A TEIGNMOUTH-based horse charity has come to the rescue of an abandoned pony who was in such a bad way he was about to be put down.

Melissa Middleton and her husband Bill sprang into action when they heard that 11 foals had been abandoned in a Welsh field.

The couple, who run the Devon Equine Crisis Support, immediately agreed to bring one of the animals back to their sanctuary at Littlehempston.

‘We were contacted by Ann Keating who runs a charitable trust in Wales, to tell us about the ponies that had been found in a field near Caerphilly.

‘They were covered in oil and had various medical problems.

‘Bill drove up right away, and on the way back, also delivered two other ponies to people who had the space to care for them, but no transport.

‘Billy had ulcerated eyes and a bad cough, and was not at all well.

‘We had to act quickly because if homes could not be found, they would have been shot. Luckily, all 11 have been found new homes.

‘In the short time he has been with us, Billy has made good progress, but he still needs a lot of attention, and the vet bills are enormous. When he has been gelded we will try and find him a new home.

‘All the foals are about 12 to 20 weeks old, and it is very cruel to just dump them. We had to help.

‘Billy is just lovely – everybody likes him because he is so friendly,’ said Melissa who runs the Whistestop Cafe in Teignmouth and was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours list for the dozens of good causes she has supported over 40 years.

Last year they rescued another pony that was due to be shot for zoo meat, because he was allegedly too dangerous to handle. But in his new home he has become ‘one of the most gentle’ ponies you could meet’

There are other horses also being cared for at Littlehempston, where Melissa and Bill have built a moveable isolation stable to care for sick animals.

It cost £1,500, and the money was donated by Ian Stevenson of Simply Fun Entertainments in Torquay, who operates a mobile disco business across south Devon.

‘It was so generous of him. It came from a bequest he received from his aunt, an animal lover who died, and was in her memory,’ said Melissa.

‘We are now looking for a second unit, and are trying to raise the money.   Anybody who might be able to help can find us on our Facebook page .’