Groom Sally Farrell and head Girl Jasmine Wall with Megan and her newly born foal Hope at Willow farm Horse rescue, Ospringe. Picture: Chris Davey.

by Adam Williams

Just two months after vets said she was at death’s door, a horse has defied the odds by giving birth to a foal.

Back in April, 19-year-old Megan arrived at the Willow Farm Horse Rescue Centre in Ospringe as a heavily pregnant, but starving mare (pictured right).

Owner Sharon Paskell described it as the second worst condition she had every seen a horse in, with Megan little more than just skin and bones.

But, despite doctors recommending she be put down or forced to abort her foal, at 4.45am on Monday, she gave birth to Hope, a healthy female foal.

Sharon, 55 and husband and part owner Roy, 60, were almost in tears as they celebrated their farm’s newest arrival.

“It’s absolutely amazing when you consider the state Megan was in when she first came to us,” said Sharon.

She added: “Vets gave her no real chance of survival and she would have been put down had it not been for me saying no.

“Megan has recovered really quickly and put on lots of weight since April and now she’s a big old girl.”

The name Hope was chosen by staff at Phixx Hair Salon in Chatham. Many of the girls from the Railway Avenue salon, who also take riding lessons at the centre, have raised more than £1,000 towards Megan’s care and veterinary bills.

Sharon added: “Hope has been doing very well since Monday and the vets at Bell Equine in Mereworth have given her the full thumbs up.

“They have been absolutely superb and supported us tremendously in the last three months.”