-Nine stallions fight to decide who is king of the meadow

By Emily Allen


Battle for supremacy: The group of stallions gathered in the meadow to hold their battle and mark their territory


These horses took a battering as they kicked each other in the chest and neck in a showdown fight for supremacy over their meadow.

A group of nine stallions gathered on the mountain-side meadow to hold their annual battle and mark their territory.

Photographer Magnus Hoog captured the remarkable final round between a grey North Swede, thought to be eight-years-old, and a brown Arab, aged ten.


The winning grey horse secured the best part of the common for himself and a herd of three. The defeated nag was forced to walk away with two others.

All the privately-owned horses, fitted with rubber shoes to limit injuries, remained on the common to eat grass throughout the summer.

They will return to a shelter in the Swedish province of Dalarna over winter.

Battle: Photographer Magnus Hoog captured the fierce conflicts on camera, including a violent fight between a grey North Swede, and a brown Arab

Magnus, who lives nearby, said: 'The horses start arriving in the meadow from nine o'clock in intervals of roughly 30 to 60 minutes.

'Each newcomer is greeted with hostility by those already on the meadow and this results in fights.

'The aim of the fight is to establish ranks among them.


Victory: The winning grey horse secured the best part of the common for himself and a herd of three. The loser walked away with two other weaklings

'The North Swede was crowned the king of the meadow while the Arab and his two mates were left with a remote corner.

'The stallions are wearing rubber horse shoes rather than regular metal ones because the owners do not want their horses to get hurt.

'Nevertheless, the sound is impressive when a horse kicks and hits another one. Their power is beyond belief.'

The 53-year-old added: 'There is wildlife in the area but no bears or wolves so the horses are safe.'


source:dailymail

Jerry piled on 20 stone after being overfed and could hardly walk

By Stephen Hull


What a turn up: Jerry was rescued from a field of cows where he had been overfed, which experts say is as cruel as underfeeding


For a long time, the idea of galloping with the breeze in his mane was just a dream for Jerry.

Overfed and neglected, the poor horse had piled on 20 stone and could barely walk.

And to make matters worse, his hooves had become so overgrown, they looked like Aladdin’s slippers.

Jerry was eventually rescued from a farm in Somerset, where he had been living with a herd of cows.

His hooves, which should have been trimmed every six to eight weeks, had been left for over two years.

‘Jerry's hooves measured 12 inches from heel to toe, and were turned up like Aladdin's slippers,’ said Joanne Vaughn, of HorseWorld, an equine rehabilitation centre.

He was discovered by horrified officials along with another overweight horse, JoJo, and the pair were given a combined weight loss target of 60 stone.

Six months on, Jerry has lost a staggering 18 stone and is down to 69 stone, while JoJo has shed 20 stone - the weight of an adult donkey - and is continuing to shed the pounds.

‘When most people think of animal cruelty, it's a lack of food that comes to mind.

'But as with children, overfeeding with the wrong types of food can be equally unkind.

‘The pain these animals went through is unthinkable. This was completely avoidable and an inexcusable case of neglect.’


Unrecognisable: Jerry is lean and happy after being cared for by an animal charity and having his hooves trimmed


Joanne added: ‘It was so upsetting to see them both trying to walk on their flipper-like feet.

‘Although our expert farrier managed to trim the vast majority of hoof back quite quickly, it will take a long time and specialist trimming for their hooves to become the right shape again.’

During treatment, X-rays showed how Jerry's hoof bones had rotated and dropped a
nd if they had been left, the bone could have penetrated through the sole of the hoof.

Both Jerry and JoJo have been taking painkillers each day for the last six months and JoJo has been wearing special shoes for support.


source:dailymail

By Oliver Pickup


The fox is shown sprinting along the railway tracks, having been filmed by anti-hunt protesters


A video of a fox being chased along a main rail route to London, while being hunted by a pack of hounds, is being investigated by police.

The footage, filmed by anti-hunt protesters next to the busy Exeter to Waterloo railway line through Clapton, Somerset, shows the fox sprinting out on to the tracks with up to a dozen dogs in hot pursuit.

