Rehome a Hugs Horse/Pony

Biscuit

Biscuit was rescued just before the 2019 Chagford sales. Every year many ‘drifts’ occur across the moors. Here the moor ponies all get rounded up by the farmers/owners and separated into their own stock. Each pony can then be checked, have any appropriate medical care etc before either being returned to the moors or sent to the auctions. Unfortunately as the ponies are rounded up into different pens, the can lose their herds in the panic of the hustle and bustle. Sadly many foals lose their mothers either in the rounding up on the moor or in the pens which means a very sudden and stressful weaning. Doing the drifts in October means that many of the spring foals will be 6 months old by then and about ready to become more independent however this doesn’t take into account any late born foals. These babies are very unlikely to find their mothers again and would not survive if returned to the moors by themselves and so are either sent to the auction or they face the bullet. Any ponies left unclaimed that are rounded up also face this fate. Luckily last year for some of these orphaned foals and unclaimed ponies, a very lovely farmer allowed some of them to wait a week or two on her land to try and find homes before they were ‘disposed of’. Hugs were able to help 5 orphan foals and a young mare with a month old filly at foot.

Biscuit was around 2 months old when she came to Hugs, far too young to be away from her mum. They all had HUGE WORM BURDENS plus eye infections and severe rainscald! Unfortunately for Biscuit, her immune system was very run down and she was covered in infected scabs from rainscald so she was clipped and had medicated baths to treat in and help kill the bacteria. She is fully recovered now! We did a lot of handling work with them so they got used to having headcollars on (to make administration of medication easier!) plus we slowly got them used to being stroked and brushed. We are continuing to work with this little herd (and a few other youngsters from the sales) and they are now ready for rehoming. Please get in touch if you could offer a loving home, they will make fab children’s ponies and companions. Biscuit is such a character! She’s a very confident little monkey who loves giving staff the run around!! She’s always interested in what’s happening. Once caught (she does love food!), she’s quiet to lead, groom and is good with her feet. She has a very beautiful, unusual coloured coat and will make a stunning children’s pony or companion.

Idris

Idris is a very handsome, approximately 5 year old gelding available for rehoming. Isn’t he just beautiful!!! Idris came to hugs summer 2019 with a herd of his ladies… he was an entire stallion on arrival and like a young teenager; he wasn’t too sure he liked the idea of being tamed. However once he got to know the staff he has turned into a complete pussy cat and is SUCH A GOOD BOY!! He was castrated in November and is now looking for his forever home.

He’s about 12.1hh. He’s a chunk!! However is a mini-cob. He would suit a confident child to bring on, lead rein project or even be put to harness. He has beautiful movement with a floating trot. Now due to him being a stallion and then needing time to heal- we’ve not started any ‘ridden’ work with Idris. Instead we have worked on his confidence with brushing, picking up feet and becoming Santa Claus etc. He ISN’T perfect to catch in the field. However once in the stable is a good boy. He would benefit from a small herd or field to work on ‘catching’ That being said he is OK to catch if he feels like it! (Typical man?? 🤦‍♀️😱).

He is a baby in all respects of training, however has a lovely willing nature. He would make an ideal project for someone and the longer he stays with us the more training he will undergo to become a lead rein or similar. He’s done a little long reining so far and has shown he’s quick to learn and understand what’s expected of him. Please don’t be put off when you read he was a stallion! He is quieter than a lot of geldings we know! He never bothers mares, he’s never been seen to mount any or show any stallion like behaviour even with ‘his mares’ that he arrived with. He can be happily lead by a child past the field with them all in and he doesn’t put a foot wrong. Can you offer him a loving home?

