By Cailin Cousins / Got News Network

VIDEO: Ruby the rescued pony is living happily ever after

Oct 11, 2018 | 10:20 AM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — ‘Ruby’ was 18-months old and in foal when she was seized by the BCSPCA in northern BC in 2014 following an animal cruelty investigation.  Ideally, mares should not begin breeding until four years of age, so they foal when they’re five.  

Kathy Stanley and Karyn Greenless of Twin Acres Farm fostered Ruby after the BCSPCA seizure, nursed her back to health, and cared for her foal when he arrived.  After Ruby’s colt was weaned, Kathy and Karyn contacted their friend Laura, because they knew she’d be looking for a horse suitable to train for carriage driving.  They felt Ruby would be a good match, and it turned out they were right.

Laura Klassen is a former dressage competitor, but has recently turned her attention and passion into the training part of the sport.  “Ruby was in poor condition and malnourished at the time of her rescue,” Ruby’s new owner, Laura, explained.  “But, she had been nursed back to health when she was offered to me.”  Laura also felt Ruby would be a good addition to her herd, and was excited to begin work with her.

WATCH: Laura Klassen talks about Ruby’s journey. (Video Credit: Cailin Cousins / Got News Network)

It was a bit of a rough start, as Ruby was anxious, fretful, and paced the fences at her new home relentlessly at first.  She had not been handled much, and had zero training.   “We spent a lot of time at first, just getting her used to the bit,” Laura explained.  “Ruby is a really kind and soft horse — she always wants to please.  She still gets a little bit scared at times, but the more she’s worked, the braver she gets.”  

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Laura is currently training  the mare to do combined driving, an equestrian sport involving carriage driving. In this discipline, the driver sits on a vehicle drawn by a single horse, a pair or a team of four.   The sport has three phases: dressage, cross-country marathon and obstacle cone driving, and is most similar to the mounted equestrian sport of eventing. It is one of the ten international equestrian sport horse disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale.

At this point, Ruby has learned to lunge, ground drive, do in-hand work and, most recently, she accepts contact and has learned to go round even when she is worried.  “Our next step this winter is to begin work in-harness, then learn to pull a tire and finally, be introduced to the cart,” said Laura. “She should be a lovely dressage horse in the cart, when her time comes.”

WATCH: Laura works with Ruby. (Video Credit: Cailin Cousins / Got News Network)

One thing is clear;  Laura has unlimited patience, and takes a great deal of joy in teaching horses.

Ruby is in beautiful condition now, has impeccable manners, is content and fits in very well with all of Laura’s other horses.  “She gets along with everybody,” Laura smiled.  Laura agreed to let us visit with her and Ruby, because she felt it would be good for people to see the change and growth that proper care made for this young mare.  Welsh ponies have a life expectancy of up to 35 years, so Ruby has many years of learning, competing and leading a happy, healthy life ahead of her.

Ruby’s colt is doing very well at another local farm, as well.

Ruby was just one of 18 horses BCSPCA Constables seized during this particular investigation.  Additionally, 18 dogs, 15 birds, two cats and 104 fish were removed from the property, most described as being malnourished and kept in unsanitary and overcrowded conditions. The accused in this case plead guilty, were handed 20-year bans on owning animals and ordered to pay nearly $5,500 in restitution to the SPCA to offset the animal care costs.  As recently as July of 2018, British Columbia and Alberta authorities continue to conduct investigations, and subsequent animal seizures related to the accused.

WATCH: Laura works with Ruby. (Video Credit: Cailin Cousins / Got News Network)