‘Exhausted’ pony filmed collapsing in Lidl car park

People have rallied around to try and ‘save’ a pony filmed collapsing in a Lidl car park.

Viral footage showed the pony, seemingly thin and in poor condition, rear up before falling backwards to the ground.

It was pictured lying on the ground still wearing a harness to pull a cart.

Swansea woman Sandra Kvaerneng Stolp has launched a campaign to save it and has been backed by 5,000 people.

Miss Stolp, who owns the Whispering Willows Sanctuary saw the video and immediately travelled the 150 miles to Deeside to try to buy the pony.

Thousands of people donated money to try and buy the horse and let it live in a horse sanctuary, after seeing the video captured at the supermarket in Queensferry, Flintshire, North Wales.

Miss Stolp had agreed to buy the pony from the owner for £2,000 but when she arrived on Thursday, April 18, she was told the pony had been taken to a vet by the RSPCA .

‘We go above and beyond to help animals,’ said Miss Stolp.

‘It doesn’t matter if they are in North Wales. But the owner told us the RSPCA had called and bought a vet out and the poor pony needed treatment.

‘We said we would still buy the pony, and were totally prepared to pay all the vet’s bills.’

In just 24 hours, Whispering Willows had doubled its following on Facebook as people donated money and added their support.

The vet’s bill had already topped £750 and the vet had confirmed Gary would require on-going treatment.

‘We went back to the owner to negotiate the price,” said Miss Stolp.

‘But he wanted £2,000 or said the horse could stay where it was.’

The RSPCA said the horse had been returned to its owner after having veterinary treatment.

A spokeswoman for North Flintshire Police said: ‘In response to public concern, we are aware of an incident at a car park in Queensferry involving a horse. It is being dealt with by the RSPCA and Flintshire County Council.

‘An RSPCA investigation has been launched after the footage emerged.’

An RSPCA spokesman said: ‘We have been looking into concerns about the Queensferry horse for several days. Our officers have visited several times and have also taken independent vets to assess the pony.

‘We are unable to give any further details about this incident for legal reasons. That doesn’t mean we are ignoring the situation and we can assure you we take all allegations of cruelty or neglect seriously.

‘The RSPCA has no more powers than members of the public to remove animals and we have to work within the law at all times. An animal can only be legally removed from an owner when they have been seized by police.’

It comes as two men were arrested in a separate incident where a horse collapsed in a Cardiff street.

Police and members of the public went to assist and people from nearby pubs took water to the animal.

The horse was taken into care and has been described as doing well, but is being monitored after suffering heatstroke.

She has been examined by a vet who believes she is carrying a foal.