Branston

Branston was rescued just before the 2019 Chagford sales. Every year many ‘drifts’ occur across the moors. Here the moor ponies all get rounded up by the farmers/owners and separated into their own stock. Each pony can then be checked, have any appropriate medical care etc before either being returned to the moors or sent to the auctions. Unfortunately as the ponies are rounded up into different pens, the can lose their herds in the panic of the hustle and bustle. Sadly many foals lose their mothers either in the rounding up on the moor or in the pens which means a very sudden and stressful weaning. Doing the drifts in October means that many of the spring foals will be 6 months old by then and about ready to become more independent however this doesn’t take into account any late born foals. These babies are very unlikely to find their mothers again and would not survive if returned to the moors by themselves and so are either sent to the auction or they face the bullet. Any ponies left unclaimed that are rounded up also face this fate. Luckily last year for some of these orphaned foals and unclaimed ponies, a very lovely farmer allowed some of them to wait a week or two on her land to try and find homes before they were ‘disposed of’. Hugs were able to help 5 orphan foals and a young mare with a month old filly at foot.

Branston was around 4 months old when he came to Hugs, far too young to be away from his mum. They all had HUGE WORM BURDENS plus eye infections and severe rainscald! We did a lot of handling work with them so they got used to having headcollars on (to make administration of medication easier!) plus we slowly got them used to being stroked and brushed. We are continuing to work with this little herd (and a few other youngsters from the sales) and they are now ready for rehoming. Please get in touch if you could offer a loving home, they will make fab children’s ponies and companions. All the boys are unfortunately still ‘entire’ due to the current lock down their ‘special appointment’ with the vet has had to be postponed. They will be done as soon as possible and in the mean time are available to reserve! Branston is a stunning pony and the tallest of the bunch. He’s a chunky lad who should make approx 12hh when matured. Branston is a very intelligent boy who will make a gorgeous children’s pony when he is older. He’s still a little shy but very inquisitive and we have no doubt he will become a confident, cheeky chappie with regular handling.

DJ (Dude Junior)

Dude Junior was rescued from the 2019 Chagford sales. Chagford saw 258 ponies sold out of 300+ ponies entered. Unfortunately this meant that some were left unsold 😞 and therefore with an unsecured future. DJ was one of 4 lucky ponies that Hugs came back with last year! 3 colts and a young skinny filly. Although they are supposed to be a minimum of 6 months old when they come through the sales many are much younger and DJ was aged by our vet as only around 2 months old when he came to Hugs, far too young to be away from his mum. We spotted DJ in one of the holding pens and had to do a double take! We checked the listing and realised he came from the same area as a certain ‘cool’ individual and we think he must be some sort of sibling to our awesome Dude and we had to help him.

All four had HUGE WORM BURDENS! They were all terrified and extremely stressed from being separated from their mothers during the drifts and going through the busy sale. We had to handle them a lot in the beginning so they got used to having headcollars on (to make administration of medication easier!) And they were slowly introduced to being stroked and brushed all over. We are continuing to work with this little herd (and a few other youngsters we have rescued) and they are now ready for rehoming. Please get in touch if you could offer a loving home, they will make fab children’s ponies and companions. All the boys are unfortunately still ‘entire’ due to the current lock down their ‘special appointment’ with the vet has had to be postponed. They will be done as soon as possible and in the mean time are available to reserve! Dude Junior was very lucky, over this winter, to find a lovely foster home and has returned to Hugs with excellent manners and is ready to rehome! He’s good with his feet and to be caught and brushed etc. He is, of course, still a baby but he has a lovely attitude and will make a wonderful children’s pony.

April

April is our little cheeky baby, she was born here at the charity. Gyspy is her mum. April is VERY CHEEKY!! She is the boss of the herd (16hh horses bow to her!), that being said she is genuinely a sweet heart and very caring. She is confident and good to catch and groom. She is always very good for the farrier or vet. April’s confident attitude means that she’s often a favorite with the children and will happily stomp through obstacle courses or play football! April is 2 years old and will make no more than 12hh

Bramble

Bramble came to us in 2017 and was VERY nervous. He is a very handsome 2 year old Dartmoor gelding. He is now good with the farrier and to lead but is still nervous of being caught in the field/large space. He is inquisitive and would benefit from a one-to-one setting as building a relationship with someone will be the best way for him to trust humans and then be able to be caught easily.