The hounds are called back by huntsmen just before a train - packed with passengers - speeds down the line.


Police launched a probe into the actions of the Seavington Hunt after claims of illegal hunting and rail chiefs warned the hounds could have created carnage.

The train drivers' union, Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef), described footage of the incident as 'shocking'.

A spokesman for Aslef said: 'I estimate around a dozen dogs were on the line at one point, which is a considerable threat to a train. Anything that affects the safety of the railway line is serious.

'To us it does not matter if it is an individual or a hunt, both are equally serious and we would hope both the hunt and the British Transport Police would take the same view.'

Lost the scent? Hounds are shown on the track - witnesses say that there were up to a dozen on the rails, minutes before a train zooms past

Called back: A huntsman is shown shouting at the hounds to clear them from the track


Witnesses to the incident, at around 7.20am on Sunday, described seeing up to 20 hounds spilling on to the tracks in Clapton, near Crewkerne, in Somerset.

Footage of the incident was captured by anti-hunt protesters, who later handed it to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

One eye-witness, who did not want to be named, said: 'The hunt put their hounds in to a small copse adjoining the railway line and I filmed a fox run past me up the middle of the railway track.

'I was very concerned the hunt were coming so close to the railway as it is the main London Waterloo to Exeter line.

'The huntsman was encouraging the hounds to hunt in the copse and about a minute later, the hounds emerged onto the track exactly where the fox had emerged.

'Up to 20 hounds were on the line for a period of about two minutes despite the efforts of the hunt to retrieve them.

'The Exeter to London train passed through less than ten minutes after.'

The alleged hunt took place close to Clapton, near Crewkerne, in Somerset, on Sunday


The Countryside Alliance, speaking on behalf of the Seavington Hunt, said an investigation would take place into the incident.

Hunting foxes with dogs has been illegal since 2005 but they can chase a scent and flush out foxes who are then shot.

Alison Hawes, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance, said: 'They (the hounds) were on there for less than two minutes and the hunt acted very professionally in calling them off the line as quickly as possible.'

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed its hunt liaison officer was investigating whether any illegal hunting had occurred.

British Transport Police said no trespass offence had been committed as no people had gone on to the line.



source:dailymail

By Mary Isokariari


The 'Bow': Linda Guanti enjoys a yoga session with Lewis, a 17-year-old Egyptian Arabian horse


A veteran horse is still competing in old age after beating stiffness in his joints - by doing YOGA.

Super-fit Lewis, a 17-year-old Egyptian Arabian, mastered a string of yoga moves after copying his owner Linda Guanti, 35.

Linda was mucking out when she began practising her own stretches to help her bad back - and was stunned to see Lewis mimicking her.


She spent several hours a day showing Lewis how to adopt the complex poses and he can now hold positions such as the 'bow' and the 'neck side stretch'.

Lewis has even mastered an awkward pose where he kneels forward to push his nose into the ground and stretch his back while Linda stands beside him and reaches to the sky.

Their joint yoga sessions have cured Linda's lifelong back pain and eased Lewis' stiff joints so much that he can carry on competing.

X-ray technologist Linda, from British Columbia, Canada, said: 'Lewis is a great horse. I've had him since he was five-and-a-half and he loves to try anything that's fun.

'I was amazed when he began to do yoga. He really adores the stretches and it's great that we can both combine our hobby and spend time together.

'Neck Side Stretch' position: Lewis has beaten stiffness in his joints becoming a real poser after learning how to do yoga stretches


'Doing yoga with your horse is a wonderful way to make a connection with them.'

'Lewis has learned how to remain calm in vulnerable positions that would frighten most horses.'

'Plus, he's a fairly athletic horse who jumps and does dressage so there stretches help to keep him fit.' Linda turned to yoga after she fractured three vertebrae in her back falling from a horse when she was 14.

The injury was never fixed and gave her chronic health problems throughout her adult life that meant she was unable to ride properly.

Back improvement: Practising her own stretches with Lewis has helped Linda's back


Several years ago she then suffered three prolapsed discs.

