Charlie
Rescued: May 18, 2010

Once a much-loved gymkhana pony, Charlie was brought to Spain from the UK then given away when his young rider grew up.

It’s unclear exactly what happened next, but we understand Charlie had several more owners before he arrived at our centre in May 2010. We believe he was aged about 18 when he arrived.

We soon discovered that Charlie has Cushing’s disease, a pituitary gland tumour that affects his cortisol levels. He now needs daily medication to control the symptoms and ensure he can live comfortably.

Cushing’s disease causes old Charlie’s coat to grow very thick all year round. As a Welsh Section A pony, bred for far cooler northern climates, we find poor Charlie struggles quite a lot in Spain’s hot summer.

During the sweltering months here, we shower him several times a day, clip him regularly and he even has his own personal stable fan at night. This is where your donated money goes – towards keeping golden oldies like Charlie comfortable and content.

These days Charlie lives a very happy life in our pony field with his best friend Lucky. Little Lucky is literally like Charlie’s shadow; every step Charlie takes, Lucky does in unison. They literally move together everywhere throughout the day, a strong friendship that is a delight to watch.