A pony from the Isle of Wight is still going strong and winning red rosettes at the age of 30 - 10 years after undergoing a life-saving operation.
Lou Lou was rushed to Liphook Equine Hospital in Hampshire when she started showing signs of severe abdominal pain, which is known as colic in horses.
Once at Liphook, Lou Lou was assessed by the veterinary team and taken straight to surgery, where she was operated on by David Lloyd.
David said:
“Lou Lou’s colic signs were due to a strangulation of the small intestine by a benign fatty mass, called a lipoma. This had cut off the blood supply and caused part of the bowel to die, and without emergency surgery Lou Lou would not have survived.
“Lou Lou underwent a three-hour operation in which a 12ft-long section of her small intestine had to be removed. She was in intensive care for a few days and remained at the hospital for two weeks, but fortunately she went on to make a full recovery. I am delighted to hear Lou Lou is still in good health and having lots of fun with her owner.”
To celebrate incredible older horses like Lou Lou, Liphook Equine Hospital is holding an Equine Golden Oldies Awareness Month. All through September, their vets will be sharing advice to help owners keep their older horses and ponies healthy and happy for longer.
Lou Lou’s owner, Laura Dupré, from Shanklin, is backing the awareness month and says older horses have so much to offer. Laura has owned Lou Lou, a New Forest pony, for 21 years since Lou Lou was 9 and Laura was just 12.
During their time together they have enjoyed hacking, jumping and dressage and Lou Lou has taught Laura’s daughter, Lacey, to ride.
Laura said:
“Lou Lou may be 30, but she is so full of life and still ridden two or three times a week. We recently competed in a show and she came first in the veteran class, and then was awarded a reserve championship.
“She is one in a million and I am truly thankful for every day I have with her, but I know that without the operation she had at Liphook in 2011, she wouldn’t be here. David and the team at the hospital were amazing. As well as successfully performing the surgery, they gave Lou Lou the best care possible during her recovery.
“She spent two weeks convalescing at Liphook and my mum, Nicky, and I visited every other day. We even travelled mum’s horse, Rubin, to the veterinary hospital with Lou Lou, to help keep her calm.”
Well done, Laura. Lou,Lou is a beautiful pony.
Well done Lou Lou. Keep winning those rosettes.