But when Linda discovered yoga in 2007 she noticed a dramatic improvement in her health.

She began doing her stretches while she groomed Lewis in a bid to save time and be around her pet more often.

But to her amazement Lewis soon joined in. In one manoeuvre, Lewis kneels forward and pushes his head into the ground in a stretch that would cause most horses to spook.

The pose, named the 'Bow', stretches Lewis' shoulder forward while his other front leg is tucked behind to stretch the shoulder. The neck, back, and hind legs are also stretched.

Another pose involves Linda standing at the horse's rear and arching her back in a 'Neck Side Stretch' pose. The horse cranes his neck round to the side which helps with flexibility, range of motion and suppleness throughout the neck and also the back.


The yoga expert: Lewis has mastered a string of yoga moves after copying his owner Linda Guanti, 35


Lewis would normally have become stiff as he grew older but the stretches have kept his joints supple and he's able to continue competing in dressage, show jumping and cross county competitions.

Linda said that doing yoga with Lewis has helped to heal her bad back - and even helped with his stamina.

She has become a part-time yoga instructor and now runs classes that people can bring their horses too.

She added: 'There is nothing I can do about my weakened discs and damaged bones but the benefits of doing yoga with Lewis were unmistakable.'

'Yoga with him has helped with the initial healing process and was keeping my body in the healthiest state is could be. All the past limitations and pain from my injury were lessening.'

'I was overjoyed. My riding skills improved, my body awareness and balance improved. My outlook on life improved.'

'Yoga is also just as beneficial for horses as for humans. Horses have the same issues as we do. Stretching and body awareness reduces injury and enhances performance and pleasure in activity.'


source:dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Watering the horses: A staff member sprays water to maintain the humidity of an ancient horse and chariot pit unearthed in Luoyang, China. The main pit has a five chariots and 12 horses buring almost 3,000 years ago

It could have been as early as 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ that these horses were moved on to greener pastures - and no-one has laid eyes on them until now.

Archaeologists have painstakingly uncovered the almost-3,000-year-old remains of horses and wooden chariot in a Zhou Dynasty tomb in Luoyang, Henan Province, China.

The completed excavation unearthed four horse-and-chariot pits, dating back to as far as 770BC.


Exciting find: Archaeologists say this is the most complete find of any tomb of its era. The wooden chariots have completely rotted away, with only the ash residue remaining


The pits have well-preserved evidence of bronzeware and ceramics from the Early Western Zhou dynasty.

Though a far smaller tomb than the famous 'terracotta army' found in 1974 in the Lintong District, this find has been undisturbed while buried - not suffering the ravages of grave robbers.

Archaeologists believe that the tomb belongs to an official of some renown during the dynasty - pottery, metal weaponwry and inscriptions are consisted with a man of mid-level importance.


Funeral procession: The main pit contains five chariots and 12 horses. Archaeologists say that the animals were not entombed alive


Apart from the artifacts themselves, the tomb is an exciting discovery for historians, as it provides unquestionable insights into the funeral customs in the early Western Zhou dynasty.

The unearthed tomb is a vertical earthen pit tomb, which is very common in that period.

Because of the ancient nature of the site, the traditionally wooden coffin and body within have long-since carbonised.

But the most valuable discovery by far is the complete set of chariots and horses of all different shapes and sizes.


Protected from theft: While other tombs in the region have been stripped of their contents, the Luoyang tomb includes pottery, copper weaponry, jade and other objects


Animal lovers can at least breathe a small sigh of relief - archaeologists say the side-lying nature of the horse remains show that the animals were slaughtered before burial, and not entombed alive.

At the time of this official''s death, large-scale irrigation projects were being instituted across China, and the nation's writing system was being further developed.

It was also the time of the great Chinese philosophers of antiquity, including Confucius, Mencius, and Zhuangzi.

Many nearby tombs have fragments of the Luoyang find, but most have been emptied of their funeral relics by thieves.


