A one-eyed pony has been rehomed by his long-time handler at a Devon charity after the two developed such a strong bond she couldnt bear to be parted from him.Georgie Moore, a member of the horse care team at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, has been looking after Geronimo for the last three and a half years and has transformed the 17-year-old skewbald moorland gelding from a withdrawn pony to a much more confident animal.Geronimo first arrived at the Sanctuary in 2018 as part of a merger with another equine charity. A year later he needed his left eye removed due to ongoing problems.After surgery and recovery at the Sanctuarys Beech Trees Veterinary and Welfare Assessment Centre in Newton Abbot, he moved to the charitys Coombe Park yard in Totnes.A new home awaits Geronimo.Clicker trainingWhen Georgie first started looking after Geronimo she noticed he was shy and timid so she began clicker training to help develop his confidence and make him feel safe.It started off with just target training in the stable, and that grew into taking him into the arena, and he learned to touch a target with his nose, explained Georgie.We moved on to cones, then he learned to knock the cones down. Then he learned to push a ball round, so we thought, lets take it a bit further. He started doing turns and to bow.In the arena he would just follow me around and as we started learning new things, it elevated his confidence so much. Id go into the barn and call for him, and he would make lots of noise and get really excited, and wed do our routine.Geronimo training with Georgie.Favourite part of the dayIt was his favourite part of the day, and it was mine too because it really grew his confidence. He went from being one of the most timid ponies in the yard to the most vocal in the barn. Day by day we developed this wonderful bond.As their partnership developed, Georgie realised she wanted to give him a forever home so in November Geronimo made the short journey from Coombe Park to Georgies base.As I developed this special bond with Geromimo, I just knew that I didnt want to live without him, said Georgie.I already have rehomed ponies Robin and Willis at home with me. Robins got just one eye as well, so they have the same needs, the same grazing requirements, said Georgie.New chapterGeronimos settling in really well. Obviously, it was a big change for him, but he was great. He went straight out into the field with the boys the other side of the fence, and he got settled and was trotting around, seeming really excited, said Georgie.The three ponies have merged now and theyre getting on really well. Theyre grazing next to each other, and he seems really, really happy so that makes me very happy.Geronimo with his new friends, Robin and Willis.Sponsorship ponyAlthough Geronimo has retired from daytoday life at Coombe Park, he will continue as a Sponsorship Pony, becoming the first to pilot the charitys new Sponsorship Pony Loan Scheme.Supporters who sponsor Geronimo will now have the joy of knowing they are helping to fund his lifelong care in a home filled with love, alongside two other rescued ponies and a carer who adores them.Click here to find out more about The Mare and Foal Sanctuarys Sponsorship scheme.Geronimo has moved to his forever home with Georgie.Images The Mare and Foal Sanctuary.Related contentHorses love getting muddy and they need to roll outside every day, experts sayWhy feeding a horse from the floor is best practiceOur team has tried and tested these therapy horse rugs to find which really workExercise sheets tried and tested by our teamThe post I didnt want to live without him: rescue pony rehomed by long-time groom appeared first on Your Horse.