Three ponies removed from Gelligaer Commons in south-east Wales in need of urgent veterinary care are the focus of Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s latest appeal. 

Orphan foal Ducky, mare Daisy and her foal Della were discovered last November, during a special multi-charity project to reduce unwanted breeding and ensure a better winter for ponies on Gelligaer and Merthyr Commons, working together with the Commoners Association and landowners. 

Little Ducky, who was four months old, was lying down away from the rest of the group and, with no mother around, presumed orphaned. She was thin and had bad rain scald. Sadly, road traffic accidents are one of the reasons why ponies are orphaned on the common and this may have happened to Ducky.  

Local horse lovers had reported two ponies in another group to the charities - Daisy, a five-year-old grey mare had several lumps on her face, and her foal Della, a four month-old bay filly, was lame. Investigations found that Daisy had a tooth infection that presented as an abscess on her face.  

Nic de Brauwere, Head of Welfare and Behaviour at Redwings, said: “These ponies needed urgent veterinary care, and to come away from the common before the winter set in. 

 “With over 20 years of experience helping and supporting ponies from Gelligaer Commons, we are experts at dealing with semi feral ponies like Ducky, Daisy and Della here at Redwings. 

 “Over the years Redwings has given sanctuary to hundreds of ponies from Wales and our partnership work in the area has helped many more.” 

Ducky, Daisy and Della are now all in good health. They live together at Redwings in Norfolk, where Daisy has taken on the role of surrogate mother to Ducky, and she and Della – who are the same age - have become good friends. In June they were joined by one year old Shetland pony Ogden, who was part of a different rescue in 2023, and the four of them have recently moved to Redwings’ behaviour centre where they are taking their next steps towards a secure, more confident future.