Is this the unluckiest horse ever?

A local equine rescue organisation is appealing for a home for a pony that has had such a sad start in life that he is very close to being impossible to rehome.

Totem Horses, a not-for-profit rescue based in Llanfechain, is appealing for a special home for a unique Welsh Cross Arab pony called Billy, who is becoming increasingly hard to place.

Billy, who is a 12.2hh (hands high) chestnut coloured gelding (neutered male), came to the charity over two years ago after he was returned to his breeder, who had no room to keep him and was going to have to consider putting him to sleep.

The young pony was bred in Powys and then sold to a home in England when he was about a year old. But his new home decided they no longer wanted Billy and returned him to the breeder a year later, in a very thin condition and covered in rain scald (a painful skin condition).

Jo Ellis, a spokesperson for Totem Horses, said: “When Billy arrived with us, he had been back with his breeder for a couple of weeks and they were slowly putting weight back on him and treating his skin, but he was still underweight and in poor condition.

“It was also obvious that in the home he had been in, he had not received thorough or consistent handling. When he was unsure about anything, such as walking through a new gateway, or being led away from ponies he was used to being with, his fight or flight instincts would kick in and he would rear up – which had the potential to be very dangerous.”

With specialist feed and a lot of calm and consistent handling from a dedicated volunteer, as well as cream for his skin, Billy gained condition and started to settle down.

But a conversation with his breeder revealed even more about why the confused little pony was having a hard time adjusting like a normal pony. It turns out his mother had actually been unable to feed him, so as well as missing out on colostrum and having to be bottle fed when he was just a few days old, he also had other health complications which resulted in him needing several blood transfusions when he was only a few weeks old.

Jo said: “Billy was very lucky to have survived as a foal and it seems a huge amount of effort was made to keep him alive. But his poor start in life has meant he is physically and mentally immature for his age and in many respects he is not like other ponies.”

Things for Billy took a turn for the better in March 2015, when a visitor came to make a donation to Totem Horses and took a special interest in him, buying him a smart new rug and eventually offering him a temporary foster home over the spring and summer months.

Jo said: “Billy was treated like royalty in his foster home and they generously bought him a wardrobe of rugs to protect him from rain scald in the winter and flies in the summer.

“But much as they loved Billy they already had two horses of their own and not enough grazing to keep three on a permanent basis, so he was returned to Totem Horses in September as planned and he is now looking for a permanent home of his own.”

Totem Horses’ rehoming coordinator, Holly Higginbotham, who cares for Billy on a daily basis and is pictured (courtesy of Totem Horses) with him above, said: “Billy is not a mean or nasty pony and he is easy to catch and always comes over for a fuss in the field, but he can be quite immature for his age and he doesn’t always know how to behave.

“He can be pushy and try and push into your space when you are leading him and he can be very impatient when waiting for his food – especially with new people – so it is vital he is always reminded of the need for good manners and not allowed to get away with anything.”

Although Billy is now old enough to be brought on as a riding or driving pony, he does not have very good confirmation (body shape), so it is unlikely he will be capable of being a working animal.

Holly said: “Billy has a sweet little head and a lovely face but he is very fine in the body and has an overly long back so even if he was suitable for being ridden, he would not be able to carry much weight. At the same time he is unlikely to be suitable for a very small child to ride due to his nature.

“We think his best chance of finding a suitable home is with someone who simply wants to love him and keep him as a companion pony to another horse or pony.”

Totem Horses places its equines in long term or permanent loan homes, usually in Shropshire and Powys. Adoptions are subject to a home visit and an adoption fee.

Holly said: "Billy is a sweet little pony, but he needs someone very special and patient to offer him a home and we just hope that person is out there somewhere.”

Anyone interested in offering Billy a home is asked to contact 07899 831731 or email admin@totemhorse.org.uk. Details of other ponies looking for homes can be found atwww.totemhorse.org.uk