Parks Police Save Elderly Horse Abandoned on Wormwood Scrubs

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Pretty Girl now off to country retirement after loving care from Pony Centre

Pretty girl with Sister Mary Joy and Hammersmith & Fulham Parks Police

The 30 year-old mare, named Pretty Girl by her rescuers, was close to death when she was first found on the Scrubs in April this year.

But after five months of loving care from the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, she’s now off to enjoy a well-earned retirement, grazing with companions at the Hillside Sanctuary in Norfolk.

After she was found, efforts were made to trace her owners but without success. So, the council used the Control of Horses Act 2015 to claim legal ownership.

She was placed temporarily with Sister Mary Joy Langdon at the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre who volunteered to provide her with temporary stabling.

A vet visited and found Pretty Girl had been horrifically neglected, was dangerously underweight and her teeth were in a poor condition.

Under the care of Sister Mary Joy and her team of volunteers, Pretty Girl made a remarkable recovery.

But with the Pony Centre’s usual residents due to return from their summer break and a national problem with abandoned horses and shortage of hay, the Parks Police team faced a new challenge - finding a permanent home for Pretty Girl.

After ringing countless animal refuges, the Hillside Sanctuary stepped in to help give Pretty Girl a comfortable home to see out the remainder of her years.

Sister Mary Joy, who this year was awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to disabled and disadvantaged children, said: "We will be very sorry to see her go, but are really glad she bounced back to health and will enjoy her retirement in the countryside.”

Find out more about their work and how you can help these two animal loving charities and how you can help at their websites  Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre and Hillside Sanctuary.

 

September 17, 2018