Emaciated mare who lost her foal is now thriving
In a tale of heartbreak and hope, Jean is now recovering well, despite experiencing a devastating loss just weeks after being rescued.
Posted on 18/11/2025
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A mare rescued so emaciated and weak that her foal was tragically stillborn is now on the road to recovery at our Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre – and will be receiving the very best of care this Christmas.
When we rescued Jean from a field full of poisonous ragwort in August, she was pregnant and extremely underweight, with overgrown hooves and painful sores on her neck. Despite every effort by vets and our expert staff to save both mother and baby, heartbreakingly, Jean’s foal died just a few weeks after she reached safety.
“When I first saw Jean, she was in a shocking state,” says our Field Officer Rebecca Carter, who rushed to help after concerned locals flagged the mare’s plight. “She was clearly pregnant, but very underweight and suffering from a painful skin condition caused by ragwort poisoning. She desperately needed help.”
Rebecca immediately contacted a vet, the RSPCA and police, and all agreed that Jean needed rescuing. She was whisked away to safety at our Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, near Blackpool. Despite notices being placed at the field, no owner ever came forward – paving the way for Jean to be signed over to World Horse Welfare and begin a new chapter.
“We couldn’t believe how thin Jean was when she arrived,” recalls Farm Manager Adam Cummins. “Given the advanced stage of her pregnancy, we knew she needed to gain as much strength as possible, but we had to be very careful, as too much food too soon can make emaciated horses really unwell.
“Tragically, despite our best efforts and every attention from our vets, it was too late and Jean’s foal was stillborn just a few weeks after arriving at the farm.”
Her story illustrates the potentially devastating consequences of neglect but, thanks to the donations of generous animal-lovers, Jean is receiving compassionate, expert care and getting stronger every day, despite her heart-breaking loss. This Christmas, Jean will be safe and well cared for at Penny Farm and looking forward to finding a loving home of her own one day.
To give neglected horses like Jean the second chance they deserve this winter, donate now.
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