A Colic Scare With Nutty – Caring for Our Ardennes Draft Horse
On the evening of 11th February, we had a worrying moment at Northcote Heavy Horse Centre when our beloved Ardennes draft horse, Nutty, began showing mild signs of possible colic.
As anyone involved in equine care knows, colic can develop quickly and should always be taken seriously. Thankfully, we recognised the early symptoms straight away and acted fast to ensure Nutty received the care she needed.
We contacted our vets immediately, and we were so grateful to have the wonderful Charlotte from Hill & Phelan Veterinary Surgeons come out to help.
A rectal examination was performed, medication was administered, and Nutty was monitored closely to keep her comfortable. You can learn more about Hill & Phelan’s work here: Hill & Phelan Veterinary Surgeons .
Nutty was a very tired girl, so throughout the night we provided sloppy mashes to keep her hydrated and supported, until she was happy enough to begin eating her hay again.
A huge thank you must go to our dedicated volunteers Terena and Geoff, who checked on Nutty repeatedly through the night — even in their dressing gowns — making sure she was settled, comfortable, and never left without care.
At an animal sanctuary like ours, the love and commitment never stops, even in the early hours.
Nutty is an Ardennes Draft Horse, a gentle giant with a very special place in our hearts. Because of her past medical history, we are always especially cautious when anything seems out of the ordinary.
A few years ago, Nutty suffered a serious choke emergency and had to be rushed for specialist treatment at Oakham Veterinary Hospital. You can read more about that experience here:
Nutty’s Equine Hospital Emergency
Moments like these remind us just how quickly horses can become unwell, and how important it is to have rapid veterinary support available.
We’re relieved to say that Nutty is now looking brighter and very much on the mend, but emergencies like this come with unavoidable costs.
Nutty’s vet bill for this visit is approximately £350.
As a charity-run heavy horse and animal sanctuary, every unexpected bill puts extra pressure on our limited funds — and yet we will always do whatever is needed to ensure our animals receive the best possible care.
If you would like to support Nutty’s recovery and help us continue caring for horses and animals in need, even a small donation truly makes a difference.
You can donate directly through our website here:
Thank you so much for your kindness, support, and for standing with us during moments like this.
Nutty — and all of us at Northcote — are incredibly grateful. 💛
