VIDEO: ‘We developed this wonderful bond’ – rescue pony finds forever home with groom

A rescued pony who lost an eye and arrived at a Devon sanctuary as a shy, withdrawn figure has found his forever home with the groom who helped him rediscover his confidence.

Seventeen-year-old skewbald moorland pony Geronimo has moved from The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s Coombe Park yard in Totnes to live with Georgie Moore through the charity’s Rehoming Scheme, also known as Sanctuary at Home.

Geronimo first arrived at the sanctuary in 2018 as part of a merger with another equine charity. A year later, persistent health problems meant his left eye had to be removed. Following surgery and recovery at the charity’s Beech Trees Veterinary and Welfare Assessment Centre in Newton Abbot, he settled at Coombe Park.

There, he became a Sponsorship Pony and took part in the sanctuary’s equine-assisted sessions, helping vulnerable children and adults build confidence and emotional resilience.

It was around three and a half years ago that Horse Care Team member Georgie Moore was assigned as Geronimo’s groom.

“I noticed he was quite shy and timid, and I thought we could definitely improve this for him, for his overall wellbeing,” she said.

Georgie introduced gentle clicker training – a reward-based method that uses a clicking sound to mark positive behaviour, followed by a treat.

“It started off with just target training in the stable, and that grew into taking him into the arena, and he learned to touch a target with his nose,” she explained.

“We moved on to cones, then he learned to knock the cones down. Then he learned to push a ball round, so we thought, let's take it a bit further.

“He started doing turns and to bow. In the arena he would just follow me around and as we started learning new things, it elevated his confidence so much.”

The transformation was remarkable.

“I'd go into the barn and call for him, and he would make lots of noise and get really excited, and we’d do our routine. It was his favourite part of the day, and it was mine too because it really grew his confidence.

“He went from being one of the most timid ponies in the yard to the most vocal in the barn. Day by day we developed this wonderful bond.”

That bond proved so strong that Georgie applied to rehome Geronimo through the sanctuary’s scheme. She already cares for two other rescued ponies from the charity, Robin and Willis – Robin also has just one eye, so the pair share similar needs and grazing requirements.

“I already have rehomed ponies Robin and Willis at home with me,” she said.

“As I developed this special bond with Geronimo, I just knew that I didn't want to live without him.”

In November, Geronimo made the short journey from Coombe Park to Georgie’s nearby home.

“He's settling in really well,” she said. “Obviously, it was a big change for him, but he was great. He loaded on the trailer well and we only needed to drive a short way down the road.

“He went straight out into the field with the boys the other side of the fence, and he got settled and was trotting around, seeming really excited.”

She added: “The three ponies have merged now and they're getting on really well. They're grazing next to each other, and he seems really, really happy. So that makes me very happy.”

Although Geronimo has now retired from his day-to-day role at Coombe Park, he remains a Sponsorship Pony and is the first to take part in the charity’s new Sponsorship Pony Loan Scheme. Supporters who sponsor him will continue to help fund his lifelong care while he lives at home with Georgie.

The move reflects the sanctuary’s commitment to lifelong welfare through programmes such as Sanctuary at Home, which allows carefully selected rescued horses and ponies to live in approved private homes while remaining under the charity’s guardianship.

More information about the Sponsorship Pony scheme, the Sponsorship Pony Loan Scheme and Sanctuary at Home is available on The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s website at mareandfoal.org.