Life beyond rescue: “We’ve really grown together”

As you read this, around 2,200 of our horses are enjoying a second chance in life through our rehoming scheme, which is the largest of its kind in the UK. In our new series of blogs, Life beyond rescue, we meet some of our rehomed horses in their homes across the country. 

One of our horses enjoying a second chance at life is Usain, or Uey as he is affectionately known at home. The 12hh piebald pony came to us following a request for help from the RSPCA in 2017 regarding two yearlings (now known as Usain and Bolt) in poor condition – both were underweight and lice-ridden. Following rehabilitation, Uey was rehomed by Sarah-Jayne in 2018 and the pair have been thriving, driving and riding together ever since.  

We caught up with Sarah-Jayne to find out more about how they have grown together.  

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When did your love of horses begin and when did they first come into your life? 

I’ve loved horses since I was a child but didn’t learn to ride until I was in my early 20s and I got my first horse, Tizzy, in my late 20s, about 27 yrs ago. She was a share with my husband who I’m very fortunate to say has a love of horses too. Sadly, Tizzy became injured and could no longer be ridden, so to fill the void I took on a New Forest pony, Tatty-Ann, with a view to bringing her on and selling her. My husband, Graham, fell in love with her but at 13.1hh she was too small for him to ride so we decided to learn to carriage drive and train her to drive. This begun my husband’s passion for carriage driving. I have to admit I still prefer riding to driving though! Now 31 years old, Tatty-Ann is still with us – retired, blind but still happy in the field.  

As one of our fabulous rehomers, can you tell us how you came to rehome from World Horse Welfare?  

We were looking for a gelding companion for my husband’s current driving pony, Archie. I thought something a bit older would fit the bill. We certainly were not looking for another active horse or pony as we already had my riding mare and Tatty-Ann.  

Our trip to World Horse Welfare ended up with us deciding to rehome a two-year-old coloured native! He literally chose us. He followed us round the geldings’ field as we went to see several others and then came to the gate and watched us leave. You could almost hear him saying “take me” – so we did.  

Tell us a bit about Usain (Uey) and what he is like…  

It was very clear from the moment we got him home that Uey was a super friendly, easy-going lad. Having intended for him to keep Archie company, this now seemed a waste. So we started to long rein him, walking miles around the country lanes and he really enjoyed going out. The COVID lockdown in 2020 gave my husband and I time to train him to harness and a year later he was backed to ride. Everyone who meets Uey loves him. He’s super friendly, loves cuddles and is always interested in what’s going on; and he loves a banana.  

Fortunately, he likes to have a bath and be groomed and plaited as he has a lot of hair! I can’t bear the thought of cutting it, so he’s remained natural but with that does come the need for quite a lot of grooming as I hate him looking scruffy. I do turn him away for the winter though so he can be rugless, hairy and get as dirty he wants.  

He does less driving now but I adore riding him, we mostly just hack and love going out with friends to take part in a pleasure rides and charity rides. He’s given me so much confidence, we’ve really grown together. Until a couple of years ago I’d never jumped a cross country jump in my life. We love going to fun camp once a year, and with a fab instructor and Uey’s enthusiasm we now hop over logs and even tyres!  

What would you say is the best thing about rehoming from World Horse Welfare?  

When we first took Uey I was super impressed with how well World Horse Welfare had done all the basics with him. He is a dream to lead, load, clip, hoof trim etc. I would definitely recommend rehoming through World Horse Welfare particularly if you are looking for a youngster to bring on. 

The work of World Horse Welfare is so important because it saves the lives of those equines in need and provides them with a useful life where possible.  

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We are really grateful to all of our wonderful rehomers who offer our horses, ponies, youngsters and donkeys the loving homes they so desperately deserve, and with every horse rehomed, a space is created for another horse to come into our care.  

We are always delighted to receive updates about our rehomed horses, ponies and donkeys so if you are one of our rehomers and would like to share your story please get in touch today.