At the start of 2025, Bransby Horses received a welfare report regarding a group of cobs at a location in South Yorkshire. Upon attending, our field officers discovered one pony that they were particularly concerned about, a piebald filly we named Dove, thought to be between one and two years old.
We were able to work with the owner, who signed the filly over as a welfare concern, and with the assistance of the Bransby Horses Rescue Support Team, Dove was transferred to our Animal Reception Centre (ARC).
Dove arrived with a very dull, lethargic demeanour, she was very weak, had severe diarrhoea, blood tests showed her liver was inflamed or damaged, she had difficulty eating anything other than grass, overgrown hooves, a matted coat and a severe lice infestation.
Equine Welfare Deputy Team Leader Mia Miller said, “It was very touch and go whether she would make it or not due to how poorly she was when she first arrived.”
The team were unsure what had caused her weight loss and immediately started to investigate possible causes, while trying to get her to eat properly. Dove’s coat was completely clipped, allowing the team to treat her lice infestation and remove any matting, her hooves were trimmed down to the correct length, and she was given liver supplements.
But despite all the issues Dove arrived with, she quickly started to improve and soon was spending the majority of her time out in the field, which hugely impacted her weight gain journey. She arrived at the ARC weighing 161kg with a body condition score of 1, and just two months later had gained 72.5kg with a new body condition score of 3.5.
Moving to the Main Yard, Dove started her journey to rehoming, where she was taken through the different levels of training and rehabilitation to prepare her for life away from Bransby Horses. Dove’s handlers introduced her to clipping, voice commands, mane and tail spray, grooming and the farrier to name a few, all at a pace that worked for her.
And it wasn’t long before Dove found herself meeting her potential fosterer for the first time. “The process of applying to foster Dove was very easy.” Said Zoe Wright. “It was really nice being able to meet her a couple of times and chat to her handler to find out about her. The team were super welcoming (even happy to push my little one’s pram so I could walk Dove)”
In September, Dove set off for her next adventure, leaving for pastures new and waving goodbye to the team at Bransby Horses.
“Dovey has been a super star. Really nice to have the support and phone numbers to be able to ring for advice when she came back home with us too.” Said Zoe, sharing a few adorable photos of the piebald cob in her new home.
Over the course of seven months, Dove went from a weak, lice covered, underweight pony, to one who is healthy, full-of-life, and starting a new chapter away from the charity.
We look forward to updating our supporters with future updates on Dove’s journey.
