Pony friends' joy at reunion after five years apart

Two ponies were overjoyed to be reunited after five years apart and are now living happily side-by-side again.

Treacle and Candy came to Blue Cross as part of a large welfare group in poor condition back in 2011 and, while the best friends were originally rehomed as a pair, they were later returned to our Burford horse unit due to a change in circumstances and sadly then went their separate ways.

That was until Treacle found herself back at Blue Cross for a third time last year and was quickly spotted on our website by Joanna Robins, who had already rehomed Candy as a companion for her miniature Shetland Bubbles, another Blue Cross pony. 

Lauren Bush, Horse Rehoming Coordinator at Blue Cross in Burford, says: “Candy's owner spotted Treacle on the rehoming page of our website and got in touch straight away.

"We were thrilled to reunite this pair and they very much remembered each other, which made it even more special.”

Joanna, of Oxfordshire, says: “Having owned Candy and Bubbles for a number of years, I always keep half an eye on the Blue Cross website in case a pony crops up that I can’t refuse.”

“I was amazed when I found Treacle on the rehoming page. I had initially met her when I went to collect Candy five years ago - at the time she was going out to a new home. I instantly recognised her on the page as she is so like Candy.

"It didn’t take long to decide that she had to come and live with us - she and Candy had lived together as a pair for five years and always been in the same herd, so I was sure it was the right thing to do!

“After the usual checks, we collected Treacle and brought her home. I was slightly nervous that they wouldn’t remember each other, so decided to introduce them initially with a fence between them. I needn’t have worried. Candy was so excited to see Treacle, she just couldn’t contain herself!"

As you can see below, the heartwarming moment the old friends met again was captured on film.

Joanna continues: "She tore around the field just stopping occasionally to have a sniff before she took off again. I quickly decided they were fine to put in together, and their joy at being reunited was just lovely to see!

"They followed each other around, so excited to be back together. There was a little bit of herd placement that took place because of our other Blue Cross Shetland, Bubbles, but it soon settled down.

"Treacle and Candy are now living their best life, totally joined at the hip and sharing their hay, like they’ve never been apart!”