Bramble would make the perfect pony for someone looking to build that perfect bond. He is currently in a foster home having one-to-one training and attention, helping build his confidence further.

Bumbles

Bumbles is a rising 3 year old dartmoor pony. He is good with farrier, to be caught and brushed and is enjoying his education here. He has been on walks on the road and is groomed and led by children and adults. He is quiet with traffic and isn't 'spooky'. Bumbles is looking for his new home where he can begin his training to become a lead rein pony or similar. Bumbles was adopted by a lovely home where he had a lot of adventures, going to the beach etc. He began a little light training with them and he got used to some light tack. Unfortunately Bumbles returned to us through a change in circumstances which was no fault of his own and he has been waiting for his forever home. He is a very confident boy and is always looking for something to do or something to learn.

He would benefit from a home with a lot of time and stimulants as he has such a keen brain and is so eager for human contact. Bumbles is a good boy in the field and makes friends easily but he is young and does like to play a lot like a typical boy! Bumbles will also require decent fencing as he can get bored easily and as soon as he sees something fun happening without him he will be straight over to find out what's going on and how he can join in!

Maggie

Maggie is a lovely 16.3hh TB mare who is looking for someone to understand her. She has many different issues with her feet so she is not 100% sound. With the right work her strength will eventually build up and she will be suitable for light hacking or a companion. If you would like some more information on Maggie then please message or call.

Penelope

Penelope was one of the three nameless cobs from Doncaster who arrived in March 2019. They were in appalling state. Thick matted coats hiding skin and bones. They were painfully thin. Although nervous they all came with a calm disposition and have blossomed into lovely mares. Penelope is a gorgeous mare who is now around 3 and a half years old. She is good to catch and lead. She is still learning about picking up her feet, she loves a good scratchy brush but has a hilariously independent character and will let you know when she's had enough and she wants to head back out to the field with her friends!

Penelope has seen the farrier, dentist and vet. She has also done a little long reining and took to it very well. She will continue her training with us until she finds her forever home. She just needs to learn about this big wild world and will need a confident handler. She is very beautiful and has a lot of potential. She is quiet and calm in the field and with other horses, so would also make an easy companion. She's not keen on being alone in the field or stable.

Pickle (left)

Pickle was rescued just before the 2019 Chagford sales. Every year many 'drifts' occur across the moors. Here the moor ponies all get rounded up by the farmers/owners and separated into their own stock. Each pony can then be checked, have any appropriate medical care etc before either being returned to the moors or sent to the auctions. Unfortunately as the ponies are rounded up into different pens, the can lose their herds in the panic of the hustle and bustle. Sadly many foals lose their mothers either in the rounding up on the moor or in the pens which means a very sudden and stressful weaning. Doing the drifts in October means that many of the spring foals will be 6 months old by then and about ready to become more independent however this doesn't take into account any late born foals. These babies are very unlikely to find their mothers again and would not survive if returned to the moors by themselves and so are either sent to the auction or they face the bullet. Any ponies left unclaimed that are rounded up also face this fate. Luckily last year for some of these orphaned foals and unclaimed ponies, a very lovely farmer allowed some of them to wait a week or two on her land to try and find homes before they were 'disposed of'. Hugs were able to help 5 orphan foals and a young mare with a month old filly at foot.

Pickle was around 3 months old when he came to Hugs, far too young to be away from his mum. They all had HUGE WORM BURDENS plus eye infections and severe rainscald! We did a lot of handling work with them so they got used to having headcollars on (to make administration of medication easier!) plus we slowly got them used to being stroked and brushed. We are continuing to work with this little herd (and a few other youngsters from the sales) and they are now ready for rehoming. Please get in touch if you could offer a loving home, they will make fab children’s ponies and companions. All the boys are unfortunately still 'entire' due to the current lock down their 'special appointment' with the vet has had to be postponed. They will be done as soon as possible and in the mean time are available to reserve! Pickle is a lovely chunky boy who will mature approx 12hh. He's very stocky with a good leg at each corner! Pickle is still quite shy but he is very interested in what's going on around him and he's quick to learn. His favorite party trick is to stand with his front legs over the stable door so he can look up and down the barn to see what is going on! He's a very stunning boy and is going to make a gorgeous children's pony.

