Ruby the rescued pony is living happily ever after
WILLIAMS LAKE – ‘Ruby’ was 18-months old and in foal when she was seized by the BCSPCA in northern BC in 2014 following an animal cruelty investigation. Ideally, mares should not begin breeding until four years of age, so they foal when they’re five.
Kathy Stanley and Karyn Greenless of Twin Acres Farm fostered Ruby after the BCSPCA seizure, nursed her back to health, and cared for her foal when he arrived. After Ruby’s colt was weaned, Kathy and Karyn contacted their friend Laura, because they knew she’d be looking for a horse suitable to train for carriage driving. They felt Ruby would be a good match, and it turned out they were right.
Laura Klassen is a former dressage competitor but has recently turned her attention and passion into the training part of the sport. “Ruby was in poor condition and malnourished at the time of her rescue,” Ruby’s new owner, Laura, explained. “But, she had been nursed back to health when she was offered to me.” Laura also felt Ruby would be a good addition to her herd, and was excited to begin work with her.
It was a bit of a rough start, as Ruby was anxious, fretful, and paced the fences at her new home relentlessly at first. She had not been handled much and had zero training. “We spent a lot of time at first, just getting her used to the bit,” Laura explained. “Ruby is a really kind and soft horse — she always wants to please. She still gets a little bit scared at times, but the more she’s worked, the braver she gets.”