Surprise arrival at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary

Solar made an unexpected arrival at the sanctuary this week

Rescue pony Sandy gave birth to a healthy colt foal, quickly named Solar. He’s the first foal to be born at the charity in 2021. Sandy was rescued only two weeks earlier and, while she was known to be pregnant, the charity didn’t have any history for Sandy, so weren’t sure when she was due.

Sandy was allowed to relax in a paddock with an outdoor shelter, much like the home she’d come from, so she didn’t feel stressed. Staff were keeping a close eye on her but, with no signs of imminent foaling, they weren’t on foal watch yet! This is where staff sleep on-site and check the mare every two hours.

Sally Burton, Head of Sanctuary Care, said: “Sandy is an excellent dam and her colt’s healthy and strong. We had been fully geared up for our foal watch, but Sandy had other plans!

“This does happen from time to time and, particularly in the wild, ponies will often move away from the main herd to give birth in a quiet place where they feel safe. Usually, a pregnant mare’s visual signs that she’s going to foal include filling of the udders, relaxation of the muscles of the pelvic area, waxing and restlessness, but Sandy was keeping all of these to herself and now Solar’s here!”

Solar’s just as beautiful as his mum, and the staff are thrilled that he’s arrived. He’ll have a home for life at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary.

 For more information, visit mareandfoal.org