Little horse enjoying life in a new home

8:20am Friday 9th January 2009

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A Miniature horse facing death has been thrown a lifeline after being rescued by the kind-hearted owners of Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre, near Winsford.

Sally the falabella – the world’s smallest breed of horse – had suffered complications during two pregnancies and her owners, Chris and Anne Deakin, from Warrington, were faced with the agonising decision of finding her a new home or putting her to sleep.

But at the eleventh hour, horse-lovers Alistair and Janet King, owners of the Shire Horse Centre, came to the rescue.

Grateful owner Chris, said: “After huge complications during Sally’s two pregnancies we were advised by our vet not to breed from her again to save any further pain.

“Unfortunately, we had to make the tough decision to let her go, but because she wasn’t ill and we didn’t want anybody to put her through another pregnancy, we found it hard to find her a new home – leaving us with the possibility of having to put her down.

“Having previously visited Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre with my grandchildren I was aware of its great set-up and love of horses, so I contacted the centre as a last resort.”

Within hours of receiving an email from Chris, Alistair and Janet had arranged to visit Sally and offered her a home for life.

Five-year-old Sally is now loving her new home and has become the ‘smallest’ attraction at the centre.

Chris added: “We know that the horses are the most important thing at Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre, so Sally is in fantastic hands.

“Alistair and Janet have been able to give her more room, better grass and the chance to live with other horses – so we’re absolutely delighted to find her a new home.”

You can visit Sally and her Shire horse friends daily between 10am and 4pm. For further details visit cotebrookshirehorses.co.uk.