Abandoned newborn foal given 'limited chance of survival' to celebrate first birthday
Biggles has been nursed back to health after he was discovered with his umbilical cord still attached
A newborn foal given a 'limited chance of survival' after being abandoned is now preparing to celebrate his first birthday since making a remarkable recovery thanks to the dedication of vets and a rescue charity.
Biggles was discovered severely dehydrated, unable to stand and weak from starvation, dumped in a field of a Bishop Auckland village last year. The foal was believed to be less than 24 hours old when he was discovered lying helpless with his umbilical cord still attached.
Here4Horses, a local equine charity based in Hunwick, County Durham, were altered by a concerned horse owner who discovered Biggles and immediately raised the alarm to rescue the tiny foal.
Wendy Suddes, Trustee of the charity - which rescues neglected and abandoned horses and cares for around 30 equines - transported the vulnerable newborn who was in a critical condition and needed urgent veterinary treatment if he was to have any chance of survival to Clevedale Veterinary Practice in Upleatham, near Guisborough.
Wendy told Chroniclelive at the time how the young foal was only given a "40/60 chance of survival by vets" who administered IV fluids and antibiotics. Biggles also required feeding via a stomach tube to prevent further dehydration. She continued: "We caught him just in time. He has been very lucky."
Once stable, the foal required round-the-clock care and was bottle-fed every two hours, day and night, by Wendy and the other dedicated Here4Horses volunteers who named him Biggles for the unusual white colouring around his eyes giving him the appearance of wearing googles like a pilot.
Now thanks to the expertise of vets Alistair Love and Lis Watson, alongside Wendy’s unwavering dedication, Biggles beat the odds and is now thriving ahead of his first birthday in June.
Wendy said: "We genuinely didn’t know if he was going to make it. We can only assume he’d lost his mum and had been abandoned because he needed intensive care. The first 72 hours were critical. We threw everything at him and just hoped it would be enough. Clevedale Vets were truly exceptional, and everyone showed incredible care and commitment throughout his recovery.
"We always want to be in a position to help in situations like this one and young Biggles was so lucky because without public support we simply cannot continue."
Clevedale Vets provides care for all of the horses and ponies at Here4Horses, and Alistair has overseen Biggles’ treatment throughout the first year of his life. The piebald Gypsy Cob is expected to grow to around 11 hands high.
Alistair said: "Biggles was in a very poor condition when he arrived, and there was a real risk we might lose him. Thanks to Wendy’s dedication and the intensive care he received, he’s made an incredible recovery. It’s fantastic to see him doing so well. It really was a team effort, but the credit has to go to Wendy – she was there around the clock, giving him the care he needed to survive.”
Clevedale Veterinary Practice provides care for horses, pets and farm animals across North Yorkshire from its surgeries in Upleatham, Stokesley, Whitby and Guisborough, and is part of the VetPartners, a group of veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses across the UK and Europe.
The practice regularly supports Here4Horses through fundraising initiatives, and Alistair will be taking part in the Great North Run this September to raise awareness and funds for the charity.