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Horse is mane attraction at birthday party!
CAKE ... Sparkle celebrates with owner Jan Collins and fellow riders, inset.
SPARKLE the horse was certainly the mane attraction at his 30th birthday party.
The Palomino Welsh cob marked his milestone – equivalent to 85 human years – at West Fellgate Farm on Saturday.
Jan Collins, who has owned Sparkle for the past six years, invited fellow riders to take part in fancy dress and pony competitions to raise cash for equestrian charities The Horses Trust and Redwings.
The event, which saw the horse treated to a slice of carrot cake, was also to celebrate his good health after a difficult year.
Health worker Mrs Collins, 45, from East Boldon, said: “Sparkle has reached 30 against all odds, and everyone who knows him wanted to mark the occasion. So we decided to celebrate his birthday while also raising money for horse charities.
“Everyone had a wonderful time and we raised £120 for charity. And although cake was for the humans, Sparkle enjoyed a little bit too.”
Sparkle, who is kept at the farm off Newcastle Road, next to Hebburn, was born in the south and spent most of his life competing.
Over the years, he has won many dressage, showjumping, cross-country and veteran competitions.
But at the start of last year he injured a tendon, which would normally need surgery but wasn’t possible because of a heart condition and the risk of infection.
Instead, Sparkle was ordered to rest. He had another setback when blood tests from an eye injury revealed Cushing’s Disease – a condition that affects the pituitary gland near the base of the brain, which make healing difficult.
But after more rest and recuperation, Sparkle was able to return to the grazing fields about two weeks ago and can now take short rides out once again.
Mrs Collins added: “Sparkle is a real fighter and keeps bouncing back. Due to his age, I think ‘well this is it this time’, but he always surprises me.”
Mrs Collins would like to thank Geoff Alderslade, owner of West Fellgate Farm, for hosting the party.
Plus Ride and Style in Cleadon, Kim Dodds and Yeb de Jong for their donation of raffle prizes.
Twitter: @ShieldsGazVez
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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bewilderedonlooker
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:04 PMA lot of horse stories at the moment! nothing wrong with that! just and observation!
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