A neglected pony found with a severely matted coat is now thriving in his new home.
Cob Stan was admitted to Blue Cross in Rolleston-on-Dove in June last year as part a group of welfare cases.
At the time he was just one-year-and-eight-months-old and was nervous, underweight and his coat was so matted staff described him as ‘a sheep’.
Stan needed to be sedated for the muddy mass of fur to be clipped off.
“Once we had removed his coat we could see what a poor condition he was in and that he needed a lot of TLC to nurse him back to full health and gain some confidence around people,” said Verity Anderton-Johnson Blue Cross horse rehoming co-ordinator. “In our care, he went through our rehabilitation process and started to develop a lovely calm character for a youngster.”
Laura Davey from Crewe already had three ponies from Blue Cross, but her daughter Evie checked the charity’s website every day to find a companion for the youngest, Sprout. As soon as she saw Stan she knew he was the one.
“As there were already three well cared for horses at the home we knew Stan would find the love he deserved,” said Verity. “Seeing how much he has come on since being in Blue Cross care and now in his dream home is wonderful. We couldn’t have wished for anywhere more perfect for him.”
Stan’s rehabilitation took almost three months before he was ready to find a home of his own.
“Stan just adores Evie and as soon as he hears the car he comes running to the gate,” said Laura. “He follows her everywhere and has to be involved with anything she’s doing. He particularly loves story time and hearing about her day and, in the words of Evie, a Stan cuddle makes everything better and all her worries just disappear.
“Evie says he 
means everything to her and he’s her whole world and her best friend and she just loves him. She’s looking forward to when he’s a bit older and being able to go for walks around the village and carry her picnic.”
2022 is the 125th anniversary of Blue Cross, originally ‘Our Dumb Friends League’. The charity formed to help vulnerable pets and their owners and it continues this work today across its rehoming, clinical, animal behaviour, pet bereavement support and educational work.
Blue Cross relies on the support and donations of pet lovers to continue its work, to find out more and make a donation visit www.bluecross.org.uk/125-years-of-blue-cross
