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These two gentle ladies were quarantined while we set about making their lives comfortable with special feeds and plenty of love and care, their feet were lightly trimmed – what we couldn’t do due to quarantine were proper x-rays to their feet and teeth care.
Despite the miserable lives they’d had, they were soft, gentle, loving and friendly and utterly bonded with each other.
Once out of quarantine, Channel 5, Peter Wright (the Yorkshire vet), Arthur our farrier and Julie & Charlie, our vets, were all present whilst Finty and Frieda had their feet x-rayed. The filming you may have seen in December ’24, The Yorkshire Vet a donkey for Christmas, we were very pleased this was highlighting donkey welfare.
The x-ray results were not favourable for either of the girls, but more so for Frieda, they were so poor we had to consider if quality of life would be severely compromised and beyond our help. Arthur our amazing farrier had some ideas for treatment and shoes. So began months of careful management, foot care and special remedial shoes for both Finty and Frieda, along the way we had set backs with foot abscesses, but dealt with those diligently whenever it happened. The girls started walking so much better, further x-rays even showed improvement which we had not expected. They put on weight, grew beautiful glossy coats and looked stunning. Life for Finty and Frieda was looking good, finally after years of hardship, neglect and cruelty there was a future of living the way they should. In August a further visit from our patron Judi Dench and Peter Wright for further filming along with Judi’s daughter Finty (yes, our Finty’s namesake) was so uplifting with both Finty & Frieda looking so much better. The ultimate joy for us was seeing Frieda walking completely normally without pain, she even trotted and cantered with ease and no trace of lameness.
Despite the miserable lives they’d had, they were soft, gentle, loving and friendly and utterly bonded with each other.
Once out of quarantine, Channel 5, Peter Wright (the Yorkshire vet), Arthur our farrier and Julie & Charlie, our vets, were all present whilst Finty and Frieda had their feet x-rayed. The filming you may have seen in December ’24, The Yorkshire Vet a donkey for Christmas, we were very pleased this was highlighting donkey welfare.
The x-ray results were not favourable for either of the girls, but more so for Frieda, they were so poor we had to consider if quality of life would be severely compromised and beyond our help. Arthur our amazing farrier had some ideas for treatment and shoes. So began months of careful management, foot care and special remedial shoes for both Finty and Frieda, along the way we had set backs with foot abscesses, but dealt with those diligently whenever it happened. The girls started walking so much better, further x-rays even showed improvement which we had not expected. They put on weight, grew beautiful glossy coats and looked stunning. Life for Finty and Frieda was looking good, finally after years of hardship, neglect and cruelty there was a future of living the way they should. In August a further visit from our patron Judi Dench and Peter Wright for further filming along with Judi’s daughter Finty (yes, our Finty’s namesake) was so uplifting with both Finty & Frieda looking so much better. The ultimate joy for us was seeing Frieda walking completely normally without pain, she even trotted and cantered with ease and no trace of lameness.
Not so much a set-back, but not really what we wanted for Finty, was the realisation she was in foal and a birth that is now quite imminent, foals are a joy and exciting, but also draining and hard work for an ‘aged’ mother. We have cameras on Finty 24/7. Then the biggest worry of all, Frieda became unwell in January, one evening she developed colic and we called Charlie our vet immediately. After an examination and medication, the next day Frieda was a lot better, but the following day she dipped again and stopped eating. This was to be Frieda’s behaviour over the coming weeks, with a number of vet visits and screening, we thought we were getting on top of what seemed to be colitis. Then a new blood test showed a worrying and drastic difference in some of the parameters. To treat Frieda effectively we had a liver biopsy carried out, it was the only way to get to the real issue and administer the correct treatment.
The liver histology was grave, Frieda’s previous life had taken its toll, despite this we were determined to give her more time with treatment, supplements and special feeds. It may have been palliative, but there is no timescale for palliative. So started our regime with a camera on Frieda and Finty we kept watch…. closely. Our hope for time was not to be, Frieda took a turn for the worse, she was a very sick donkey, the tiny sliver of light and hope that we were holding on to was gone…on Thursday 27 th February am our vet came and we said our final goodbyes.
We were utterly devastated, Finty’s mother or bonded soul mate, probably both, had to leave her when she needed her most, on the brink of bringing a new foal into the world. If we’re heartbroken to lose Frieda, it’s nothing compared to Finty’s loss, the two have lived through so much adversity together and had finally found sanctuary here with us, we felt so privileged to have such beautiful souls amongst us.
The liver histology was grave, Frieda’s previous life had taken its toll, despite this we were determined to give her more time with treatment, supplements and special feeds. It may have been palliative, but there is no timescale for palliative. So started our regime with a camera on Frieda and Finty we kept watch…. closely. Our hope for time was not to be, Frieda took a turn for the worse, she was a very sick donkey, the tiny sliver of light and hope that we were holding on to was gone…on Thursday 27 th February am our vet came and we said our final goodbyes.
We were utterly devastated, Finty’s mother or bonded soul mate, probably both, had to leave her when she needed her most, on the brink of bringing a new foal into the world. If we’re heartbroken to lose Frieda, it’s nothing compared to Finty’s loss, the two have lived through so much adversity together and had finally found sanctuary here with us, we felt so privileged to have such beautiful souls amongst us.
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Life sometimes throws cruel curveballs and we navigate them the very best we can. This is without a doubt the hardest part of sanctuary, the condition of rescues who arrive is one thing, it is shocking and provokes sadness and anger, then we try and fix it, but when we can’t, that hurts the most. Frieda had just 12 months with us and in that time, she wove her way into everyone’s heart, we all loved her, and love her always, we will miss her dreadfully; we can only imagine Finty’s grief.
Frieda is now with Emma and Lettuce, who she had spent time with, so there are some friends to meet her on the Rainbow Bridge. We’re so sorry Frieda, for what befell you in this life, we’re so sorry we couldn’t put it right, you will be remembered forever, your memory cherished always. |
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