Charlotte Dujardin rehomes rescue foal

Charlotte Dujardin is rehoming an RSPCA yearling, after claiming love at first sight.

Skinny foal

The skinny black foal came into the RSPCA’s care on welfare grounds just before Christmas last year. He was kept with a friend of Charlotte’s, who looks after horses on behalf of the charity.

It was while he was there the double-Olympic gold medalist, European champion and recent winner of theWorld Cupmet and fell for the foal, whom she nicknamed Santa. Charlotte asked her sponsors Bucas to tailor-make a rug for the foal, who was so tiny he was wearing a dog coat.

Struck gold

“I fell in love with him when I first saw him and I said ‘I’ll rescue him’,” said Charlotte. “There are hundreds of horses and ponies which need homes, it has has really opened my eyes to what’s going on.

“It would be great if more people could rescue, you don’t need to breed them, there’s some lovely horse and ponies there. I’m really pleased I’m able to help the RSPCA.”

According toRSPCA rehoming officer Gareth Johnson, it is “fantastic” that someone with such a high profile is taking on a rescue pony: “We know he will now have the best life in her care, he really has struck gold,” he said.

Great life

Santa is going to be a field companion for Charlotte’s up-and-coming superstars – although she says he may have a go at dressage himself when he is older.

“Santa’s going to have a really great life, he’s going to be a field companion for one of my younger horses, Vogue, and who knows what will happen in the future as he grows, maybe he could be another Olympic champion?” she said.