In August the charity confirmed that we would have space to take in a potential herd of 5 wild orphaned Dartmoor babies over the winter period, however we needed to secure funding to enable this to happen.

This has become one of our areas of expertise, having rescued several orphans every year since the charity’s inception in 2017. On average we rescue between 5 and 15 orphaned and abandoned Dartmoor type ponies to give them a chance of a future.

Each year, we face countless challenges with these poor orphaned babies. From horrific illness, lameness problems and even losing one to growth abnormalities. These Dartmoor babies really do need our help, and really do pull at the heart-strings, as each year we are reminded that we HAVE to help them or else their future is unfortunately…. to be culled.

This year our intake was even more challenging. Although we had agreed to help these poor souls, not only were we then faced with the financial crisis but JUST as we were set to collect them, we were told we couldn’t take any horses in! The yard was on LOCKDOWN with an infectious disease (strangles) and our finances were crippled. It was absolutely heart-breaking for our team, we had to so something to save these babies.

We launched our Crowdfunder and thankfully raised just about enough to support us through the winter period. We were incredibly grateful that an amazing supporter offered to give the orphan babies sanctuary by allowing them access to grazing until we were given the strangles all clear and raise enough funds to be able to care for them.

Finally in December 2022 we had the all clear and we were able to move the 7 Dartmoor hill foals and one yearling colt on site. These ponies were unclaimed by farmers after the drifts, many being too young to be away from their mums. In the panic of the drifts, it is inevitable that some of the foals will be separated. Those which are too young to go to the sales, and are therefore also too young to return to the moors without their mum, would be culled before their lives have really begun. Every year, Hugs takes in as many of these foals as we can to save them from this fate.

These foals require specialist care and nutrition. As many have been abruptly weaned at too young of an age, they do not have the ability to gain all their nutritional needs from grass and hay. They need extra nutrition from feeds such as foal creep pellets, to ensure they are getting everything they need to grow up strong and healthy. Their immune systems are often heavily compromised from the abrupt, early weaning and stress.

These new foals are going to require lots of specialist care and training in the coming months to prepare them for their forever homes. The cost to support these foals through their rehabilitation and to become ready to find their forever homes is approximately £3,474 per foal, and this covers:

• Passport and microchip
• Their initial course of vaccines
• Initial health check from the vet
• Strangles testing and blood tests
• Specialist feed and care for 6 months
• Specialist training for 6 months
• Hay and bedding
• Castration for our colt 5 foals

It’s the first Fundraising Friday of the year and we are thrilled to announce that The Duke of Cornwall Benevolent Fund has kindly awarded us a grant to support our work with children and young people’s well-being.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Hugs Helping Hands project and how to make a referral, please contact our Youth Well-Being Manager, Hazel Ashman, on youthservices@hugsfoundation.org.uk or 07948 404986. Anyone can make a referral and thanks to funders like The Duke of Cornwall Benevolent Fund, many sessions are at a charitable rate or fully funded.

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