Tiny foal with heart murmur finds a lifelong home at The Mare and Foal Sanctuary
Filly foal Mika arrived at The Mare and Foal Sanctuary this summer, following serious concerns for her welfare. She was living in an unsafe environment and was not receiving the essential milk she needed to grow and stay healthy. Mika’s outlook was bleak, until we, as a charity that provides sanctuary for life to horses, ponies and foals in need, were able to find room for her so she could receive specialist care.
Mika is currently living at Beech Trees, one of our specialist sites near Newton Abbot and is getting stronger by the day. She has already captured hearts across the charity, as well as among our supporters who have seen early pictures of her enjoying the summer sunshine.
Giving her the essential nutrients she needs to grow strong has been a priority for Mika’s care team. She now receives one 200ml bottle of supplementary milk each day, alongside close monitoring and extra nutritional support. Since arriving, she has shown a steady and encouraging increase in weight and promising signs of healthy development.
As part of her routine health checks, our veterinary team identified a heart murmur, which is caused by abnormal blood flow through the heart. Further assessments are planned in the coming months to better understand the cause and any significance it may have. Heart murmurs are relatively common in young foals, and many innocent murmurs disappear naturally within the first few weeks of life. In the meantime, Mika is happy, comfortable and enjoying life.
Jade, a Beech Trees Horse Care Team Member, said: ‘Mika is so calm and sweet. She was very shy when she arrived, but she’s now coming out of her shell, being inquisitive and running around her field and exploring things. Mika spends her days with her new foal friend, Luna. The pair love running, playing and exploring together and can often be seen stretched out in the long grass for a nap on warm days.’
Many of our Sanctuary Care team at Beech Trees are fans of the Amazon Prime TV series Off Campus and voted unanimously to name the new foal Mika, in tribute to their favourite actor in the show, Mika Abdalla who plays Allie Hayes.
Georgina, another member of the Beech Trees Horse Care Team, said: ‘I’m glad we’ve been able to help Mika. She was so young and vulnerable when she arrived, and it’s great to feel we‘ve been able to give her a good, positive start in life.’
Mika is already beginning her handling training and is making gentle, steady progress. Training sessions are kept short, calm and positive. Her handlers gently hold up a headcollar while Mika investigates it, rewarding her curiosity with scratches and praise. At the moment Mika is so tiny that even a miniature Shetland headcollar is still too large for her.
Georgina added: ‘We feel that Mika’s story is a powerful reminder of why the Sanctuary exists. It reveals the reality for some ponies living in difficult conditions and shows how, with the right care and support, they can leave those challenges behind and go on to live safe, happy lives.
‘We’re getting a really good bond with Mika now. She loves cuddles, enjoys interacting with people and is always happy to stop for a scratch. She’s absolutely adorable. There’s really no other way to describe her!’
Mika will remain with her new herd until she reaches the natural weaning age of equines. If her heart murmur resolves as she grows, she may be suitable for rehoming in future with one of our Sanctuary at Home carers. There may also be opportunities, when she is older, for her to spend time with our equine assisted services team, supporting children or adults who may be struggling. We describe our therapeutic horses and ponies as equine partners, carefully selected so they can enjoy and feel comfortable taking part in this kind of activity.
If you would like to help fund the care of Mika and other new foals like her, we would be very grateful for your support. Donate here.