Life beyond rescue: Hubble and Scarlet

When Emma, a long-standing World Horse Welfare supporter, found herself in need of a companion pony in 2019, she promptly had a look at our rehoming pages. Having dreamed of owning a coloured pony ever since she was a child, a little skewbald gelding called Hubble caught her eye immediately. Emma applied for Hubble and was invited to our Hall Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, near Snetterton, to meet him.

“The team encouraged me to apply for several companion ponies in case I didn’t click with the first one I met,” explains Emma. “However, when they took me to meet Hubble, he was in a big field with 15 other ponies and they were all at the far end. The only one who chose to come over to see us was Hubble – how could I leave him behind after that!”

After discussion with the Hall Farm team, Emma decided to rehome another pony, Scarlet, too in case Hubble didn’t cope being left alone when she rode her own mare out. “Scarlet was very different to Hubble when I met her,” says Emma, “but there was just something about her that made me feel I had to take her home too. I wanted to give her the chance to blossom after her experiences in life so far.”

When Hubble and Scarlet arrived in their new home, they fitted into Emma’s routine really well, as she already had a native pony whose weight needed managing carefully. “I think people can be put off ponies who are prone to weight gain, but it is doable,” says Emma. “I’m used to soaking hay for my own pony and restricting their grazing. My vet then suggested I try keeping them on a track rather than strip grazing, and that’s been very successful. Hubble in particular makes really good use of the track – he loves to have a zoom around, which is a great chance for him to exercise himself.”

While Hubble’s character has shone through from the moment Emma met him, it’s Scarlet whose personality has really come out since being rehomed. “When I first met Scarlet, she was quite quiet and seemed a bit withdrawn,” says Emma. “Now she’s a different pony – her body language is so much more lively and she’s always the one who starts calling to me first.”

With Hubble being an inquisitive soul, Emma decided to enlist the help of a local trainer to start doing some in-hand work to keep his mind occupied – and this soon branched out to exploring the countryside on walks. “We started off with agility-type work and Hubble took to it like a duck to water,” explains Emma. “He quite quickly seemed to want a new challenge, so we decided to try taking him out for walks – and he absolutely loved it! We did take Scarlet along too but although she enjoyed the first couple of walks, the novelty seemed to wear off for her – but not for Hubble. His ears are always pricked and he has a great time exploring. He did meet the most handsome pony in all of Suffolk one day when he caught sight of his reflection in a van and had to spend a while admiring himself!”

Reflecting on her experience of rehoming, Emma comments, “I’ve found it so rewarding seeing Hubble and Scarlet blossom in their new home. The rehoming process was so easy – I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a horse or pony. I know it sounds clichéd but my two rehomed ponies really do make me smile every single day.”

If you’re feeling inspired to rehome after reading Hubble and Scarlet’s story, you can check out all our horses and ponies who are ready to find a home on our rehoming pages.