Foal crisis: charity urges owners to take more responsibility

The Blue Cross charity has seen a significant rise in the number of foals abandoned on the roadside as a result of irresponsible breeding and lack of complete care by horse owners.

In 2016 alone, the pet charity rescued a large amount of foals with some as young as six weeks old dumped and left to die by reckless owners who see no value in the animal.

A piebald colt foal is the latest victim of this growing problem. He was found abandoned in a field, struggling to survive without his mother.

Olympus is now receiving around the clock care at the Blue Cross horse centre in Burford, Oxfordshire, and has joined the long list of other rescued foals that will be looking for permanent homes.

“It is very upsetting to see foals as young as Olympus being left without their mother. It’s a miracle that he managed to survive,” said Jenna Martyn, Rehoming Manager at the Blue Cross in Burford.

“We are concerned that the value of foals, particularly colts, is now so low that they are possibly being dumped and that this abhorrent trend is going to continue to increase,” she added.

To find out more about Olympus and the other unwanted foals who will be up for adoption, click here.