Help Rescue Friesian Nero & Support the Sanctuary

Nero's Journey: A Second Chance for a Brave Friesian

By Tracey Alexander, Founder of The Friesian Experience Sanctuary

Here at our sanctuary, another Friesian’s journey started to unfold a few months ago. Let me to introduce you to Nero, a young Friesian with physical challenges that were about to bring his life to an abrupt end. When we heard of his plight we were compelled to step in to rescue him.

A Glimpse into Nero's Struggles:

Nero enjoyed a happy and carefree start to his life but after his loving owner's life situation suddenly changed she had to make the heartbreaking decision to move him on to a new home. Shortly after his move, he suffered a severe bout of lameness when he started on his working journey. Initial investigations showed the severity of the problem - his hock showed signs of arthritis, casting a shadow of uncertainty over his future. Having spoken to our own vet, its possible this was something he was born with but something has aggravated it and further investigations are needed.

His new owners weren't in a position to manage this condition particularly as Nero did not have a future as a traditional working horse so having him put to sleep was the only option they could consider. When his previous owner heard of the desperate situation she suggested they contact us.

The Sanctuary's Commitment:

Here at The Friesian Experience Sanctuary, our devotion to the Friesian horse knows no bounds and if there's anything we’ve learnt over the years its the fact these horses can lead a happy and fulfilling life and bring great comfort and joy to us humans without the need to be ridden.

When we heard of Nero's story, we knew we couldn't turn him away even though we are at capacity and facilities are limited. Heading into winter, our running costs escalate and our other 14 residents need day to day care and attention too.

With his owner not in a position to fund his journey to us, we were able to find a generous sponsor to cover his travel costs and they arranged transport for 1st November.

The events of that day were truly shocking and served as a poignant reminder of why it is imperative, in our own modest way, to continue building understanding between humans and horses. Regardless of background and experience none of us should ever think we know it all - if some humans took more time to listen to horses and understand their behaviour they'd soon realise how its only a reflection of their own behaviour.

On the day he was due to arrive, Nero was unfairly branded as dangerous, when in reality, he was undoubtedly distressed and misunderstood. This misjudgment led to the misallocation of sponsor funds and additional expenses incurred to guarantee his safe arrival the following week. Even before his arrival, the costs associated with rescuing this innocent Friesian have already surpassed £1,500, not to mention the countless hours invested in ensuring his secure journey.

A Promise of Comfort:

As Nero steps into our sanctuary, hope mixes with the reality of our limitations. Our facilities are stretched to their capacity. Our funds can only stretch so far. Yet, we couldn't bear to let Nero face a lethal injection without giving him a chance, so we are reaching out to our supporters to help us provide him with the comfort he deserves. With your help, our knowledge & care, and the best treatment available I believe we can achieve this.

Nurturing Nero's Future:

In the coming months, Nero will undergo a comprehensive assessment, rehabilitation and pain management to ensure his well-being. While we would love to offer Nero a full-time permanent home, we must acknowledge our constraints. Unless we are able to raise significant funds to improve our facilities and fund the continuation of our work, our focus will be on finding a suitable foster home once he's fully assessed, where he can continue to thrive under our guidance and the Sanctuary will ensure he leads a full and comfortable life.

Your Role in Nero's Story:

This season, your support is more crucial than ever before. Initially, our goal was set at £10,000. However, even before launching our campaign and prior to Nero's arrival, it became evident that this amount would not suffice to cover his necessary treatment, along with the extensive time and effort required to rehabilitate him, restore his trust in people and provide the education every young Friesian needs. Additionally, we must ensure he receives the comfort and care he needs throughout the winter months whilst still caring for all our other Sanctuary residents. Our vet will advise what further investigations are needed this week however after an initial assessment on arrival it appears his physical challenges may well extend beyond his hock. For this reason we have revised our target to £20,000 but will know more by early next week.

Your contribution, regardless of its size, will serve as the cornerstone upon which Nero's future is built and ensure we can keep all the horses well during this challenging time of year.

Nero's progress will be regularly documented in our small friendly Facebook Group - 'The Friesian Experience Behind the Scenes' that is open to all. We will of course post updates on his GoFundMe campaign as often as possible.

With heartfelt thanks,

Tracey Alexander

Founder, The Friesian Experience Sanctuary