Historical riches: Apart from the physical objects uncovered in the tomb, historians now have a richer understanding of funeral rites and customs of the Zhou dynasty


source: dailymail

By CHRIS PARSONS

Back to good health: Dolly the horse has doubled her weight thanks to the help of animal charity Happy Endings and emergency treatment from vets

A starving horse found rotting to death in a tiny enclosure with no food or water has astounded vets by making a miracle recovery.

Dolly the two-year-old cob was cruelly abandoned on waste ground in south east London and had shrunk to a third of her normal weight when she was discovered four months ago.

The famished horse had developed sores all over her body after being so weak she had to lie in her own filth, and was thought to be just hours from death.


Close to death: Four months ago Dolly was close to starving after being found with sores all over her body and having wasted away to a third of her normal weight


It is thought she had been dumped after giving birth to a foal, with her owner taking her baby and leaving the emaciated mare to starve.

Fortunately she was rescued in the nick of time after being spotted by a member of the public, who contacted animal charity Happy Endings in time for the poor animal to be rushed to a leading equine hospital.

Chris Johns, co-founder of Happy Endings, said: 'I have never seen a horse so close to death as Dolly, if we had got there a couple of hours later I don't think she would be alive now.


source: dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


A horse had to be rescued by lifeboat crews after swimming more than half-a-mile out at sea.

The spooked animal threw off his female rider while going for a walk along the beach at Sandwich, in Kent.

It then ran into the sea and was chased by his owner who eventually had to give up because he kept swimming further out into the English Channel.

Out at sea: The horse, named Shallimah, swam half a mile out to see in the English Channel from Sandwich, Kent


But after going for its almighty swim, the horse named Shallimah was rescued by Walmer Inshore Lifeboat volunteers.

Walmer lifeboat helmsman Andrew Howland said: ‘This was one of the most unusual and most satisfying rescues I've carried out whilst a lifeboat crew member.

‘Leading a horse to water is one thing but persuading it to come out again is a completely different issue.’

Rescued: Shallimah was taken back to shore by lifeboat crews after he got spooked and started swimming away


Shallimah's owner had called 999 and reported she and her horse had got into trouble and needed help from the RLNI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)

When the lifeboat reached distressed Shallimah, he was starting to tire so the crew attached a line to his bridle and coaxed it back to shore and was reunited with his owner.

Robert Smith, 23, of Canterbury, who witnessed the drama, said: ‘It was very dramatic but thankfully everyone is fine now.

‘It could have been so much worse. The horse was obviously a bit scared but he looked a lot better when he got out of the water.

‘The owner looked a bit cold after chasing him out to sea. The horse did have a bit of a long face after it all.’


source:dailymail

By LOUISE ECCLES

Sorrow: Zara's last parade with Toytown

She bit her bottom lip and fought back the tears as she attempted to maintain a certain amount of royal decorum.

But attempts at a stiff upper lip failed miserably when newlywed Zara Philips broke down and cried as she officially retired her beloved horse Toytown.

It was with Toytown, fondly known as ‘Noddy’ or ‘Ginger’, that she was crowned world eventing champion five years ago.


Triumph: World champions in 2006


Yesterday, the Queen’s granddaughter paraded the horse for the last time, at the final day of this year’s Festival of British Eventing, at Gatcombe Park, in Stroud.

Miss Philips, who married England rugby player Mike Tindall just over a week ago, described Toytown as ‘the complete horse’.


Winning team: Zara Philips cried as she paraded Toytown at the Festival of British Eventing. The pair were crowned world eventing champions in 2006


Firm favourite: Zara has 15 horses including but she described Toytown as ‘the complete horse’


She said: ‘I think it will be quite difficult. It’s the end of an era.

‘He was the horse of a lifetime for me. We grew up together, we went through the levels together, and it all just seemed to go our way.’

‘His movement, his character, it all combined to make the complete horse. And cross-country, he was just a machine.’

She added: ‘I don’t think I am ever going to find another horse quite like him, but hopefully others that will be good enough to go to the same level as he did.’


End of an era: Zara said Toytown was ‘the horse of a lifetime’ but he is now retiring after suffering several injuries


The pair won individual and team gold at the 2005 European Championships, before conquering the world title a year later in Germany.

