Pony Shot with BB Gun Recovers, Eliciting Joy from Owner and Children

A pony, whose survival was uncertain after being shot in the leg at a petting farm, has now received a clean bill of health from veterinarians. Phoenix, a four-year-old Shetland, was discovered on 2 November in his field at Nick’s Farm in Throop near Bournemouth, struggling to bear weight on his leg. X-rays revealed a small, circular hole and a fracture in his left hind leg. It is believed he was intentionally shot, with a suspected BB gun. His owner, Kieran Loder, commented: “It’s a massive turnaround…we thought he wasn’t going to pull through.” Mr. Loder stated that Phoenix, one of the therapy ponies at the farm for children with special educational needs, is now able to bear weight on his leg and has been spending time in his paddock. He added: “We are so relieved, the children are ecstatic, he has been going for walks with the kids.” Mr. Loder further remarked: “He has been brilliant, he is so so happy to be back out in his paddock. He’s getting lots of treats and cuddles and he’s lapping up the fuss.” It is presumed that Phoenix likely approached his attacker expecting to be petted, as he is accustomed to receiving attention and being brushed by visitors at the farm. The pony, who is approximately the size of a Great Dane dog, is anticipated to return to his field with the farm’s other ponies within a few weeks. Officers from the Rural Crime Team at Dorset Police are investigating the attack on Phoenix. The force reported that the pony had been “possibly shot in the leg with a BB gun” between 18:00 GMT on 1 November and 08:00 on 2 November at the farm located on Valley Road, Bournemouth. While officers have conducted inquiries into the incident, no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the force. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.