Rescued Horse Appreciation Month: Tess and Kite

This June marks the launch of our first-ever Rescued Horse Appreciation Month, celebrating the thousands of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules who have found safe, loving homes after being given a second chance.

With more than 2,300 horses currently thriving in homes through our rehoming scheme, we are shining a light on their remarkable journeys and the many ways rescued horses are enriching lives.

From boosting the confidence of nervous companions to becoming trusted family ponies, each story reflects the lasting impact of rehoming. As Fran Windle, who manages our rehoming scheme, explains:

“These stories show the extraordinary range of roles our rehomed horses, ponies, donkeys and mules go on to play – from helping a lonely horse find happiness again with a new friend, to becoming much-loved children’s ponies, or having a hugely positive impact on their rehomer’s wellbeing.”

Here we catch up with two of our horses, Tess and Kite, who were rehabilitated at our Glenda Spooner Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Somerset.

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Gentle giant Tess is thriving

Among the many success stories celebrated this month is Tess, a Shire mare who was rescued as a foal and is now thriving with rehomer Kath.

Rehomed as a two-year-old, Tess – who now stands at an impressive 17hh – quickly captured Kath’s heart.

“When I went to meet Tess, it was love at first sight,” Kath says. “I’d always wanted a Shire but never thought I’d be able to have one. Glenda Spooner Farm is quite local to me, and I wanted to give a rescue horse a loving, forever home, so when I saw Tess – my dream horse – appear on World Horse Welfare’s website I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

From rescue to best friend

Having applied for Tess, Kath was invited to Glenda Spooner Farm to meet her – and knew immediately that the gentle Shire mare was the one for her. Since bringing her home, the pair have flourished.

“Tess has a huge personality to match her size. She’s my soul mate, my emotional support and my best friend.”

Taking things slowly due to Tess’ size, Kath focused on groundwork to build a strong bond – laying the foundations for their ridden work together.

When asked about her personality, Kath was quick to respond,“Tess loves food, grass, her best friend, being groomed and pampered, and just hanging out with you.”

A life-changing bond

Out on hacks, Tess has become something of a local celebrity.

“She’s made lots of friends on our usual hacking route and we often get lovely comments wherever we go. People love to see a Shire horse and everyone who meets her adores her.”

But beyond her striking appearance, it’s the emotional connection that means the most.

“I can’t imagine life without Tess. She’s brought me so much joy and she’s my best friend. I’ve had a difficult couple of years with my mental and physical health, and I don’t know how I would have made it through without Tess.

“She’s always patient when I need a hug and seems to know if I’m struggling. She makes me laugh, cheers me up, calms me down and doesn’t ask for anything in return. She is such a special girl, and I feel blessed to be her human.”

Support every step of the way

Reflecting on the rehoming process, Kath highlights the reassurance it brings:

“It was really easy but also reassuring that with the process in place you know the charity is making sure it matches the right person with the right horse. It’s always nice to see our Rehoming Officer when they come out to do the twice-yearly checks, and it’s reassuring to know that there’s someone on the end of the phone if we did have any issues or I just wanted to talk something through with someone.”

A story of second chances: Kite and Jayne

Kite came into our care in 2019 alongside 44 other cobs as part of a large welfare case. And for his rehomer Jayne, her love of horses began almost as soon as she could walk.

“My mum says when I was 18 months old, she plopped me on a horse and she went to hold me and I said, ‘I can do it my own self,’” she recalls. “I wasn’t terrified at all—and I’ve been mad about horses ever since.”

Years later, that passion would lead her to Kite—a horse who, like many, was ready for a fresh start.

“When I saw Kite, I contacted World Horse Welfare immediately—and was very lucky to be chosen.”

Building Kite’s confidence

Kite was rehomed by Jayne as a project horse. He had never been ridden and had little experience beyond the environment he had come from. But what he lacked in experience, he more than made up for in temperament.

“Absolutely nothing has ever fazed him. And he’s just been amazing. He’s so chilled out, so laid back, really kind, and just tries his best.”

Taking a steady, compassionate approach, Jayne spent weeks building Kite’s confidence. With support and guidance, the chestnut gelding later went on to be backed to ride, marking a major milestone in his journey. For Jayne, the process has been as rewarding as the outcome after time without a ridden horse.

“I’ve never backed a horse before, so I did get a lot of help. It’s just lovely having that relationship again and looking forward to exploring and doing new things with him. We’re doing an obstacle clinic next month locally, so looking forward to doing that.”

Why rehoming changes lives

What stands out most for Jayne about Kite is his outlook on the world.

“He’s just taken everything in his stride, and I think he’s just really curious. So if he sees something new for the first time, he’s actually just quite interested in it. He’s never frightened of it, he just looks and trusts me to help him through it.”

Reflecting on the benefits of rehoming, Jayne says: “I think a mixture of things. It’s giving them a home after they’ve had a difficult start and knowing that you’re making a difference in their life. I really love the backup of World Horse Welfare – it’s knowing that if anything ever happened to me, or my life changes, that he would go back to World Horse Welfare and be taken care of.“

To anyone thinking of rehoming, Jayne’s message is simple: “Just give it a go. There are so many lovely ponies out there looking for a home, and it’s just so rewarding.”

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Why rehoming matters

The stories behind rescued horses Tess and Kite, highlight the life-changing impact of rehoming – for both horses and people.

Rehoming plays a vital role in our ongoing rescue work, helping ensure more horses in need can be rescued and given the chance of a better future. Could you give one of our horses, ponies, donkeys or mules the second chance they deserve?