The horse’s final appearance for Great Britain came in the 2007 Europeans in Italy, where he finished sixth individually and helped secure another team gold.

But at the age of 18, and after suffering several injuries, the chestnut gelding has finally retired from the ring.


Affectionate: Onlookers saw Zara Philips and her husband, Mike Tindall kissing and cuddling at the event


source: dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


YOU’D be forgiven for thinking that Alfie the stallion is chewing on a Barbie Doll.

In fact, that mass of blond hair at the end of his nose is actually his moustache.

And at an impressive seven inches long when unfurled it is, his owners believe, the longest in Britain.

Hirsute: Alfie is thought to have the largest moustache of any horse in Britain


The shire cross certainly seems very happy with it. While most horses have their moustaches snipped every six months, his has been growing for five years and he is said to growl if stable hands try to give it a trim.

Alfie is kept at stables in Bitton, near Bristol, where stables manager Hayley Coxteth, 20, said: ‘He is a very headstrong horse and is very proud of his moustache. He is a real character.

‘A few years ago it was really big and full but it now looks a little scraggy because it’s so long.

‘It was bizarre when I first saw it and my first inkling was we need to shave it off. But he does not let you anywhere near it. You have to be very brave to try and tackle his curls.

Stable manager Hayley Coxteth gets up close and personal with Alfie's monumental moustache


'He is quite a shy horse and gets spooked easily but he can be the most gentle and fantastic ride.

‘I have heard of horses growing moustaches but we are sure he has the longest facial hair of any horse in Britain.’


Horses have whiskers around the muzzle to help them judge the distance of food and other objects, but moustaches are usually seen only in Friesian breeds.


Unkempt: Alfie has not let anyone trim his facial hair for 5 years


Dave Prince, from the British Horse Society, said: 'Whilst some horses do develop moustache-like hair growths, they don't tend to be anywhere near as long or thick as this and are usually higher up the muzzle.

'I can't say whether this is any sort of record but it is certainly the thickest and longest I have ever seen. It would be interesting to see if anybody else has a horse that can rival it.'


source:dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Giddy up: Chincoteague Ponies make their way across Assateague Channel during the 86th annual Chincoteague Wild Pony Swim in Virginia

More than a hundred wild ponies found their sea-legs yesterday as they swam across the Assateague Channel, while putting on a show for thousands of spectators.

Horse lovers took photographs and recorded the Chincoteague Pony herd during its 86th annual swim in Chincoteague, Virginia.


Keep going! A tired pony struggles through the water but luckily the low tide made it a bit easier


Each year the wild ponies are auctioned to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which cares the Virginia herd.

Ponies that are not sold and those that are donated back to the fire department will roam free for another year on the national wildlife refuge on Assateague.

Around 130 young horses were herded through the straight watched by more than 40,000 people watching.


Companions: The young horses gave each other encouragement as they made their way across the channel


Members of the fire company committee named ‘Saltwater Cowboys’ guided from above the horses, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The ponies took just four minutes and 40 seconds to make their way across the passage that measures half a mile.

And luckily for the young horses, on top of their swimming challenge, they managed to walk about half the distance due to the tide being low.


Rest time: After their swimming challenge, the ponies started grazing at the landing site


Rest time: After their swimming challenge, the ponies started grazing at the landing site




source: dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


Slough of despond: Rescue technician James Halton keeps Elvis the Welsh cob calm while attaching ropes to him


Firefighters had to use all their ingenuity to rescue a horse after it became almost fully submerged in a muddy swamp.

Elvis, a 14-hand stallion, was stuck up to his neck in mud when owner Margaret Hill found him.

The 59-year-old grandmother said she feared the worst when she first saw her three-year-old Welsh cob trapped in boggy ground within nearby scrubland.


'I went to check on the horses like I do, as I went up the field, he wasn’t there,' she said.

'He’s normally the first one to come out to me. I searched the field and I couldn’t find him - I thought he had been stolen.

