Mika, a few‑weeks‑old filly rescued earlier this summer, is recovering well after being taken to the Mare and Foal Sanctuary's Beech Trees specialist site near Newton Abbot. Staff say the youngster arrived underweight and in an environment not suited to a newborn foal, but has responded positively to close veterinary attention and round‑the‑clock care.
Specialist feeding and monitoring
On arrival Mika was given supplementary milk and placed on a tailored nutritional plan. The sanctuary's carers report steady weight gain and improving condition as a result of the focused feeding and monitoring regime.
- Supplementary milk alongside regular checks
- Frequent weigh‑ins and nutritional assessments
- Gentle handling and early training to prepare for the future
- Companionship with another rescue foal, Luna
Heart murmur to be reassessed
During routine veterinary checks, Mika was found to have a heart murmur, caused by irregular blood flow through the heart. The sanctuary says such murmurs are fairly common in very young foals and often resolve naturally. Further assessments are planned for when Mika reaches three and six months of age to determine whether the condition is temporary or needs ongoing care.
| Assessment | Timing | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Initial veterinary check | On arrival | General health assessment; murmur identified |
| Follow‑up assessment | At 3 months | Evaluate whether murmur persists |
| Further assessment | At 6 months | Decide on any long‑term monitoring or treatment |
Carers say Mika is becoming more confident each day. Because she remains very small, even a miniature Shetland headcollar is too large, so current handling focuses on encouraging calm behaviour and positive responses to people rather than formal tack training.
"Mika is so calm and sweet. She was very shy when she arrived, but she's now coming out of her shell, being inquisitive and running around her field and exploring things,"
The foal shares paddocks and companionship with another rescue filly, Luna, and sanctuary staff describe them playing, exploring and resting together in the long grass on warmer days.
Local context and what to expect
The Mare and Foal Sanctuary runs several specialist sites, including Beech Trees near Newton Abbot, providing rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming for young horses and their mothers. For Mika, the coming months will be important: continued nutritional support and veterinary follow‑up should establish whether her heart murmur resolves naturally or requires further management.
Members of the public interested in the sanctuary's work can usually find details about volunteering, donations and adoption on the charity's official channels. For Mika and foals like her, sustained care over weeks and months is often critical to a healthy outcome.
