Severely underweight mare Thelma and her foal Cindy find a safe haven with us 

We have more than 550 horses and ponies under our care, and we recently welcomed mare Thelma and her filly foal Cindy following a multi-agency operation led by the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare. 

Thelma was found last year, extremely underweight and facing significant welfare concerns including a severe heart murmur. At an RSPCA holding base she gave birth to Cindy and, for a time, vets believed it unlikely Thelma would live.  

Photography credit: World Horse Welfare

We prepared to offer a place to Cindy in the belief she would soon be orphaned. Our staff had space ready for her to join a group of Icelandic foals so she could grow up with companions her own age. Our experienced grooms and veterinary staff were on standby to give her the specialist, round-the-clock care a vulnerable, orphaned foal would need.  

Photography credit: World Horse Welfare

Against expectations, Thelma survived. With very careful refeeding she slowly gained   weight and her condition improved. Her heart rate stabilised, and the vet could no longer detect the heart murmur.  

Thelma’s incredible recovery meant that on 5 March 2026, both mare and foal could be transferred together into our care. They arrived safely at our Beech Trees Veterinary and Welfare Assessment Centre in Newton Abbot, where they began the next phase of their lives. Thelma will receive long-term, specialist care with a focus on keeping her life as calm and settled as possible. Cindy will grow up with skilled, consistent handling so she can develop into a confident young horse. 

Cindy and Thema now.

Their handler at Beech Trees, Jade Proctor, said: ‘Seeing how far Thelma and Cindy have come makes me so hopeful for what’s ahead. They are finally safe, settled, and starting to shine again. I just know they’re going to blossom even more from here. They both deserve the happiest future.’  

We believe Thelma and Cindy’s survival underlines why our promise of lifelong care and continued public support is critical during this Chinese Year of the Horse. 

‘In many traditions, horses symbolise strength, freedom and courage,’ says Dawn Vincent, our Director of Fundraising and Communications. ‘We see those qualities every day in the horses and ponies who arrive with us frightened, in poor condition or traumatised, and then slowly begin to trust again. Their journeys are what inspire everything we do. 

‘Thelma and Cindy are a powerful example of what can be achieved when rescue organisations and the public work together. Without specialist intervention, their story could have had a very different ending. 

‘Equine welfare charities are under unprecedented pressure this year during the cost of living crisis, as rising costs and soaring demand stretch already limited resources to breaking point. That’s why we genuinely appreciate every pound donated – allowing us to support more horses and ponies in need.’ 

Research from the RSPCA’s report Horse Sense: A good life for Horses Through Strengthening the Horse–Human Relationship paints a stark picture of the pressures facing equine welfare. The report, published last year, concludes that ‘most equines in England and Wales, across all sectors of society, do not have the opportunity to experience a good quality of life.’ Instead, many are affected by ‘obesity, lack of turnout, poor predictability (e.g. frequently changing homes and herd mates), gastric ulcers, delayed euthanasia, limited social interaction, rough handling and poor owner recognition of stress, pain and quality of life.’  

The report highlights a shortage of suitable, affordable facilities offering year round turnout and herd living, with some yards ‘overstocked with too little grazing or other turnout available,’ meaning many horses are kept ‘for human convenience’ rather than in ways that meet their basic needs. Overall, the RSPCA warns of an ‘equine welfare crisis’ driven by gaps in owner knowledge, lack of appropriate land and facilities, and a failure to plan for horses’ lifetime welfare – all factors that can leave horses at serious risk of neglect and suffering. 

We are dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and providing lifelong, loving care for horses, ponies and foals in need. Alongside our sanctuary work, we deliver equine-assisted therapeutic sessions for children, young people and adults facing challenges in their own lives, and offer advice, education and support to horse owners to improve understanding of equine welfare. 

With sanctuary sites in Newton Abbot, Totnes, Holsworthy and Yelverton, we also manage our land to support wildlife and nature, creating spaces where equines, people and the natural environment can thrive together. 

As the Chinese Year of the Horse unfolds, we are asking the public to help give vulnerable horses like Thelma and Cindy a voice by supporting our work. 

If you would like to help, you can make a donation here or call our supporter care team on 01626 882 660, Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 4.00pm. 

Each gift will help us continue to rescue, rehabilitate and provide lifelong care for horses and ponies in need, and to stand up for better equine welfare across the South West and beyond. 

Header photography credit RSPCA.