A colt born at Redwings Horse Sanctuary after his mother was neglected can now enjoy a pain-free life thanks to specialist surgery and rehab at the charitys Horse Hospital.Now yearling Echo was born to mare Electra, one of 10 thoroughbred-types given a forever home at the charity after their owner was prosecuted by the RSPCA.Electra was one of four mares the man from Suffolk was convicted of welfare offences in respect of, three of whom were in foal. Echo was the only foal who survived after one dam died dueto severe parasitic worm diseaseand the other foal was born with several health issues and tragically didnt make it.The group arrived at Redwings in March last year, and Echo was born in June. A further six horses arrived in February this year, after the case concluded and the owner was banned from keeping animals for life.Unfortunately Echo developed a flexural deformity of the coffin joint, known as a club foot, which meant his tendon didnt have enough flexibility to allow his heel to drop, said Nicky Jarvis, Head of Veterinary and Care at Redwings.Following an episode of lameness, we then diagnosed sesamoiditis [inflammation of the proximal sesamoid bones that lie behind the fetlock joint] which caused pain and further discouraged him from dropping his heel to the ground.Echo surgery had his surgery in May We gave him pain relief and moved him onto woodchips at our Horse Hospital to rest, along with his mum Electra, where our brilliant farriers also gave him specialist trims to try to help, but unfortunately it didnt improve matters enough.We sent X-rays to our colleagues at specialist equine hospital Rossdales for some additional advice and they recommended that Echo needed surgical intervention.Usually an operation like this would involve a horse having to be travelled, but as Redwings has a dedicated Horse Hospital and theatre, the charity was able to have one of their expert vets come to them instead, which meant Echo and his dam could stay in the comfort of familiar surroundings.Echo in February 2026The surgery, which involved cutting and releasing the inferior check ligament, went well, and our dedicated horse care team followed it with a rehab programme including physio, timed walks and picking up his other legs to encourage the heel to drop on the affected limb, over several months, continued Nicky.Finally, Im happy to say, Echo has a spring in his step! Hes doing so well that he can now run around pain-free. His progress is wonderful to see.Richard Payne, Clinical Director at Rossdales, who carried out the surgery, shared Nickys happiness at the successful outcome.Echo and Electra in July 2026Weve had a fantastic relationship with the team at Redwings for many years and are delighted to have played a part in achieving success in this case, he said.Theyre lovely people dealing with tough situations with limited resources and were happy when were able to help.The group of 10 horses associated with the prosecution case have needed extensive treatment since arriving at Redwings, including surgeries, plasma infusions and dental care.A safe haven: Artemis, Echo, Electra, Helios, Hermes and Hera in July 2026If youre able to make a donation towards Echo and his friends continued care, and to helpRedwingsbeReady to Rescue, wed be so grateful, and to everyone who already has, thank you so much, added Nicky. As a charity reliant on donations, the treatment that Echo and his friends have received in our care wouldnt have been possible without you.More from Your HorseHow to tell if a horse is happy: behaviourist reveals 13 key signsLooking for hacking inspiration? Most scenic riding routes revealedTwo in-hand exercises to improve a horses core strengthBye-bye bugs: Seven fly repellent sprays put to the testThe post Colt who survived dams neglect given pain-free future thanks to surgery appeared first on Your Horse.