At the start of October 2025, we welcomed two new rescues to Lluest Horse and Pony Trust, a 29-year-old mare named Dew Drop and her five-month-old filly foal, Ginny, named in honour of our late founder Ginny Hajdukiewicz.
Our founder, Ginny, tragically passed away at a young age, but her compassion and determination laid the foundations for Lluest. This year marks 40 years since the charity was established, and we are proud to continue her legacy as Wales’ oldest equine welfare charity, rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming equines in need.
Dew Drop had been living tethered beneath trees, surviving mainly on kitchen scraps, fallen acorns, and the occasional handful of hay from kind locals. After foaling, her condition began to decline, largely due to a lack of free access to water and an unsuitable diet while nursing her foal.
Although her owner loved her, Dew Drop’s welfare needs were not being met. She was tethered continuously, with no opportunity to graze, roll, play, or interact freely with other equines — all vital natural behaviours. Her environment beneath oak trees exposed her to poisonous acorns, and the kitchen scraps she was fed sometimes contained toxic items. Being kept near a public footpath also presented additional risks.
She had been put in foal so she would have company, a decision made with kind intentions but sadly the wrong approach for her welfare, particularly as an elderly mare. The owner’s own deteriorating health meant the situation was unlikely to improve.
With the help of the RSPCA and a veterinarian, our Senior Welfare Assistant Rhian was able to sensitively persuade the owner, who had been in denial about Dew Drop’s condition, to sign both mare and foal into Lluest’s care. They are now safe for life and finally receiving the correct feed, veterinary care, and management they need to recover and thrive.
The Road to Recovery
We are incredibly grateful to Baileys Horse Feeds for their generous donation of five bags of specialist feed for Dew Drop and Ginny. Baileys’ representative, Laura Harries, visited within a week of arrival to weigh both and to create a tailored feeding plan.
During their first few days at Lluest, we were concerned about the possible effects of the toxic acorns and other harmful items they had eaten in desperation. Thankfully, Dew Drop’s blood results came back normal and both are bright and eating well. Dew Drop has since received essential dental treatment to remove painful sharp edges from her teeth, which will make eating far more comfortable. With a correct, nutritious diet and careful management, we are confident she will begin to regain condition steadily.
Ginny is bright, inquisitive, and full of potential. She will now receive the balanced nutrition she needs to grow up healthy and strong. Both are also undergoing worm egg counts to ensure they receive the correct treatment for internal parasites.
Sad Update
Sadly, despite our best efforts, Dew Drop’s health was too compromised, and we only had six weeks with her. Although her time with us was short, she spent those weeks with a full belly, warm, comfortable, and treated with the dignity she deserved.
Ginny is continuing to thrive in our care. She was sensitively weaned, and the kind Linus became her important companion before slowly being introduced to more ponies. She is receiving the right diet, routine, and handling for her age, is growing in confidence, and continues to make steady, positive progress towards finding her own guardian home in 2026.
A Growing Welfare Challenge
Dew Drop’s story highlights a wider issue faced by many horse owners across the UK: increasing financial pressures are making it harder to provide adequate care.
Hay prices are already at a premium in many areas and are expected to rise further throughout winter. In addition, many horses have experienced poor grazing this summer due to dry weather conditions.
At Lluest, we have been inundated with requests for assistance, rehoming has been slower this year and are expecting three Lluest ponies to return from guardian homes this month.
Where possible, we aim to support owners before situations become critical. One recent example is a horse we have been assisting since August, belonging to a disabled owner with limited help and unsuitable facilities. Her gelding came to us following a long episode of laminitis a painful condition affecting the laminae tissues within the hoof wall of horses, ponies and donkeys. Laminitis is often caused by obesity of underlying metabolic conditions, this gelding lost 100 kg under strict management (which is the equivalent weight of a washing machine), this included weighed and soaked hay funded by his owner. He will soon return home, where a newly prepared “track system” will help manage his weight and hopefully prevent recurrence long term. We are pleased to have supported both horse and owner through this process.
How You Can Help
The cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone, and charities are no exception. With more than 160 equines under our care and growing demand for rescue spaces, your support is needed more than ever.
If you believe in giving horses like Dew Drop and Ginny a second chance, please consider:
Sponsoring a stable, from just £10 a month.
Donate or sponsor a stable today
Making a regular donation to help us continue our work – Donate
Predictable, ongoing support helps us to plan ahead and reach those most in need.
Together, we can ensure that horses like Dew Drop and Ginny get the care they deserve and need.