BELLA

Bella, a little rescue pony of about 11 hh, is famous for stopping the trains from London to Kettering as she climbed through a fence and got herself stranded on the railway track!!!

Bella is only about 9 or 10 years old, but she has suffered all her life with chronic laminitis, which at times for lengthy periods has been acute. On numerous occasions vets have thought it best to have her put to sleep. However, we heard of some pioneering treatment being done by a professor at Edinburgh University, for horses with Metabolic Laminitis (Bella was tested for this condition first). After much fund raising, Bella was put onto the programme. At first we were doubtful about its success and at £300 per month, it was very costly (it is a ‘one off’ treatment for a maximum of six months). After 4 ½ months, she has finally turned a corner and is improving daily…thank goodness. This picture was taken seconds after she was galloping and bucking all around the school, something she has not done for almost three years. Poor Bella, destined for the continent and then suffering discomfort for so much of her short life - we hope this is the beginning of good quality living for ‘Bella’.