New beginning for Casper, Henry and Bertie

Casper, Henry and Bertie were in desperate need of veterinary care when our Donkey Welfare Adviser Jenna Goldby arrived at their site in North Devon earlier this year.

Twenty-one-year-old Casper had overgrown hooves, which made him walk with abnormally high steps, while young colt Bertie was also living with long feet.

Henry, a one-year-old colt, was underweight; Jenna could easily feel his hips and spine under his thick winter coat.

The trio were living among four other donkeys who were in dire need of veterinary attention.

An emaciated mare called Nora was struggling to stand, managing only a few minutes at a time before she had to lie back down to rest her painful feet.

Another donkey – a mare with a one-month-old foal at foot – was lame and had overgrown hooves that caused her to limp while walking. Another young mare had overgrown hooves and walked with abnormally short steps.

A severe situation

Jenna says: “My heart sank when I realised the severity of this situation. I immediately clocked that two of the donkeys were seriously ill and I was immediately concerned for their prognosis.

“I knew it was imperative that I tracked down the owners as soon as possible so we could get a vet on site that day. I started making local enquiries and managed to contact the owners shortly after my arrival.”

Jenna explained her concerns to the owners, who said they had encountered difficulties in reaching a farrier to attend the site.

The owners told Jenna they had purchased two donkeys – Casper and Nora – and that the other five donkeys were born afterwards.

“The owner immediately called their vet, who came straight out and confirmed the severity of the situation the donkeys found themselves in,” Jenna says.

“Unfortunately, two of the donkeys – Nora and the one-month-old foal – had health issues that could not be resolved.

“Nora’s body condition was classed as emaciated, and further examination by the vet showed that the condition of her teeth was catastrophic, having never received dental care throughout her life.

“This, coupled with Nora’s overall condition, meant euthanasia was the kindest option.”

Examinations on the foal also revealed several severe congenital abnormalities commonly found via inbreeding. The foal was very weak and unable to exhibit the natural behaviours expected in a young donkey.

Difficult decisions

Jenna says: “Making the decision to put any animal to sleep is extremely difficult; it’s even harder when it is a young foal with his whole life ahead of him.

“However, had we not made this decision, it is possible he might have endured a long and painful end to his life. We had to put our emotions aside and ensure the kindest outcome for the foal.

“Both myself and the vet gave the owners advice how to manage the emotions of the foal’s mother going forward. We encouraged them to closely monitor her, provide additional feed and care, and carry out extra checks in the weeks that followed.”

Before their departure, Jenna made plans for her and the vet to return so they could give the five remaining donkeys any required veterinary treatment in a timely manner, after being allowed a period of grieving for their friends. The donkeys showing lameness were also given pain relief.

A return visit

One week after her initial visit, Jenna returned to North Devon alongside fellow Donkey Welfare Adviser Sophie Foster, a farrier and the vet who originally attended.

The five donkeys that remained at the site were now living in a cattle barn, which made it easier to make sure their needs were met.

Jenna says: “On this visit, the owners told me that they had a conversation and made the decision that they would allow Casper, Henry and Bertie to go to The Donkey Sanctuary, where they could be castrated and receive specialist care going forward.

“They also informed me that they had found a knowledgeable local private home for the two mares and that their days of donkey ownership were over.”

Jenna also ensured that all five donkeys had their hooves trimmed, received dental treatment, worming and vaccinations, and had blood samples taken to check for underlying conditions before their journey to their new homes.

“We were very happy to see the mother of the euthanised foal was looking bright and well,” Jenna adds. “She appeared to have coped well with the loss of her baby.”

Reach out for help

Jenna adds: “This was a particularly harrowing case; losing two donkeys and seeing five others in poor condition.

“However, I am pleased that the owners were willing to work with me to ensure Casper, Henry and Bertie received secure futures and the veterinary care they needed.

“As Donkey Welfare Advisers, we always work in a non-judgemental way and we realise that sometimes situations can run away from people.

“However, we would encourage any donkey owners who are experiencing hardship or struggling to care for their donkeys to get in touch with us at the earliest opportunity, and we will do whatever we can to support you in managing your animals’ futures.”

Happier days ahead

Casper, Henry and Bertie have been in our care since their arrival in February 2025. 

Veterinary Surgeon Jamie Forrest, who is overseeing the trio’s rehabilitation, says: “Casper, Henry and Bertie are all doing really well since arriving at The Donkey Sanctuary and are growing daily in confidence thanks to the hard work of their dedicated grooms.

“Casper lives with arthritis and will have a forever home at our Sidmouth sanctuary. Henry and Bertie are flourishing, and we hope that one day they can be rehomed.”

A brighter future

Following a four-month stay with Casper at the Stallion Unit at Brookfield Farm, Henry and Bertie moved to our Sidmouth New Arrivals Unit and today their future looks bright thanks to the specialist care of our experts.

Sara Blair-Salter, New Arrivals Manager, says: “They are growing in confidence every day. The grooms have been doing lots of handling with them, getting them used to being caught, groomed and having their feet handled.

“They are extremely playful, always running round with something in their mouth! They have a favourite stick they both like to carry at the same time. They are very inquisitive and always come to the fence to say hello.

“They have no health concerns at the moment and have recovered well post castration. We will continue with their training and hope that in a year or two they will be ready for rehoming.”

Casper’s positive steps

After a short stay at our Sidmouth sanctuary, Casper is enjoying life at Woods Farm where he’s settling well and making wonderful progress.

He is yet to find a companion to bond with, but lives in a group of around 20-30 others. He is quickly proving to be very people-friendly.

He genuinely enjoys human interaction, starting to relax and build trust with his grooms. He is making steady progress with his foot handling, which is an important step in his overall confidence and care routine.

Equine Behaviourist Kerry Layton-Hill says: “Casper’s main focus right now is confidence-building. If he were ever to be considered for rehoming, we’d want to make sure he has the very best chance of success, which means helping him continue to feel secure and comfortable.

“To ensure his new carers can always provide to best level of care, Casper needs to continue building his confidence with foot handling.

“Despite the neglect he experienced in the past, Casper has adapted beautifully to sanctuary life. When he first arrived, he was understandably very reactive to any leg or foot handling, likely due to associated pain and fear.

“With gentle, positive training, he is now comfortable enough to allow his feet to be picked up if it’s done slowly and calmly.

“He’s still learning to feel comfortable with farrier visits but this is a huge step forward. Initially nervous of veterinary interaction, Casper is now calm with most aspects of routine care and continues to grow in confidence.”

The main focus going forwards is to continue his foot handling training, helping him become more confident and relaxed.

Alongside this, Kerry and her team will carry on working quietly with Casper day by day, giving him to time and patience he deserves.