Surprise! Horse rescued from dog food factory gives birth at Gold Coast rescue farm

AN ARABIAN horse saved from sale yards in April last year by a Tallebudgera Valley rescue group has given birth much to everyone’s surprise.

Twins Ellie and Brooke Kelaart with Lola and her foal Princess. Picture: John Gass

WHEN members of a Gold Coast animal rescue group saved an Arabian horse from slaughter, they never imagined they were getting two for the price of one.

Just nine months later the senior grey mare, now called Lola, surprised her new owners by giving birth.

Lola was destined for slaughter in Laidley before twins Brooke and Ellie Kelaart from rescue group Project Ponies placed a winning bid of $50 on her, managing to outbid a dog food manufacturer by $20.

Twins Ellie (left) and Brooke Kelaart with Arabian mare Lola and her three-day old foal Princess. Picture: John Gass

Ellie said Lola was in such an emaciated condition they didn’t know if she would make the two hour trip back to their Tallebudgera Valley property, where they care for up to around 10 horses at any one time.

Three-day old Princess was a surprise to Project Ponies rescue group because her mum was 24 years old and was originally in very bad condition. Picture: John Gass

Brooke said Lola was placed onto a specialised diet of grains to help fatten her up and help with her dental issues.

“She put on weight and got fat, (but) she’s 24 years old so we didn’t expect (the pregnancy),” Brooke said.

“Horses can still give birth at this age, but with her condition we didn’t think it was possible.”

Brooke said at about 5.30am last Wednesday morning her fiance woke her up to tell her someone had left a foal in one of the paddocks.

“I said no-one’s going to do that,” Brooke said, before getting up to find the brown and white coloured filly out in Lola’s paddock, which she shared with two other horses.

She said a vet checked Lola and her baby over, and they had now named the filly Princess.

Lola was destined for the knackery before Project Ponies saved her, and unwittingly saved baby Princess. Picture: John Gass

Brooke said Lola would have been three or four months pregnant when they rescued her because horses have an 11 month gestation period.

“We have no idea where the father is, or what type of horse he is,” she said.

“She’s brown now ... but I’m pretty sure she’ll turn grey.”

Lola and Princess are both healthy and the three-day-old filly is already running around. Picture: John Gass

Project Ponies is a self-funded rescue group run by the two sisters, who rescue horses destined for the knackery and rehabilitate them before finding them loving homes.

Last year the rescue group saved 24 horses, but Princess is their first foal.