Bodmin Moorland Pony Rehabilitation registered charity no. 1167401

13/09/2026

Sunday night round up….
Well, this week our main focus has been on supporting Rebel. After appearing to brighten up on Wednesday, he’s been pretty low the rest of the week, which in turn makes me feel the same, it could be the meds we are currently trying him on. Today, however he has perked up again and was moving more comfortably which is reassuring. We’ve had him in boots overnight with a few hours without during the day. We’ve been gradually building up the paracetamol as not being a greedy pony, it has been a bit unpalatable to him. I’m hoping doing it this way will ensure he gradually adapts to the change in taste, as the last thing we want is for him to refuse pain relief, so far so good! I have upped both his and Skye’s herbal self selection liver support, alternate days, lots of milk thistle seed, dandelion root & burdock root, alongside some additional herbs and powders to support the rest of their bodily systems.
The rest of the herd seem happy and well. Susie, Indie and Ariel have been spending some more time on the rehab track and new stable area during the day which they seem to enjoy, a change of scenery and all that.
Phoenix and Panda are happily doing their thing, the cobalobs have all been behaving themselves (touch wood!) KC and Bracken are just being contented oldies up the top. The North Coasters have avoided the Burrs this week so I’ve not been forced to get the kitchen scissors out again..Mojo is still looking at me dubiously whilst sporting his ‘urchin’ fringe 🙈
Rich has been back in this weekend and has been a huge help catching up on some of the jobs. Polly Polaris retuned this week after some time at the garage, she’s been off duty for all of the summer after her steering rack gave up on us so it’s great to have her back in action before the weather sets in for autumn!
I think that’s pretty much all of our news caught up on
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to those that have donated to our latest fundraiser for winter forage. If you missed our post yesterday please scroll down 2 posts & if you can we would be so grateful if you could show your support, no act of kindness is too small 💚
I’ll add the link in comments below 💚

13/09/2026

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FROM KERRY 🤗🤗
WHO FANCIES ANOTHER SHOW BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT? 🤗🤗
PLEASE SHARE EVERYWHERE 🙏

🤶🏽🎄📢SAVE THE DATE📢🎄🤶🏽

“I 100% remember saying there was no way I could do a Christmas show. But, on the condition that we get enough entries....

13th December 2026
Poldice Valley Equine and Events Arena

In-hand and ridden showing (no workers).

Let me know what classes you'd like to see 🏆”

12/09/2026

So today, I’m doing what I really dislike doing & appealing for help 🙏
We desperately need support with our winter forage costs…..
I’ve always struggled with the whole ‘charity’ thing (I know, I’m in the wrong sector but we did sort of fall into this whole charitable thing all those years ago!!) I don’t like asking for help, for donations etc we’ve always tried to source as much of our income as possible from grant funding & earning our keep, however this year has been one brick wall after another on the grant front, we have been turned down on pretty much all of our applications which has been devastating to a small charity like ourselves.
We don’t have significant financial reserves like many and what tiny bit we did start squirrelling away has been dwindling on our monthly running costs, with forage being our biggest outlay every month.
We don’t have staff salaries being 100% volunteer run, we don’t have fancy facilities, we don’t have lots of machinery or equipment with what little we do have being scrimped & saved for….everything we earn goes directly back into keeping things running for our ponies.
This year has been so tough! Battling the ponies health, our own health, environmental factors, our lack of infrastructure & this is before worrying about the whole funding side of things, we are exhausted both physically & emotionally. This last week with the worry of Rebsy has nigh on finished me. We are moving into autumn & the thoughts of winter are now adding to this burden.
The last couple of years we haven’t done our annual summer hay appeal to fill our north coast barn, we’ve been lucky to have had the funding to help us without having to ask you, our supporters but this year we desperately need help. Hay shortages are expected to be worse than last years, this will push costs up even higher. We were seeing a monthly increase per pallet delivery we were ordering these last 9 months of the hay we purchase in as we struggle to source ‘safe’ analysed hay locally. Our local supplier only cuts a limited amount of the organic wrapped hay that has proved to be the only forage that Rebel and Skye can tolerate without their insulin spiking to dangerous levels. Last year we could afford to safeguard 60 large square bales of this at £45 a bale in advance, this ran out during the spring and well, we all know what has happened since we reverted to soaking the other hay we use where Rebel is concerned 😩 So here I am, cap in hand asking for your help, our loyal supporters…. Please consider making a donation towards our latest fundraiser for forage, we desperately need your help this winter to continue supporting the ponies in our care. I hate asking but without your support we couldn’t do what we do for the ponies in our care all of whom deserve so much after their horrendous starts to life. I set up a JustGiving page earlier this summer and have so far edited it at least three times as & when our needs changed & still not shared it until now, originally we were looking for help with a trailer as well to make us more self sufficient but forage is now the priority all of the usual ways to donate are also great be that BACS, PayPal, via our website and I’ll also list these below or in the comments Please help us, every penny counts, no amount is too small, even a share of this post might make the difference & with your support we can keep these special souls fed over the coming months, thank you all 💚

BACS -
BODMIN MOORLAND PONY REHABILITATION
30-67-79
37329968
PayPal - [email protected]
www.bodminmoorlandpony.org

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/2026trailerandhayappeal

Please help us raise the funds towards winter forage

09/09/2026

The wee man has been trialing out some of Skye’s footwear! We weren’t sure how he would adapt to boots and pads but once again, absolute superstar! Still have some alternatives to try size wise tomorrow but at least we know he will happily tolerate them 💚 wondering how we take out shares in Cavallo Hoof Boots the amount we are currently using! They do suit so many of our residents fit and comfort wise 💚
He was definitely a happier, brighter little chap today 💚

08/09/2026

Not sure how I’m feeling tonight….. a bit sad, a bit worried & definitely a bit frustrated, despondent. My day at home on catching up with admin resulted in an afternoon at yard on an emergency vet call out.
Rebs wasn’t great when H got in this morning so it was a no question about it call to the vets! He’s had some on off lameness symptoms to one leg & general stiffness but this morning he was just plain wrong & uncomfortable. Over the last few weeks we’ve had physio out to him for the stiffness, he’s had his hooves done and nothing obvious there last week, no heat, pulses, obvious symptoms of abscess or laminitis yet today, pulses are raised and he has sole reactivity, suspected laminitis diagnosed.
I just don’t know what more we can do… everyone here is managed on a species appropriate analysed low sugar/starch high fibre diet which costs us 10’s of thousands of ££’s each year sourcing, limited to no grass using track systems etc Skye and Rebel are micro managed due to their significant metabolic sensitivities and predisposition, hay is soaked, barley straw is also fed, they have limited access to a 99% grass free track albeit small & a 100% grass free yard the rest of the time, we’ve adapted and changed hoof care provider and routines, Rebel is not obese and has visible ribs and short of more movement no amount of additional dieting is going to fix his shape, it feels like there is nothing more we can change yet still it happens!
Im questioning everything again…Is it something within our current environment, in their history of malnourishment and neglect in early life, is it inherent and in their genetics (my most recent research is delving into Epigenetics) and whilst native types will always be predisposed, considering their pretty much lifelong careful management it seems like more than this… I just don’t know anymore but all I do know is we’ve tried just about everything! It’s so demoralising. We have arranged to have X-rays next week to see where we are at hoof wise & had bloods run to see where his insulin and liver function is at, we know his insulin is likely to be high again due to his history but it gives us a baseline to work to and if his liver function is stable we can perhaps look at medicating again to get his insulin back under control like it was earlier this year.
Rebsy was a superstar, he has come so far over the years and I never give him enough credit for this, he has become such a happy, kind and trusting little soul and a favourite of everyone who meets him & whilst he will always have his sensitive quirks he is the most incredible soul & the light of our lives. He just loves vet Charlie and to see him so trusting of our vets over recent times is testament to just how much he’s come on & the incredible veterinary professionals we work with who put so much time and patience into supporting our sensitive & often complex ponies.
So for now we wait on blood results and then his X-rays, we will have him sized up for some hoof boots to keep him supported and cushioned. We are keeping him comfortable with anti inflammatories and paracetamol and we just hope we can get this under control but as ever we will throw everything we can into supporting this special boy & getting him sound again 💚

06/09/2026

It’s been another long week! For no real reason other than I’ve been feeling lousy, new meds are not agreeing with me, insomnia & nausea have left me feeling clobbered, here’s hoping once I get past the initial side effects I’ll be feeling like a new woman however tonight for no reason whatsoever I now can’t weightbear on my knee!! I’m falling apart & suspect I’m coming out in sympathy for dear old Rebsy who’s still a bit lame. I’ll be having a chat with the vets tomorrow!
Other than moans and groans there’s not much to write home about, Queen of Hooves Equine Podiatry was out on Wednesday for some trim ups, always lovely to see Jade & huge thanks for the time and patience that goes into caring for our herds hooves.
H has been getting Indie out and about with some in hand walking & back under saddle after a few years retirement in order to manage her weight. Such a good girl, she’s taken all of it in her stride!
Lots of positive feedback from Ivys new home. She’s settled in really well to her new environment, getting on well with her companion and is enjoying lots of attention from her new little people, we are over the moon 💚
Wishing you all a wonderful week 💚

01/09/2026

This afternoon we said a Bon voyage to dearest Ivy who has found the most wonderful home & guardians here in Cornwall 💚
She arrived in 2024 with her buddy Clover, both girls were young, not in the greatest shape & it soon became apparent that unlike Clover, Ivy didn’t have the greatest of trust where humans were concerned, revealing herself as one of the most defensive young ponies we had ever know. So, we gave her what she needed, the time & positive human interactions she needed to discover that trust could be placed in us, no rush, no pressure. Fast forward to today, Ivy has flourished into a confident & affectionate individual, who has become a firm & cherished favourite to all who meet her. She may be tiny but she will leave a big gap in our herd however she is the luckiest of cobalobs & has the most wonderful opportunity & new family of her own.
Good luck Ivy, you deserve the best of futures & thank you Chloe & family for giving her this chance & the security of a home of her own 💚

31/08/2026

These two & their antics will be the end of me!
The grass is always greener it seems….
As if finding them on the opposite side of where they were meant to be first thing this morning wasn’t enough, they put on another show especially for Jackie at lunchtime, so back again to repair once more! New battery seemed to do the trick & fingers crossed they’re where they should be tomorrow! Cobalobs…..

30/08/2026

What a difference a week makes! We started with wall to wall blue skies & end on torrential downpours! I have relented & donned the trusty waterproofs today. It’s been a slow & steady week after the excitement of last weekend… The ponies have tried their best to challenge any calm, Rebel has tried to spice things up by getting himself into a sticky situation yesterday , thankfully he has come through it largely unscathed but if he wasn’t already a bit stiff he was is today! How best to turn yard into a padded cell, answers on a postcard please 🙏 however Rich has been busy with the left over kick boards today 😩
Meanwhile on the North Coast, Mojo has been the first this autumn to find the Burdocks & whilst their benefits outweigh their negatives, I’m currently questioning my admiration of the plant, I’ve made a good start removing them from his mane but I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to salvage his forelock 😱 watch this space…. So for now some pics from this week.
Hope that you’ve all been enjoying your long weekend whatever you’ve been up to & wishing you all a fabulous week ahead 💚

28/08/2026

We’ve got the track fully up & running in the small rehab paddock & have been letting the mares in for an hour or so to knock back some of the foggage & also introduce them to our lovely new building so they’re comfortable entering the stable for any procedures they may require in the future. All of the girls have been stabled in the past but it’s been a while so we want to ensure it’s just a regular everyday routine for them & not just associated with any negative experiences like vet visits 💚
I think it’s safe to say that the new space is an exciting prospect!