*Update 21.01 -

Heartbroken to share that Freddie lost his fight last night.

Thank you all for the love and support — it’s meant everything to us.

The GoFundMe will remain open to help with his final vet bills and send-off.

Rest in peace, Freddie

Full story below.

I am here to ask for help on behalf of my niece, Sian, and her six year old, Highland pony, Freddie. There are pictures throughout, so please keep going until the end. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read their story.

Sian has recently turned 18, and I have never met such a hard-working and dedicated young person in my life. She has two beautiful ponies whom she has worked incredibly hard with — from breaking in a wild Welsh Section A, Cleo, as her first pony at 15, to this year placing 4th out of 65 at Stars – Champions of Champions at Aintree with Freddie in his first year of showing.

The end of 2025 finished on a high, with two ponies who were healthy, happy and covered in rosettes. The start of 2026, however, has been very different.

Sian has spent the past two weeks caring for a very poorly Freddie. What started as early signs of colic, caught quickly, led Sian to spend her nights at the yard to ensure he was getting the care he needed, following advice from the vet. He was improving and showing all the positive signs of recovery — until this week.

On Tuesday 13th January, Freddie took a turn for the worse and had to be taken straight to Leahurst Equine Hospital on the Wirral. He was seen by both the surgical and medical teams, who have been taking excellent care of him, in the hope that he would be able to come home within a few days. Unfortunately, his health continued to decline. The Colic episodes he was experiencing became more frequent and severe.

On the morning of Thursday 15th January, Sian received a phone call informing her that the pain medication was no longer working and that Freddie needed emergency Impaction Colic surgery. He was taken in within the hour.

The surgery went well. Sian received a call from the vet at around 5:15pm to let her know that Freddie was awake and standing, although still groggy from the surgery. There is a slight risk of infection due to his oxygen levels dropping, however the team are monitoring him closely.

She has been informed that the next 48 hours are critical, and that Freddie will remain in hospital for the next week (all being well) while he recovers. Followed by extensive rehab from home, with additional care required.

And now comes the plea for help. As wonderful and amazing as these animals are, they are also incredibly expensive, and insurance only covers so much. With Freddie being under veterinary care for a full week prior to being admitted to hospital, followed by surgery and ongoing monitoring, the costs continue to rise.

I am asking from the bottom of my heart for your help and support for this amazing pony and the incredibly hard-working 18-year-old girl behind him. They have worked so hard together and just want Freddie to return to being the happy, healthy pony we all know and love.

I completely understand how tough things are for everyone at the moment and that this isn't a GoFundMe that you would see everyday. However, if you have ever had an animal in your life that hasn't just helped you, but has changed you, you understand how beautiful this relationship is and how much this means for Sian to get him back. If you are unable to donate, I would be so grateful if you could share this as far and wide as possible to help Sian and Freddie.

Thank you so, so much.

*Update 17th Jan - Freddie has come out of isolation today and Sian has finally been able to get in and give him a well overdue cuddle! He still has a way to go, but things are definitely heading in the right direction. All of the support and donations we have received so far have been incredible. We are all blown away. Thank you!

** Update 20th Jan - We wanted to share a further update on Freddie, as unfortunately he has taken a turn for the worse over the last couple of days.

Freddie is currently back on stronger medications and under close veterinary supervision after what the vets believe to be a severe reaction to the anaesthetic. He is unsteady on his feet, sore and still struggling, which has been incredibly worrying for all of us. The vets have had some very difficult but honest conversations with us, including discussions around quality of life. While this is heartbreaking to hear, we have been reassured that we are not at that point yet, and Freddie is still fighting.

This continues to be a very uncertain and emotional time. His care is ongoing, intensive, and the costs are continuing to rise as the vets do everything they can to support him and give him the best possible chance.

We are so deeply grateful for every single donation so far, and for how widely this appeal has been shared. The kindness, messages of support, and generosity have meant more to us than we can ever put into words. They have helped us get this far, and they are helping Freddie keep going.

We are just hoping now that we can keep the traction going to help cover the care he has already received, and what may still be a very long road ahead for him.

If you are able to donate, please give whatever you can. If you’re unable to donate, sharing the appeal far and wide makes such a huge difference.

From all our family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are eternally grateful for every bit of support shown to Freddie.