A NEWBORN foal who was dumped in a field and left to die is preparing to celebrate his first birthday after a remarkable recovery, thanks to the dedication of vets and a rescue charity.
Biggles was believed to be less than 24 hours old when he was discovered lying helpless in a field, his umbilical cord still attached. The tiny foal was found by a concerned horse owner, who immediately raised the alarm.
She contacted Here4Horses, a volunteer-run charity based in Hunwick, County Durham, which rescues neglected and abandoned horses and cares for around 30 equines. Wendy Suddes, a Trustee of the charity, transported the vulnerable newborn to Clevedale Veterinary Practice in Upleatham, near Guisborough.
Severely dehydrated, weak and unable to stand, Biggles was in a critical condition and needed urgent veterinary treatment if he was to have any chance of survival.
Vets administered IV fluids and antibiotics, while Biggles also required feeding via a stomach tube to prevent further dehydration. Once stable, he needed round-the-clock care and was bottle-fed every two hours, day and night, by Wendy and the other dedicated Here4Horses volunteers.
Thanks to the expertise of vets Alistair Love and Lis Watson, alongside Wendy’s unwavering dedication, Biggles beat the odds and is now thriving ahead of his first birthday in June.
Clevedale Vets were truly exceptional
Wendy said: “We genuinely didn’t know if he was going to make it. We can only assume he’d lost his mum and had been abandoned because he needed intensive care. The first 72 hours were critical. We threw everything at him and just hoped it would be enough. Clevedale Vets were truly exceptional, and everyone showed incredible care and commitment throughout his recovery.
“We always want to be in a position to help in situations like this one and young Biggles was so lucky because without public support we simply cannot continue.”
Clevedale Vets provides care for all of the horses and ponies at Here4Horses, and Alistair has overseen Biggles’ treatment throughout the first year of his life.
The piebald Gypsy Cob is expected to grow to around 11 hands high.
Alistair said: “Biggles was in a very poor condition when he arrived, and there was a real risk we might lose him.
“Thanks to Wendy’s dedication and the intensive care he received, he’s made an incredible recovery. It’s fantastic to see him doing so well.
“It really was a team effort, but the credit has to go to Wendy – she was there around the clock, giving him the care he needed to survive.”
Clevedale Veterinary Practice provides care for horses, pets and farm animals across North Yorkshire from its surgeries in Upleatham, Stokesley, Whitby and Guisborough, and is part of the VetPartners, a group of veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses across the UK and Europe.
The practice regularly supports Here4Horses through fundraising initiatives, and Alistair will be taking part in the Great North Run this September to raise awareness and funds for the charity.
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