Nanny May

(Formerly Known as Mable at ISPCA)

Rescued By

Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Story and Images Submitted by Sheena Twist

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Mabel, approx 25yrs old, arrived to Armargos Animal Sanctuary in Spring 2010 from the ISPCA National Animal Centre in Longford and straight away started to show how ‘useful’ an older mare can be in a herd environment.

Her biggest role arrived in May, when Polly, a new cruelty case pony whom Mabel had taken ‘under her wing’, died two days after giving birth to a foal despite the best efforts of myself and the vets. The foal, named Rocky, was put into the enclosed field shelter in Mabel’s field and it was through the interactions between them at the gate of the field shelter and on his breaks out of the shelter that Mabel’s name got changed to ‘Nanny May’ as she mothered him, taught him to groom, led him to grass and guided him through the various education levels that a foal needs.

Nanny May is currently teaching Rocky, along with two other colts and three fillies, the dynamics of herd behaviour and if ever I hear her neighing persistently I go to investigate as I know she is letting me know that something is wrong with someone. As far as I am concerned every herd of equines should have a ‘Nanny May’, she is definitely a permanent fixture here and worth more than her weight in gold.