A FOAL that was left for dead by its cruel former owner has gone from nags to riches - and been transformed into a racehorse. Charity Rainbow was found with six other malnourished animals in two stables owned by an ex-RSPCA worker. They were so hungry they were eating their wooden fencing and had not been cleaned for so long they were standing in two feet of manure. The Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies (SWHP) rescued the animals from the rundown stables in Monmouthshire, south Wales, in 2008 after a tip-off. One foal died through malnourishment but five others were later rehomed as riding horses after recovering from their ordeal. They included thoroughbred Charity Rainbow - then eight months old - who was recommended to top racing trainer Brendan Powell who took her to his stables in Lambourn, Berks, earlier this year. Charity Rainbow recently completed her first introductory two mile flat race and Brendan is confident she is a future champion. He said: âSheâs a very genuine horse and from what she shows us at home we are very hopeful that she will go on to be successful. âShe has been an absolute darling. Considering what she went through at the start of her life to now get on a race track is unbelievable.â SWHP chairman Jenny MacGregor said she was shocked at the terrible conditions she saw at the stables of the unnamed owner. Bleak ... Rainbow was found in a terrible state but now has a bright future BNPS.co.uk She said: âThe man who owned the horses is an ex-RSPCA market inspector but he was never that interested, he would just brag about his race horses. âBut one day a neighbour called me and asked me to go and see, and all of them looked absolutely terrible. âThey were all malnourished, had worms, and were in such bad condition, that they had even eaten part of the fence because they were so hungry. âWe had to break the stable door down to get to them because the muck had built up halfway up it and you couldnât get in. âOne mare had a foal with her which died the night we got there of malnourishment, worm damage and dehydration.â SWHP colleague Ann Peacock added: âThis is a real rags to riches story. âWhen we started to break Charity Rainbow in, it was obvious she had racing genes and wasnât going to be a riding horse, she is quite high spirited. âSince then, she has progressed in leaps and bounds and left to go to Brendan Powell this year.â Charity Rainbow is owned by the SWHP Supporters Partnership, which is a syndicate made up of 12 locals from Monmouth. They club together to pay for the mareâs upkeep and training. She came fifth out of eight in her first ever race at Taunton, Somerset. Trainer Brendan said: âWe were pleased with how Rainbow came out of her first race and how she has improved since that run and we are hoping she is going to go on to win a race or two in the future. âIâm really pleased for Rainbowâs owners, who have done such a good job with her and I hope she will be bringing them success on the race track before too long.â
Horrific story but superb ending, and I'm glad to hear she is homed and well. I hope to see her winning a couple of races soon. Thanks for posting!
She was placed last in her only start to date yet in a bumper at Taunton but likewise hope to see her win some races, I have put her in my tracker just to keep an eye on how she does!!
