A severely neglected pony found fly-grazing in Essex is being treated by vets after being rescued by Redwings last month (24 February).
The charity said the pony “is one of the worst cases” it has seen this year.
The 13hh piebald cob, thought to be three years old, was seized under the new Control of Horses Act (England) following a call to Harlow Council from a local resident.
Redwings’ senior field officer Jo Franklin found “a very sick pony” when she attended the site with a vet from House and Jackson Equine Clinic.
“She had been abandoned on a green opposite a housing estate and was extremely thin with a body condition score of 0.5 (normal BCS is 3). Her back legs were also covered in diarrhoea and she had a weeping wound on her right hind leg,” said Ms Franklin.
The pony was taken back to the House and Jackson for emergency veterinary treatment to the wound and feeding rehabilitation.
There are concerns the wound on her leg could cause permanent damage.
“We’re all very concerned about this very poorly pony and will be closely following her progress with the hope to be able to bring her into our Essex centre, Redwings Ada Cole,” said Redwings chief executive Lynn Cutress.
She said Liquorice’s case “further emphasises our battle in the current horse crisis as again we have been called upon to pick up the pieces irresponsible horse owners leave behind.”