Annie

Annie is a 2 year old piebald Cob who arrived to Hugs in March 2019 in an awful condition along with two of her friends. Annie and her friends traveled down from Doncaster. Since being at Hugs Annie has had to learn some rules. She can be a little too confident sometimes and is still learning the ropes but has come on leaps and bounds over the last few months. Annie will do anything for food! She can be a monkey to catch in the field but one glance at a treat and she will follow you anywhere!

Annie is good to lead, groom, good for the farrier etc. She's such a fun character and with the right 1 to 1 home she will make a fantastic children's pony! She has a very sweet nature and although she earned her name with her baby strops, she's grown up a lot since being with us and is definitely a staff favourite! She's very quiet out in the field and with other horses, so would make a lovely companion pony too. Annie will require some decent fencing in her forever home as she will quite happily climb through any gaps to come and say hello and see what everyone is doing and to, of course, find out if anyone is hiding anything tasty!

Amber

Amber is an older lady who has had a hard life on the hills of dartmoor. She came to us VERY emaciated and in terrible condition. She has flourished in the care of the charity and will probably spend her days here. She is good to catch and groom, is ok to lead (she has to take her time!) but is still learning how to pick her legs up and balance for the farrier. Amber is looking for a sponsor though.... and she could be available for the right home.

Mumma Mo (Moana)

The beautiful Mumma Mo! This lovely filly is about 4 years old and has been confirmed pregnant. Moana was one of five rescued to Hugs after being abandoned fly grazing. They all arrived with terrible feet, lice, worms and in poor condition. Luckily for us she's the friendliest of the bunch meaning we are able to check up on her (and her foal to be) very closely. Moana is MASSIVE! She is due any day! Therefore we are all on Foal Watch. She will be available for rehoming once her baby is weaned. She is excellent to catch, groom and with her feet. Her calm and relaxed attitude means she will make a fantastic children's pony one day and would easily be a lead rein/ ridden pony. She's already had all sorts of bits put on her like 8 giant legs to dress up as a spider for Halloween and she didn't bat an eyelid!

Lady Rose

Lady Rose and her luscious locks to you!! Lady Rose came to Hugs as part of a group of pregnant, abandoned fly grazing ponies. She has now given birth to her beautiful baby Primrose. She has earned her title with her independent and feisty attitude! She is a very beautiful petite mini cob, around 4 years of age standing at 12hh. She would make a fantastic in hand show pony or possible driven cob one day. She has so much potential! Lady Rose is good to catch and lead, She has a lovely attitude and is a very friendly little mare but she will require a confident person to rehome her. She will be available for rehoming once her baby is weaned.

Frances

The beautiful Frances (AKA Baby from Dirty Dancing)! This lovely filly is the youngest of the group of abandoned, fly grazed, cobs and has been confirmed pregnant, even though she is still a baby herself (our vet suspects just 2 years old). Luckily for us she's incredibly friendly meaning we are able to check up on her (and her foal to be) very closely. Irresponsible people using her for breeding at such a young age may cause complications with her pregnancy, such as stress on her body, inability to raise her foal due to her own immaturity and inability to produce milk. She is due any day and currently on foal watch! Franny will be available once her baby is weaned. She's excellent to catch, lead, groom and for the farrier. She is the tallest of the bunch currently at around 13hh but will likely mature around 13.2/13.3hh. She has a lovely, eager personality and will make a fantastic children's or small adult's pony when she is old enough.

