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Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Crockett the Rocket
Crockett the Rocket, who pokes his tongue out, jets off for his new home
A
horse whose comical appearance has earned him many fans has just retired
to a life of leisure after finding a loving loan home. Twenty five
year old cheeky tongue-poker, Crockett has been owned by animal
rescue charity, HorseWorld for the last five years.
HorseWorld’s Training and Rehoming Manager, Sarah Hollister, has known the bay Thoroughbred since he arrived at the charity.
“Crockett had lost all of his front teeth before he came to us. This was believed to have been due to an accident in the field – he was either kicked or fell presumably. This means that his tongue hangs out in a comical fashion most of the time!
“Crockett came to us in July 2007 as his owners didn’t have the time to dedicate to him. He was ridden up until recently and has always been rather lively, hence earning himself the nickname Crockett the Rocket! He was placed in a loan home for two years as a riding horse and returned to us earlier this year. He has now been retired due to his age and the difficulties of rehoming him as an elderly ridden horse. He is still so jolly he spends most of the time ridden jogging along and requires a very experienced rider, most of whom will either be looking for a much younger horse to compete with or a quiet hack, of which Crockett is neither.
“Older horses, especially the large ones, can find it difficult to find a home and many of them will end up living out their days here at HorseWorld. Crockett’s new loaners also have a retired 25 year old gelding TB called Charlie so it’s a really good match. Charlie has been stressed since the death of his companion and has also started to get discolouration of the hair around his eyes and on his hind legs. The vets have investigated all the reasons this may be and have come to the conclusion it must be stress. They fell in love with Crockett as he was so gentle and spent most of the time they were here to visit him licking them!”
HorseWorld is
celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. It was originally set up
for retiring working horses and there is still a very real demand for
the work of the charity which can rescue up to 100 abandoned, neglected
and mistreated horses every year.Each horse is individually assessed
by a member of the dedicated team of grooms and trainers who liaise with
the vet, farrier, and dentist to ensure that they are given appropriate
care, treatment and training with the ultimate aim of finding them loving
new homes where they will be given the life and love that they deserve.
HorseWorld has many horses and ponies waiting for a special, experienced home. For more information please visit www.horseworld.org.uk/rehome or call HorseWorld’s Welfare Department on 01275 832067