Meet the babies
Welcoming our new therapy horses in training.
Trelawny...
Its been a tough 18 months for us here at Running Deer, not only due to Covid-19 but also because Trelawny our Shire Horse has been poorly for most of this year. He is 17 years old now and has been with Jo our MD since he was a yearling, and working with Running Deer CIC for 10 years supporting adults and children with additional needs.
In October 2020 Trelawny lost his friend King, our Suffolk Punch, to chronic arthritis. It was a hard decision for us, but the right one for a big horse who was in constant discomfort, despite the pain relief he was receiving.
Then in November 2020 Trelawny came down with a very serious bout of colic, with only a 5% chance of survival. He refused to go to hospital but with intensive veterinary care, and all his friends around him he started to make a slow but steady recovery. I genuinely think that it was because he was surrounded by the people (and animals) who love him that he found the strength to fight and survive.
But the colic has knocked his immune system really badly, and even now, nearly a year later, he is still not fully recovered. With a slow healing foot abcess and a bacterial infection that has taken months to overcome Trelawny always greets us with a nicker and loves his cuddles and grooming. He has put up with being poked and prodded by vets, nasty medicines and lots of antibacterial baths.
We also realised that Trelawny was missing his old friend King, and whilst the ponies were good field companions, they really don’t talk the same language…! So we decided to look at finding him some new friends.
Meet Sonny...
Sonny is a Shire horse colt…and came to us at 7 months old. Sonny had a pretty rough start when he arrived in December and was on stable rest after becoming quite poorly. We really struggled to get any weight on him but with careful feeding and lots of love he started to look less like a Thoroughbred and more like a Shire Horse.
It took us a while to build him back up but he is now a strapping 18 month old yearling with the longest legs!
Meet Jack...
Jack is a Clydedale horse colt and came to us at the same time as Sonny. Jack is a little bit older than Sonny and is a stocky chap with a curious and cheeky manner. Jack is going to be big for a Clyde, we reckon he is going to be a similar size to Trelawny - who is already big for a Shire horse standing at 19hh high!
‘Uncle” Trelawny is very happy and these two mischievous youngsters have definitely given him a new lease of life. They are growing like weeds… and although we still call them babies, they are bigger than the average horse even now… but we love them. And Trelawny loves them, even when Sonny snores so loudly he could wake the neighbours…
And that’s all that matters!
At Risk...
The Shire horse is registered as an ‘At Risk’ rare breed https://www.rbst.org.uk/watchlist-overview
Unfortunately Trelawny is not a breeding horse, which is a great shame as his parentage is exquisite, but, standing at 19hh (which is tall - very tall) he is a fine example of the breed, which is why we have been working so closely with our vets to support his recovery.
More information on the Shire horse can be found here https://www.shire-horse.org.uk/
The Clydesdale too is on the 'At Risk' register. More information on this wonderful breed can be found here https://clydesdalehorsesociety.com/
Running Deer School is a DfE registered independent school (registration number: 878/6067) for young people with Special Educational Needs.
Running Deer School (Butterdon) Community Interest Company is a not for profit organisation and limited company.
Company no: 13136726.
Running Deer School (Butterdon) Community Interest Company is part of the Running Deer C.I.C Group.
Running Deer C.I.C provide activities and opportunities based around traditional rural skills and land based studies, bushcraft, equine assisted education, dog therapy, green woodworking and conservation.
Running Deer CIC is a not for profit organisation and company limited by guarantee. Company No: 7605814.
VAT Reg No: 289345260
Head of School:
Nick Hurst
Running Deer School,
Butterdon Wood,
Moretonhampstead,
Devon, TQ13 8PY
Telephone: +44(0)1647 400201
For interventions or alternative provision enquiries:
Telephone: +44(0)1647 279332
School hours
- Mon - Fri
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed