A Shetland pony rescued from extreme neglect including being graffitied on by cruel owners is now 'thriving' and ready to be rehomed.

Sherbert was one of thirteen horses rescued by Newton Abbot’s Mare and Foal Sanctuary after a serious welfare neglect case at her previous home.

After 14 months recovering with the charity, many of the horses with life-threatening conditions have been brought back to health.

Sherbert, aged three, who was one of the most critically neglected ponies, is now thriving and looking for a loving new home.

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary were monitoring the animals' previous living situation at the Family Nest Therapy CIC - who had sheep, goats and horses in their centre - after being contacted by a concerned member of the public back in 2021.

Over several months, the charity escalated the case to the RSPCA, which decided to pursue a prosecution.

Many of the equines found at the Family Nest Therapy CIC were in a "very poor state" with severe malnourishment, conjunctivitis, lice, worm burden, overgrown hooves, heart conditions, alopecia, anaemia and chronic inflammation.

Their bones showed through their skin, and some were covered in paint brush marks from children’s parties.

Some ponies were showing signs of severe depression. Sherbert even had graffiti on her.

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s Senior Welfare Advisor Rebecca Sherrell said: "It was the worst case I’ve ever worked on.

"I’ve never seen horses that thin before. They were lacking food, water and shelter in 27 degree heat.

"It’s a case that has really stuck with me. It was shocking to see, especially at a place which claimed to offer equine assisted therapy."

Sentencing the owners and yard manager to suspended prison sentences and bans on keeping animals, Judge Simon Carr said it was one of the worst cases of animal neglect he had ever seen.

Sadly, one of the horses rescued from the centre did not make it due to such extreme neglect, so the Mare and Foal Sanctuary spent more than a year nursing the 12 surviving ponies.

Each had an individual recovery plan tailored to their specific needs, including veterinary visits, medication and food supplements. 

They also required extensive behavioural training.

Sanctuary staff now feel Sherbert, who is three-years-old, would benefit from one-to-one care with an experienced pony handler as part of the charity’s ‘Sanctuary at Home’ loan scheme.

Syra Bowden, Head of Welfare Outreach and Advice said: "Although we will miss seeing her each day, everyone at the Sanctuary would love to see Sherbert happily settled in a special new home after her terrible ordeal.

"Our team has been so impressed with Sherbert’s progress.

"It took a great deal of loving care, support and rehabilitation, but her character and spirit has finally emerged, and she has captured the hearts of everyone who has worked with her.

"Sherbert would make a wonderful companion pony and is sociable in her herd, so she will need other equine company.

"We think Sherbert will do well with someone who has worked with small ponies before and can give her lots of attention and enrichment exercises."

For more information, visit: https://www.mareandfoal.org/