Snow White arrived at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, in Norfolk, U.K., in 2008 as part of a large welfare case. In the 17 years since, she’s become a staff favorite—not just because she’s a lovely little pony but also because the hospital yard and veterinary teams have been very hands-on tending to her various ailments. Snow White has vision and eye issues, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), insulin dysregulation, and diastema (gaps between the teeth where food can get lodged and bacteria can congregate).
“The special care Snow White gets here allows us to interact with her quite regularly and means that we get to spend lots of time with her, which we all like because she’s such a favorite,” said Sarah Prior, BSc(Hons), BVetMed, MRCVS, veterinary surgeon at Redwings Horse Sanctuary. She shared with us what it takes to keep the 26-year-old Shetland Pony healthy.
Caring for Snow White
A couple of years after arriving at Redwings, Snow White suffered a corneal laceration to her left eye, resulting in scarring and reduced vision in that eye. Prior explained that the staff must take care when handling or approaching her from the left side. In 2020, Snow White has surgery to remove a melanoma near her right eye. She now receives twice-daily medication to prevent dry eye because of the abnormal eyelid margin.
Like many older horses, Snow White is PPID-positive and has insulin dysregulation, putting her at risk of developing the hoof disease laminitis. She’s on daily medication to manage those conditions, as well, and wears a special pair of tiny hoof boots to keep her feet comfortable when walking on hard ground.
Prior said Snow White gets dental exams every six months for routine dentistry and to flush out the gaps between her teeth. The Redwings staff also check her stall for signs of quidding (dropping partially chewed clumps of forage) or food pockets in her cheeks.
“She’s a really great example of looking after an elderly horse and the special measures that you need to take to make sure she’s well-looked-after,” said Prior.
