A newborn foal who was dumped and left to die alone has made a remarkable recovery as he approaches his first birthday, 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 contacted Here4Horses, a charity that rescues neglected and abandoned horses.
Wendy Suddes, a Trustee of the County Durham charity, transported the vulnerable foal to Clevedale Veterinary Practice in Upleatham, near Guisborough.
Severely dehydrated, weak and unable to stand, Biggles was in a critical condition. Vets administered IV fluids and antibiotics, while he was fed via a stomach tube to prevent further dehydration.
Once stable, Biggles required round-the-clock care and was bottle-fed every two hours by Wendy and the other Here4Horses volunteers.
Thanks to vets Alistair Love and Lis Watson, alongside Wendy’s care, Biggles defied the odds and is now thriving ahead of his first birthday next month (June).
“We genuinely didn’t know if he was going to make it,” said Wendy. “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 cob is expected to grow to around 11hh.
“Biggles was in a very poor condition when he arrived, and there was a real risk we might lose him,” said Alistair. “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 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.
Lead image of Biggles with Wendy Suddes and vet Alistair Love
