Police Horse Saves a Foal

Here is a inspiring story about a police horse who saved a foal.  I thought it was so cool!  This story also proves that America does care about their horses.  Could you tell me how much you liked it??  ~Declan

Off-duty police horse alerts rescuer to foal in trouble

By Horsetalk.co.nz on May 19, 2012 

Police horse Jeeves is dedicated to his calling, even when off-duty.

His diligence has saved the life of an abandoned foal believed to be no more than 48 hours old.

Jeeves alerted rescuers to a tiny foal abandoned or lost on Sunday in South Norfolk, England.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary is currently caring for the foal and is appealing for the foal’s owners to come forward.

Jeeves, the partner of Mounted Special Constable Acting Inspector Richard Tallent, had been turned out after an afternoon patrolling the rural lanes of Norfolk.

When he checked his horse after dark, Tallent noticed that the 14-year-old bay gelding was on edge and kept nervously looking to a neighbouring field.

Tallent investigated and found a cold and bewildered newborn foal, clearly confused and alone.

Local police have been alerted, but the owner has yet to be found.

The foal, named Dodger by his new carers, is currently being looked after at Redwings’ headquarters in Hapton, South Norfolk, where he is receiving around-the-clock care and two-hourly feeding sessions from its vet team.

Richard Tallent visits with Dodger. Tallent's police horse, Jeeves, was responsible for finding Dodger.

When found, Dodger was estimated to be less than 48 hours old. He was suffering from dehydration and may not have survived had Tallent and Jeeves not found him when they did.

“This is such a sad situation not just for the foal, but for the mare as well,” Redwings vet Eve France says.

“Her body will be ‘programmed’ to nurse a new foal, so she will be wondering where it is. Plus, she is at risk of mastitis as her milk will be building up, causing her discomfort.

“If the separation was done on purpose, to intentionally take a foal from the mare at such a young age is a completely heartless act.

“It will also cost us, a publicly funded charity, an average of £2000 to £3000 a year to look after this foal until he is ready to be re-homed, if he is suitable, at four or five years old.

“Our message is always to encourage people to think about a foal’s future before even contemplating breeding from your mare. Abandonment is illegal, immoral and completely irresponsible.”

Tallent said: “It appears that the foal had been abandoned rather than lost, as so far no-one has come forward to report a lost foal. It is possible that the foal had simply been separated from its mother accidentally, so I would appeal to anyone with information to contact Redwings as soon as possible.

“Had Jeeves not reacted in the way he did, it could have been a very different story.”

Dodger is the second abandoned foal to join the 1200 residents at Redwings in the last two weeks.

Gin, a chestnut foal, was found alone and cold in the Mountain Hare area of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, and taken in by the RSPCA. His mother and owner were never found; Gin is now doing well with his adopted mum, Monique.