A pony once abandoned, underweight and infested with lice has gone on to triumph in the show ring. Redwings Patchwork, a 13.2hh, 13-year-old cob mare, took the top spot in the Ridden Rescue class at Royal Norfolk Show to the delight of her Guardians Yvette and Victoria.
Patchwork was rescued by Redwings in 2009, as one of 11 horses from a site in Rickmansworth. The horses had been abandoned and were straying onto the grounds of a local school. They were in poor condition, with suspected heavy worm burdens.
Redwings Patchwork on arrival at Redwings
They were all underweight and suffering from lice, which was treated on arrival at Redwings. Patchwork’s blood tests also showed she had problems with both her intestines and liver.
“Patchwork, or Millie as she is known to us, has done us proud today,” said Yvette “We don’t show regularly, and she spends most of the time as a happy hacker with my mum, but we love to bring her to the Norfolk Show to represent Redwings and show how great rehomed Redwings horses can be.”
Another Redwings rescue, Edward, was placed second in the In-hand Rescue class. Joining Edward in the class was Redwings Matty who took fifth place, Redwings Stardust, sixth place, and Redwings Rocket, seventh place.
The rescue classes are judged on a combination of the horse or pony’s rescue story and transformation, and their show on the day. For Redwings Edward, it was his first ever show, after being rehomed in June 2020 to his Guardians Claire and Ann.
Edward came to Redwings in 2013, severely underweight and with blood tests revealing he was suffering with a high worm burden that had caused damage to his intestines, and with liver damage caused by ragwort toxicity.
“I am beyond proud of Edward,” said Claire. “Before this he had never really left our yard before, and now here he is competing at county show level. He behaved impeccably in the ring and I could not be happier with him.”
Left to right: Edward and Claire, Rocket and Natalie, Stardust and Katie, and Matty and Sarah
Before their appearance in the Rescue class, Redwings Stardust and Redwings Rocket had a busy day as they were stars of the Royal Norfolk Show Rescue Village, meeting members of the public and helping promote the Redwings rehoming scheme. Rocket, a 12.3hh cob gelding, and Stardust, a 13hh cob mare, will soon both be available to rehome as unbacked projects, looking for experienced Guardians to continue their training to be ridden horses.
Rachel Angell, Head of Norfolk Equine Operations, who heads up the charity’s rehoming scheme celebrated the results.
“To see our rescued horses doing so well, and their Guardians supporting Redwings by showing them at such a prestigious event, is wonderful,” she said. “It is such a great opportunity to show what our ponies can do in their new homes and will hopefully inspire others to rehome a horse from Redwings.”
There are currently 500 horses living out in homes through the Redwings Guardianship scheme. Horses are rehomed on a long-term loan, with Redwings retaining ownership in case of any changes in their Guardian’s circumstances. Applications to rehome a horse are welcomed via the charity’s website www.redwings.org.uk/rehoming
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