Primrose

Primrose was born at Hugs last month and is a gorgeous little girl! She is very confident and loves human contact. She's a very beautiful girl just like her mum Lady Rose and she will be available for rehoming once she is weaned. We will be working with her so that hopefully by then she will be good to catch, lead, brush and with her feet. Please let us know if you can give her the perfect home and would like to reserve her!

Molly-June Successfully Rehomed

Molly-June (MJ) came to Hugs in April 2017.  After a rough start in life we are proud to say this gorgeous mare has fallen on her feet. MJ was in a horrible condition on arrival and had never been handled. She was 1 years old, big and wild. However she is now such a star...
Look at her with her new mummy in the show ring!

Bonnie Successfully Rehomed

Bonnie arrived at Hugs in 2017 pregnant, underweight and full of lice and mites. She had been used as a broodmare and had had foal after foal and it was taking its toll on her. At Hugs she thrived and learnt lots of new skills including being ridden. She won the hearts of all staff, volunteers and children! She was an incredible therapy pony at Hugs, working with vulnerable and disadvantaged children, but when the perfect home came along, we were so happy she could finally have the love and care she really deserved from a family. Her adoptive owners update:

"Adopted from the wonderful Hugs Foundation our lovely cob mare, Bonnie, who has become the best friend of a little girl isolated from her school friends. with no siblings and also unable to attend her usual riding lessons. Bonnie has done us and Hugs proud."

Bonnie's adoptive owner

Gatsby Successfully Rehomed

Gatsby came to us in May 2017. He was young, scared and covered in horrible hair mats. Look at this beautiful and confident boy now. He was successfully rehomed November 2018. Look out for him in the show ring in Cornwall, he’s already doing amazingly well and is incredibly well loved, as you can tell!

Merlin and Hettie Successfully Rehomed

Merlin came into us extremely nervous. The Hugs team worked hard to build his confidence with the world and he started to trust people and has been lucky enough to find an absolutely amazing home with another one of our rescue horses, Hettie.

The pair are getting on amazingly well. Merlin is just starting cantering, in an open field too! This is what makes our hard work worth it, rehabilitating these horses and ponies and finding them loving homes Bringing animals and people together for their mutual benefit and happiness and alleviating suffering is what Hugs is all about.💚

"What lucky people we are to have such wonderful horses and what a cracking team that you guys are at the wonderful hugs."

Merlin and Hettie's adoptive owner

Gandalf Successfully Rehomed

This cheeky chap came to us as he was hard to manage plus had some medical problems that the owner was not able to afford... Well a few months down the line of treatment, rehabilitation and training and he was ready for rehoming. He was successfully rehomed in September 2017

Fern Successfully Rehomed

Fern came from the moors totally wild and was sadly going to end up in the meat market had Hugs of not saved her. She really blossomed during her time at Hugs. She is a beautiful little girl with exceptionally good manners and is very trusting. She has finally found her home and got to arrive in style! Here is an update from her new adoptive owner:

“Our new companion pony did not take long to settle in and she is now the boss. Hugs provided all the information about Ferns character and everything was spot on. She has been an absolute delight and we all love her very much already. She is about have some training and hopefully be ridden in the near future. We promise to give regular updates on her progress. ❤🐴”

Fern's adoptive owner

Huckleberry Successfully Rehomed

Huckleberry arrived at Hugs in October 2018 following the Chagford Dartmoor Pony Sales. He was approximately only 6 weeks old when he arrived, scared, tiny and unable to even eat hay yet. He was put on a special diet including foal creep to give him the nutrition he should have been getting from his mother’s milk.

As Huckleberry became braver and stronger he absolutely flourished. He was great with the children who visit, looking after new ponies, causing mischief with his friends and he even had a little trip out to Pets at Home before his departure where he was definitely a huge hit with the public!

Dear little Huckleberry has certainly landed on his hooves having a special and loving new home to enjoy. He is now a very successful little show pony and finally has a loving family.