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HAPPA was alerted to the plight of three horses in the Greater Manchester area whose welfare was said to be 'severely compromised.'

On arrival at the scene it was evident that the horses were suffering and had lost a considerable amount of weight and all had evidence of rain scald and sores covering their bodies.

HAPPA’s equine inspector, Tracy Heaton, was able to locate the owner, then, all three horses were signed over into the care of he charity's rescue centre, Shores Hey Farm,

The three horses rescued by HAPPA, Rainbow, Violet and Indigo, are on a long road to recovery in the hands of the expert team

Tracy said: “HAPPA are continuing to take every call of concern very seriously.

"Following strict government guidelines regarding social distancing I investigated a report from a concerned member of the public regarding these three horses. When I arrived at the scene I was alarmed at just how thin these horses were, they simply had not been receiving a suitable diet to sustain their own body weight.

"It was evident that if action was not taken soon there may have been a very different outcome."

An initial veterinary assessment gave two of the horses a body condition score of just one and 1.5 and the third equine scored a two. They have now settled into the Isolation and Assessment Unit at Shores Hey Farm and are in the dedicated hands of HAPPA’s Equine Care Team.

Named HAPPA Rainbow, a 17 year old grey gelding, HAPPA Violet, a Palomino 12 year

old mare and HAPPA Indigo, a Bay Andalusian gelding, all three are now enjoying bespoke rehabilitation plans in order to begin to gain weight, receive veterinary treatment, and head on the long road to recovery.

Senior Equine Care Officer, Kelly Laird, said: " “It is still very early days for Rainbow, Violet and Indigo, but we hope that with specialist care and a little bit of TLC all should begin to recover from their ordeal.

"I am just so happy that we are able to offer a second chance to these horses and ensure a better future for them all."

The charity has made an appeal for donations of equipment, with a bespoke 'wish list', to help the three rescues, or any of the 51 horses and ponies at the centre.

For more information about the wish list or to pledge your support and donate please go to www.happa.org.uk/donate/ or call 01282 455992

Burnley based equine charity stages rescue of three horses after call from concerned member of the public