Rescue pony Maple is being showcased as part of World Horse Welfare’s annual "rehome a horse month" thanks to her fantastic achievements both under saddle and in harness in the four years since Truro resident Sarah gave her a new home.

In 2010, Maple was just three when she was found abandoned as part of a group of ten horses in South Norfolk. She was removed by the RSPCA and taken to World Horse Welfare’s Somerset Rescue and Rehoming Centre. Maple was underweight and suffering from skin problems but she was also found to be heavily pregnant and shortly after arriving she gave birth to a colt foal, Bonsai.

Maple underwent rehabilitation with World Horse Welfare and once Bonsai was weaned she was ready to find a new home where she could receive the love she deserved and that’s where Sarah came in.

Sarah said: “I was keen to rehome a horse from World Horse Welfare instead of buying because of the detailed record you receive and the assurance that if it doesn’t work out then you can return the horse at any time.

"Maple was quite a shy pony when she first came home with us as a four-year-old but has since grown into a lovely, kind, confident and easy-to-handle pony. Almost five years, and a lot of hard work, later, I have trained Maple to not only be a lovely riding pony but more recently a driving pony and we have a brilliant time going around the local lanes in our carriage which also helps keep her fit and healthy.

“Maple is not only a very willing and safe pony, but she’s also a great companion for my other horse who is only three-years-old and she gives the best cuddles which is always an important quality in a horse. Maple is very talented at getting the attention of the humans in her life with an effective method whereby she takes a large mouthful of water, waits until someone is beside the stable door and then deposits her mouthful of water down the unsuspecting victim’s neck – needless to say you can’t ignore her after that.

“I am a 100 per cent advocate for rehoming and recommend it to anyone who tells me they are looking for a new horse. Nowhere else can you find a pony with a full report of its training and where you know you will be told the absolute honest truth, plus receive a full vet check. The team at World Horse Welfare are dedicated to finding the perfect homes for their horses and ponies with everyone’s best interests at heart. I wouldn’t part with Maple for the world and it’s such a fantastic feeling to know that I’ve helped her reach her full potential.”

Rehome a Horse month shines a light on the horses and ponies who are looking for homes but also showcases the stories of the 1,700 World Horse Welfare horses and ponies currently out in homes around the country. To find out more about rehoming visit http://rehoming.worldhorsewelfare.org/