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Former racehorse rescued in Kent after sustaining horrific injuries in back of lorry

A young horse almost crushed to death in the back of an overloaded lorry was rescued at the Kent border.

The thoroughbred mare named Glorious was being transported from Ireland to the continent when she sustained the injuries after being unavoidably trampled by other horses.

Glorious had deep cuts and wounds all over her body when she was first taken in in January 2024. Picture: Redwings
Glorious had deep cuts and wounds all over her body when she was first taken in in January 2024. Picture: Redwings

The driver of the lorry told lairage facilities - an authorised stopping place - in Kent there was a dead mare on board his lorry and requested removal before crossing at Dover.

But Glorious, a former racehorse, was in fact still alive and in need of urgent treatment.

A vet was called and the RSPCA was alerted but turned to horse sanctuary Redwings for help.

Glorious had a large wound on her head, a fractured skull, and injuries all over her body including deep open wounds on her skin.

Her recovery involved months of treatment from the charity’s experienced welfare vets, as well as other veterinary experts brought in to help.

Glorious is undergoing handling training at Redwings Behaviour Centre in Norfolk. Picture: Redwings
Glorious is undergoing handling training at Redwings Behaviour Centre in Norfolk. Picture: Redwings

Nic De Brauwere, Redwings’ head of welfare and behaviour, said: “I’m not sure I have ever seen a horse suffering so much pain and distress because of her injuries.

“Glorious was incredibly difficult to treat.

“She really struggled with any form of touch - anything to do with humans caused her immense upset - but her wounds needed a lot of care.

“We used sedation to allow us to do the most painful treatments at the beginning, and because that was done right, we could step back and only intervene when we needed to, so she could spend days at a time not needing to be handled or sedated to treat.

“The fact that Glorious survived what happened to her is a miracle and her recovery is testament to the efforts of Redwings’ vet team who used our years of experience working with frightened, painful horses, treating very complex wounds, to bring her back to health.”

The mare’s injuries were so severe, the lorry driver thought she was dead. Picture: Redwings
The mare’s injuries were so severe, the lorry driver thought she was dead. Picture: Redwings

It has now been a year since Glorious was rescued and all her physical injuries have healed.

She has been integrated into a herd in Redwings facility Norfolk and work to undo the damage done to her mentally which affects her behaviour around humans is underway.

Sarah Hallsworth, Redwings’ equine behaviour manager, said: “While Glorious loves her herd mates, quite understandably she doesn’t always enjoy too much interaction with people so we’re working on that.

“She is now good to catch and we’re seeing improvement in her leg handling.

“She has friends, freedom and food and is enjoying the simple pleasures of just being a horse in a safe environment.”

Glorious is now best friends with a horse named Saskia, who she will not be parted from. Picture: Redwings
Glorious is now best friends with a horse named Saskia, who she will not be parted from. Picture: Redwings

The charity believes Glorious and the other horses were being transported to Europe to be slaughtered.

Despite the horrific injuries she sustained, nobody has ever been held responsible for what happened to her.

Nic De Brauwere said: “We are deeply disappointed that despite the efforts of the RSPCA, local vets and Redwings to document her suffering, no one has been found responsible and faced any repercussions for what happened to her.

“Her case shows that there are still big improvements needed in checks and enforcement to protect horses being transported through our borders.

“Glorious might not have been rescued. The next injured horse probably won’t be.”

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