AN ANIMAL-LOVER who took in two abandoned ponies for the night is still searching for a home for them after five months.
Lindsay Martin was alerted to the two traditional cob yearling colts on the old A130 near Rettendon by an online riding group.
The 24-year-old hairdresser said: "It was before Christmas and me and my other half thought we would see if we could help.
"We phoned the police at 10am but they hadn't come three hours later so we put the horses in our trailer to ring nearby sanctuaries in the morning."
But Lindsay and her partner Steve, 30, a plumber, then ran into difficulties.
"We rang around but found that they don't take abandoned ones – only the sick and injured and these only looked a bit skinny."
And her act of goodwill inadvertently made her their owner, meaning she risked a possible 51-week prison sentence, a fine up to £20,000, or both if she then released them.
Lindsay, who works at Headhunters hairdressers in Springfield Road, Chelmsford, said: "By law you have to put up an abandonment notice and as no-one came forward we came to the conclusion they didn't belong to anyone. But with horses not gelded it's harder to re-home them and they need a passport and microchipping by law.
"When we were told that would cost £800 it came as quite a shock.
"One of them is still not putting any weight on but I don't know if he has any health issues. They are pretty wild and a vet wouldn't be able to get near to them without sedating them, which costs.
"We thought about darting them but the only problem with them is you don't know if they have any issues beforehand."
The couple have managed to raise £400 towards their care but are still £400 short.
And the ponies, who they have been named Rocky and Rambo, join their five other horses Willow, 20, a Friesian stallion; Polly, 22, a traditional coloured cob; Annie, a 14-year-old Andalusian horse; Blue, three, a Welsh Section A; and Maddie, a Welsh Section A yearling at a Rettendon farm.
She said: "My other half works six days a week and I work five days a week, it's hard work and we only thought we would have these two for a day."
Appealing for a potential owner to come forward, Lindsay continued: "They would be suitable for an experienced horse person who likes a bit of a project to work with."
Vets House & Jackson has set up a payment account for anyone who would like to donate to the ponies' welfare – call 01277 823858 if you wish to help.
