony found only days before death has been rescued from a field in Hatfield Heath by the RSPCA.

A member of the public spotted the pony, thought to be just a year old, in a big field near Matching Road and called the RSPCA for help.

The 11 hands-tall equine, named The Littlest Hobo by RSPCA officers, is now being treated by vets.

RSPCA inspector Kate Fletcher said: “We received a call about this little pony and although when we attended we could clearly see she was in a bad way, she certainly wasn’t going to come quietly.

“Just as we got near her each time, she would move off again - she was clearly enjoying the chance to have some grass. Despite my best efforts with an officer from Redwings Horse Sanctuary, we did have to use a dart in the end and then use a pen to catch her. Though she didn’t want to be caught she obviously couldn’t stay where she was and was in desperate need of care - the vets gave her a body score of 0.5 out of five.

“It was nice to see she had some spark left in her, after what has obviously been a really horrid period of neglect and abandonment, but in reality, she was probably only days away from collapse.”

Inspector Fletcher added: “This small, bay coloured pony has not been looked after at all. She’s clearly been kept in a filthy stable up until recently as her belly and legs were caked in faeces. Her mane and tail were really overgrown too. Thankfully she is now being treated at Catley Cross Vets in Halstead, Essex. She’s clearly not used to being handled but she has a sweet temperament and is clearly glad to be in a warm stable with a hay net.

“Anyone with any information about who owns this pony or how she came to be dumped in this field alone, is urged to contact the RSPCA on our inspector’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018, where they can leave me a message.”