Marvin

2014 | Piebald | Gypsy Cob | Under 14.2hh

Marvin came to us as a desperate colt foal, discovered by one of Northumberland County Council’s Animal Welfare Team. He had been abandoned – left tied to the railings of a derelict school, with two others, who we named Doogie and Donald.

It was a freezing wet night in December when three cold and wet, hungry little ragamuffins arrived.

Their filthy, matted coats barely disguised their skeletal little bodies. Riddled with lice and suffering from a heavy roundworm burden, they quickly lay down together in the deep straw bed, munching quietly on hay. It’s always good for the team at times like this, to know they have found a bit of horsey heaven.

Foals in this state, having been weaned from their dam (mother), at 4-6 months of age and never been de-wormed, swiftly become malnourished. They barely weigh more than the day they were born. It is very sad to see.

It was necessary to put Marvin and his pals through a careful programme of re-feeding.  This is a very important process – as providing too many nutrients to a starved animal can cause organ failure and even death.

Re-feeding is a subject we plan to cover soon in our advice for owners and keepers, as sadly some well-meaning people rescue starving ponies, only to cause their death by allowing access to too much of the wrong foods.

Marvin was started under saddle in the summer of 2020, with the team at Robinson’s Equiteach. He matured into quite a character – a real attention seeker. If he was human he would be Jim Carey – mildly irritating but always good for a laugh!

When Marvin was ready for our Loanie Pony Scheme, we found his perfect partner almost by chance and he was the very first of our ponies to be packed off to pastures new.

You can read more about Marvin and his his lovely ‘Loaner’ Amber by clicking HERE