Rescue, Rehabilitation and Rehoming
Track Record of Success
Equine welfare forms an important part of the Tinnis Trust's work. To date, we have rescued 46 horses and ponies from abuse, neglect or abandonment. We have also helped horses who have been surrendered or donated by owners who could no longer care for them due to a change of circumstances or relationship breakdown.
Our welfare program is run by a qualified equine behaviourist with a wealth of experience in rescuing and rehabilitating challenging horses. Many of the equines that we rescue are so-called 'last chance' horses that are successfully rehabilitated, going on to live happy and useful lives.
Some find a new purpose as a therapeutic riding or equine assisted learning ponies. Many go to permanent loan homes around the UK as children's ponies or companions. Others, with health or behavioural issues that require careful management, remain in permanent sanctuary for the remainder of their lives. For a few, all we can do is offer palliative care, ensuring that their last weeks and months are happy, comfortable and safe.
If you have a horse that you can no longer care for or know of one that needs our help, please contact us. Try to give as much detail about the horse as you can and we will schedule a call with you to offer advice and discuss what we can do to help you.
CASE STUDY 1
Bryn's Story
Bryn is a Welsh x Arab, and as a three year old, was one of the worst neglect cases we've ever taken in. He'd been left to fend for himself in a small, muddy paddock in the middle of winter, eventually eating only moss and bark to survive. Severely underweight with painful rain scald and mud fever, he was suffering from stomach ulcers. Understandably, he was extremely aggressive towards people.
Once Bryn had been fully rehabilitated, he blossomed into a friendly and happy boy but life at our busy centre was not the right fit for him. Bryn needed a quiet home, lots of 1:1 attention and a person of his own.
In 2020, his dreams came true when he went to a wonderful permanent loan home along with his best friend, Tilly, another pony from our centre. He is now living his best life in the Scottish countryside, keeping some bigger horses company and being thoroughly spoiled by his lovely loaners!
CASE STUDY 2
Skarloey's Story
Driving back from a night shift, a member of the public found a Shetland pony running loose on a busy dual carriageway. Although she was too frightened to be touched, we managed to herd her into the horsebox. At our centre, she was named Skarloey by one of our young volunteers after his favourite Thomas the Tank Engine character .
In the light of day, it became clear that the little mare's hooves were terribly overgrown. She looked like she had given birth to several foals in the past and she was completely feral, terrified of people.
Rehabilitation was a long and painstaking process. We started by housing Skarloey with our two resident Shetland ponies who loved people but, if we came too close she would panic even attempting to climb stable walls. With clicker training, we taught her to touch a target, then a person's shoe and finally their hand. She was so afraid of being grabbed that everything needed to be her choice. Eventually, we taught her to put her own nose into a headcollar and to place her hooves into our hands when we needed to clean them.
Despite appealing to find her owner, no one ever came forward. After more than a year of rehabilitation, Skarloey was confident, cheeky and actively seeking out contact from people. It was time to find her a home of her own. Skarloey is now living out her days on Anglesey with caring loaners and her boyfriend, Ben, another Shetland pony that we rescued and rehabilitated.
