You may remember gentle giant Seamus who was the star of our spring appeal this year. The Clydesdale horse was found so emaciated, that our Field Officer Seema – who went to his aide – called him a ‘giant skeleton’.
Clydesdales are considered ‘vulnerable’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and are generally highly prized and meticulously cared for, but Seamus was found without a blade of grass to eat – and it seemed he had been living in these conditions for some time.
This once majestic horse was slowly starving to death as he tried to crane his neck through the fence to reach any morsel of forage but there was simply not enough to sustain him, he’d even resorted to chewing the wooden fences in desperation.
Seamus was quickly moved to the safety of our Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Lancashire where our experienced team rallied to his aid, giving him the emergency treatment he desperately needed.
Remarkably, despite his dire condition, Seamus’s trust in humans was seemingly unbroken and he seemed to sense we were there to help him. His character never faltered and when his strength started to return, he remained consistently calm and gentlemanly.
Seamus has since found a loving new home, returning to his ancestral roots in Scotland, where he is thriving, happy and loving life with his rehomers, Nikky and Willie.
We caught up with Nikky to see what life with Seamus is like.
How did you feel when you first saw Seamus?
Oh my goodness, we were driven to tears when we saw the pictures of poor Seamus. We had recently lost our old Highland boy after 25 years and our first rehomer Kyfa, a fantastic quirky Arab gelding and were looking to care for another horse who needed us as much as we needed them!
We travelled to Penny Farm to see Seamus and were instantly smitten. We found a yard we thought would be suitable for him with a large paddock and plenty of company either side of his field. We obtained the help of a joiner and doubled the size of his stable, so it was lovely and roomy and we found an experienced transporter of Clydesdales to bring him home to Scotland.
What was life like when Seamus first arrived?
We excitedly waited for his arrival, he seemed massive to us to begin with and quite anxious. We thought this would subside with time, as he got to know us and his surroundings. Although he had company either side of his field, he never looked settled, so we contacted Penny Farm and asked if they had a companion suitable for Seamus, of course they did and soon little Puddin was on her way, a two-year-old Cob.
What did Seamus think of his new companion Puddin?
Right away Seamus was smitten with his new field mate, and they became inseparable. Seamus is like her big brother who tries to keep Puddin on the right path!
Seamus struggled to settle at the stables he was in and after advice from Clydesdale owners, Nikky and Willie found out how sensitive these majestic creatures can be and how some of them do not like a being at a yard where there may be many horses.
We decided to move to Seamus and Puddin somewhere more suitable, as if by luck stables became available at a farm we had been on several years earlier with our Highlands, we made enquires and made the move. The farm has a peaceful ambience and from the first day Seamus has laid down in his stable every single night, he is chilled out and almost seems a different horse to the one we had on a busier yard.
He has a visiting chicken we have named Mary, who comes over to see him every day and leaves an egg before toddling off for the day – Seamus always gives her a gentle nuzzle each morning.
What is caring for Seamus like?
Although experienced with horses for many years it was predominately with Thoroughbreds and Highlands – caring for a Clydesdale has been a new experience and huge learning curve!
We have had one health problem, the dreaded hoof abscess. As always, our vet made the initial application of the poultice look easy however, after a week of daily poulticing with a large boy who did not take too kindly to having his bandage and tape changed, it was quite a task but he has come good, thank goodness!
What is life with Seamus like?
I think we have learned so much in this last year of having Seamus and Puddin, we now have a chilled-out boy who we love so much and would do anything for just to make him happy and it goes without saying that Puddin is loved every bit as much, our cheeky wee monkey!!
We cannot thank World Horse Welfare enough for giving him a second chance at life and entrusting us with his follow-on care. We are passionate about our rescues and make it our mission to make sure they enjoy life!
Seamus’s story is one that reminds us why we are always there for horses like Seamus, and it is only thanks to your donations that we can continue rescuing horses in desperate need.
