| Name: | Maddie | Born: | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height: | 12.3 hands | Breed: | New Forest |
| Gender: | Mare | Colour: | Bay |
History
Maddie arrived with painful teeth, had a headache and was very cross! She needed extensive dental work, including removing wolf teeth.
Once out of pain Maddie was retrained and started to work in the school teaching children and small adults how to ride. Maddie specialised in beginners. She also taught many jumping lessons and was very patient with the other horses in the herd.
Latest Update
In the Summer of 2024, Maddie developed a strange noise when breathing. Following tests by the local vet, including an endoscope, she was found to have a curtain of tissue draping across her windpipe.
We took Maddie to a specialist equine hospital where she had a further, more in depth, endoscopic view by a surgeon in the hope that he might be able to operate.
Sadly, this was not to be. The surgeon found that Maddie had extensive squamous cell carcinoma in the tissues of her soft palate that were pushing upwards and blocking her windpipe and which he determined to be inoperable. Previous research in equines with this condition has shown extremely poor prognosis, as can be seen in this abstract https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8313703/
So we brought Maddie home, made sure she was comfortable and let her enjoy some quality time out in the fields with her pony friends.
Sadly, her breathing deteriorated quite quickly and we decided that it was time to let her go.
Maddie was humanely euthanased on 16th August 2024 in line with the Epona Trust’s ethos, policies and procedures.
Maddie was much loved by many and will be very sorely missed.
We would like to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who so kindly and generously donated to our fundraising appeal for Maddie. This allowed us to give her the best possible chance of recovery and of continuing to bring joy to many. But sadly, it was not to be.