A YOUNG pony painfully wounded in a stallion attack has made a remarkable recovery – and found a new home – thanks to equine charities and the RSPCA, including one in Somerset.

World Horse Welfare has been nursing two-year-old skewbald moorland gelding Dakota back to health since January at Glenda Spooner Farm, near Somerton.

Dakota was rescued in January by The Mare and Foal Sanctuary and the RSPCA after he was spotted with severe injuries in a Devon field.

Jon Phipps, the World Horse Welfare field officer who attended Dakota’s rescue, said: “This case was a great example of how we work with other equine charities to achieve the best outcome for the horse, as Dakota’s injuries were some of the worst I’ve ever seen.

“As it turned out he had an amazing personality which made working with him a lot easier and I think we all developed a bit of a soft spot for him.”

Dakota was found after The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s welfare team were alerted to reports of an equine in danger – and found the young pony bleeding badly with open bite wounds covering his whole body.

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Leah Brock, field officer at the sanctuary, was first on the scene and said: “When I saw Dakota, I wasn’t entirely certain of the extent of his injuries, but I knew it was bad.

“He was extremely quiet, withdrawn and I knew we had to act fast because he didn’t appear to be coping well. He had a high temperature indicating a potential infection along with his visual injuries.

“I just knew we had to help. The evening was drawing in and he just looked so subdued, I was really concerned.”

And she said the animal’s natural gentle temperament helped make the rescue easier.

“Dakota was an absolute star patient, from assessing and loading him from his rescue site, travelling to the Sanctuary and being treated by the vets,” Leah added.

“On his arrival, we stayed with him and began to clean him to prepare him for examination.

“He was such a kind, gentle boy who just tolerated everything and I felt he knew we were going to help him. We all fell in love with Dakota.”

Dakota is now set to start a new life having recovered from his injuries. Picture: World Horse Welfare

A number of equine welfare charities in the UK work collaboratively to ensure rescued equines receive the essential care and support they need.

As The Mare and Foal Sanctuary were at full capacity at the time, once he was stable, World Horse Welfare took Dakota to Glenda Spooner Farm to continue his treatment and rehabilitation.

Now, despite some visible scarring on his neck and body, Dakota has recovered well and has secured a new home, where World Horse Welfare are confident he will continue to thrive, with no lasting damage from his traumatic event.

Farm manager at Glenda Spooner Farm, Claire Dickie, said: “Once Dakota’s injuries were healing well, the team at the farm managed his introduction to other horses extremely carefully to ensure interactions were calm and a positive experience for him.

“He has made a full recovery both physically and mentally, displaying normal and appropriate interactions with other horses, which is so important as a herd animal and critical to his mental and emotional health as well as his physical health.”