'Then I noticed one of the horses whinnying. If it wasn’t for that, I’m sure we wouldn’t have found him.'

'The whinnying pointed us in the right direction.'

The mother-of-four from Hawkes End, Coventry, said she had no idea how the horse managed to escape from his field, but assumed he had pushed his way through the trees bordering his paddock.

'The lad who was with me saw him first; he literally dropped to his knees,' she added.

'When I saw him I wanted to cry, His nose just kept going under.

'He called out to us. He was so calm though, he was brilliant. I knew they would rescue him, they were very good. He was so strong.

'I phoned my friend immediately, who called 999.'

Heavy work: Rescuers spent nearly three hours using straps and ropes to carefully free the 14-hand horse


A specialist technical rescue team from the West Midlands Fire Service raced to help the distressed horse alongside crews from Coventry fire station, who formed a ten-strong team who slowly pulled the horse to safety.

One technician, James Halton, donned a dry suit and jumped into the 20-metre square mud pit.

With help from the rest of the team, he managed to shovel away enough mud from around the horse to fit strops in place underneath his stomach and around his front legs.

Watch Manger Pete Drummond who was first to arrive at the scene said, 'I left the vehicle and ran the quarter of a mile distance through woodland tracks to get to the horse, as we heard from the owner that it was now almost fully submerged.

'With the assistance of my crew, three potential rescue plans were put in place. The horse was clearly in distress and it was crucial that we acted quickly to get him out alive.'

Extra effort: At this point the rescue team have been on site for an hour. It is another two hours before they are able to free the horse


Margaret said the rescue, which took crews just over two hours, was a tremendous achievement.

She said: 'I cannot praise the crews enough for what they did. I didn’t think there was any chance they’d manage to pull him out alive but they did.

'They were absolutely brilliant, true gentlemen and I am extremely grateful to them.'

She said Elvis was doing welll despite his ordeal.

'The vet came out, his heart is racing slightly and he’s given him antibiotics as a precaution. He has a bit of conjunctivitis, we will monitor him for the next three days, he is eating,' added Margaret.

Inch by inch: More mud is shovelled out and extra straps put around Elvis


'We had to wash him down completely; his coat is so shiny now because he’s had a mud bath.

'Elvis is so laid back. He’s a real cheeky chappy and he loves everyone especially if you’ve got a carrot. If it had happened to the others I don’t think they would have survived.

'He’s a star, we were all in shock, and we just can’t believe it.'

Vij Randeniya, Chief Fire Officer said, 'I always say that my firefighters are among the very best in the world and once again they have proved themselves.

'People think we just put out fires and respond to road accidents, but this incident has helped to show that we do much more.'


source:dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Sight and sound: Shire horse Mary Anne launches herself through her paddock after regaining her sight


This is the moment an endangered rare-breed shire horse regained her sight after six hours of pioneering veterinary surgery and became the first horse in Britain to undergo the ground-breaking operation.

Shire foal, Mary Anne, faced being put down by vets after she was born unable to see.

Owners Donald and Jane McIntyre were told that the mare was worthless and faced a miserable existence unable to negotiate even the easiest of obstacles.

But the 62-year-old farmer and his 54-year-old wife from Bristol wouldn't give up on the foal - one of only 1500 left in the country - even when her mother, Faith, abandoned her moments after she was born.

After carrying out extensive research on the internet the couple discovered that new equipment had been developed to allow vets to perform cataract surgery on horses.

And when they were told that the foal would have an 80 per cent chance of curing her blindness the couple spent £6,000 for the sight and life saving operation.

Donald recalled the moment he saw Mary Anne alone in the paddock: 'We walked up to her and realised she was alive. We put her on the mare's teets and she started sucking like normal.



Life-saver: Farmer Donald McIntyre with shire horse foal Mary Anne, the horse he spent £6,000 on to save her sight


'But it wasn't until we got her into the stable when Mary Anne started to walk around and bump into everything that we suspected there was something wrong.

'The vet came out and examined her eyes and found she was totally blind. He advised us to have her put down because she wouldn't be able to guide herself around hazards.'

