Shock birth of Rossendale foal amazes riding school bosses

10:46am Wednesday 16th March 2011

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(5)

BOSSES at a Rossendale riding school were amazed after a foal made an unexpected entrance into the world.

Polly, an 18-year-old pony at Fearns Equestrian Centre, in Stacksteads, was unknowingly pregnant and taking part in a early morning riding lesson when she started to display symptoms of feeling unwell.

Experienced horse riding instructor Kaye Thompson-Cropper decided to remove the youngster riding Polly so she could lead her back to the stables.

On route a waiting parent noticed the mare was giving birth to a foal.

Kaye said: “It was absolutely amazing. one minute she was taking part in a lesson and 20 minutes later we had a foal. we didn’t even now Polly was pregnant.

“She and the other horses we have had only just been checked by a vet days before and nobody picked up on the fact she was carrying a foal.”

Kaye, 37, from Burnley Road, Bacup launched the riding school in October last year with business partner Bryan Robertson, from Bacup Road, in Waterfoot.

A horse’s gestation period is generally 11 months.

For eight-year-old Bethany Cuthbertson, from Water, it was an even bigger shock as she had been riding when Polly showed signs of discomfort.

In honour of the young rider the new foal has been named Bethany.

her mum Tracy said: “She was over the moon and she has not stopped talking about it.

“She was more concerned and frightened that she might have hurt Polly and then the foal arrived.”

the centre, attached to the Fearns Moss School, offers vocational courses to pupils and is also available for the community to use.

the school has five horses, which the pupils look after, but they will have to get another to replace Polly as she is now on maternity leave for six months.