Charity launches appeal to find owners of neglected Shetlands

The RSPCA has opened an investigation after two Shetlands were found with severely overgrown hooves in a field in Dorset

 On Friday 11 March, RSPCA inspector Graham Hammond received a call from a World Horse Welfare officer who was very concerned about the welfare of a Shetland pony. Graham said: “The pony had extremely long hooves and we suspected he hadn’t seen a farrier for many years. He was struggling to walk and clearly suffering.”

The officers present managed to catch the pony, now named Rocky, and removed him from the site for urgent medical care. Graham continued “He had X-rays, pain relief and emergency remedial farriery to relieve his suffering. Now we’d like to find out who owns this pony and has allowed him to get into this state.”

A second Shetland Pony, named Apollo, was also removed from the field in need of attention from a farrier and extremely overweight. Both ponies will remain in RSPCA care while the investigation is ongoing and if the owner cannot be traced, they’ll be made available for rehoming.

Anyone who has information about the pony should contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018. If you’d like to make a donation towards the ponies’ care, visit rspca.org.uk