They even padded out her paddock and placed a bell on her mother's neck so that she could guide herself around the field without injury.


Before: Mary Anne's cloudy unseeing lens After: The newly fitted lens which allows her to see


Lens solution: Vet Tim Knott with the equipment he was to use on the foal to save her sight and her life


He added: 'Jane then did some research and found out about this ground-breaking piece of equipment that had been developed in Germany and was now being used by British vets.'

The couple made contact with vet Tim Knott, based at Thornbury, near Bristol, and he told them there was an 80 per cent chance of Mary Anne regaining her sight.

He said: 'It didn't make any financial sense but I guess we are big softies at heart.

'The operation cost about £6,000 and Jane had inherited some money from her late father so we used some of that.'

But it was the moment that Mary Anne was let out after the operation that they knew it had been a success.


Touching moment: Jane nurses Mary Anne shortly after she was born with mare Faith by her side


Struggling: Mary Anne found life very difficult after she was born and before the £6000 operation to save her sight


Donald added: 'She was quite literally dancing around and jumping for joy. There was no stopping her.'

Before, she would bump into hedges and fences but this time she was able to see them and stop in time.

'It was also the first time she could see her mother and it was obvious that made her very happy.

'She can now see up to ten metres in front of her which is quite adequate and means she is perfectly functional.'


That's my girl: mother Faith looks on as Mary Anne enjoys being able to see after her £6,000 operation


Mary Anne's eyes were underdeveloped during her 11 month gestation period which meant she had white lenses in her eyes instead of transparent ones.

Vet Mr Knott made a two millimetre incision on the foal's corneas and used the revolutionary tiny, mini jack-hammer needle to turn the white lens into liquid and then drained it.

The transparent, artificial lens that has concentric rings and is like a lighthouse lens, was then inserted into the eyes and opened up like a flower to 22 millimetres across.

Mr Knott explained: 'Cataract surgery on animals has been around for 20 or 30 years but it has always been unsuccessful on horses.

'But due to research and investment, equipment to carry out micro-surgery on horses has now been developed in Germany and there are three vets in the UK using it.

'Mary Anne was one of the first, if not the first, to have this brand new lens fitted using the new equipment.'

Donald said: 'Mary Anne has settled down really well and she now has a strong relationship with her mum. You couldn't separate them now.

'We have no regrets about it, we did it purely as it was a nice thing to do.'

He said that they will not work Mary Anne or breed from her but will break her in to ride her.

Shire horses have been placed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list of endangered breeds. The population is believed to be less than 1,500.


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Spooked: Lucas the horse (right) bolted as he drew a cart at a park in Bury St Edmunds yesterday, killing a 57-year-old woman and leaving seven others injured


A mother of two was killed and several people injured when a horse bolted into a crowd at a country fair.

Carole Bullett, 57, was struck when the horse, which was harnessed to a cart, took fright and ran from the person holding it.

The powerful four-year-old Breton, which had been giving rides to visitors at Nowton Park Country Fair in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on Sunday, bowled over people as it ran along a path lined with stalls.

It finally stopped at a fence nearly three-quarters of a mile away.


Aftermath: Police tape surrounds the the cart that was dragged across the field leaving spectators diving for cover


Mrs Bullett, from Bury St Edmunds, suffered serious head injuries and died yesterday. Seven other people were treated for back and stomach injuries.

Visitor Jon Kydd said he managed to pull his children out of the way after hearing a woman yell 'Look out'. He said: 'One lady tried to move but was too late. She looked like a rag doll – the horse, then the cart, hit her at full speed. It was horrendous.'

Andy Bowes, of Sudbury, added: 'It ploughed into the crowd. The guy next to me got knocked 8ft into the air.'

Police have launched an investigation into the tragedy.

The horse's owners, Carriage Tours of Bury St Edmunds, said: 'Our deepest sympathies are with the family. We are co-operating fully with the investigation.'


The carriage, which had been used for children's rides earlier in the day, was dragged through the crowd when the horse bolted


Under guard: Two horses are looked after by police handlers following the incident


source: dailymail