Malcolm’s journey from terrified foal to confident youngster

In July last year, we helped rescue an abandoned foal, named Malcolm after one of his rescuers, after he was found abandoned at just a few weeks old. He was terrified and in danger, having been dumped on an open field between a road and a railway line, but we were able to step in and get him to safety.

After his experiences in the first few weeks of his life, little Malcolm was extremely afraid of people when he first arrived at our Glenda Spooner Farm. To begin with, he was terrified if someone so much as stepped into his crew yard, but with patient, compassionate, expert care he’s been transformed into a confident young pony.

Having been the first person to get a call about him being dumped in a field, vet Bridey Shawyer from Stable Close Equine Practice was key to Malcolm’s rescue. She was astonished at the change in him when she visited our Glenda Spooner Farm earlier this year to catch up with him.

Gaining little Malcolm’s trust and building his confidence

 Yard Supervisor Amy McCormack has cared for Malcolm since his arrival, using her expertise with frightened, unhandled horses to gain his trust, build his confidence and get him ready to find a loving home. Amy explains:  

“As a hand-reared foal, one of the things we had to be mindful of with Malcolm was that he still learned how to be a proper horse. We had a mare on the farm at that time who we knew had previously had foals of her own, so we tried putting her with him. She took him under her wing straight away and has done a wonderful job teaching him all the vital skills we couldn’t.

“However, Malcolm still needed to learn how to interact with humans appropriately too. Like many orphan foals, he went through a bit of a boisterous phase with us, which we had to manage carefully. During that period, we restricted who interacted with him so he had really consistent experiences and handling. This paid off and once he was past that phase, other members of the team were able to interact with him again.”

Using positive reinforcement to help Malcolm learn vital new skills

Throughout Malcolm’s rehabilitation, Amy has used positive reinforcement techniques, including clicker training, to help him gain confidence and learn new skills. This reward-based approach encourages horses to learn through positive experiences, which was especially important for a frightened foal like Malcolm.

With clicker training, a clicking sound is used to let the horse know they’ve done the right thing. This is followed by a reward, such as food or a scratch. It’s a simple but effective way of helping horses learn everyday skills, from lifting a foot for the farrier to calmly stepping onto a trailer.  

Amy reflects:

“It’s been amazing to see Malcolm’s confidence grow – he’s doing really well now and taking everything in his stride. He’s excellent with the vet and farrier, which is brilliant given how scared of people he was to begin with. It’s amazing what can be achieved with patience, good timing and some pony nuts! He’s recently learned about standing in a stable and even had his first bath, which he coped with really well.”

Ready for his next chapter as a confident young pony

Having learned the vital social skills needed to live in a herd happily as well as being set up for success with his handling skills, Malcolm is now ready to find a home as a youngster. Amy adds:

“I’m so proud of Malcolm – he’s come such a long way from the terrified little foal who arrived. Whoever takes him home is going to be getting an amazing young pony – he’s quite independent and incredibly sensible for a youngster. I’m really looking forward to seeing him find the loving home he so deserves after his awful start in life.”

If you could offer a loving home to Malcolm or another of our horses and ponies, take a look at our rehoming pages now.