Family 'ecstatic' as pony shot with BB gun recovers

Phoenix, a therapy pony at a petting farm, suffered a fractured hind leg

A pony, whose life hung in the balance after he was shot in the leg at a petting farm, has been given the all clear by vets.

Phoenix, a four-year-old Shetland, was found in his field at Nick's Farm in Throop near Bournemouth struggling to bear weight on his leg on 2 November.

X-rays revealed a small round hole and fracture in his left hind leg. It is thought he was deliberately shot - with a suspected BB gun.

His owner, Kieran Loder, said: "It's a massive turnaround...we thought he wasn't going to pull through."

An X-ray revealed a fracture in the Shetland's leg

Mr Loder said Phoenix, one of the therapy ponies at the farm for children with special educational needs, was now able to bear weight on his leg and had been able to spend time in his paddock.

He said: "We are so relieved, the children are ecstatic, he has been going for walks with the kids.

"He has been brilliant, he is so so happy to be back out in his paddock. He's getting lots of treats and cuddles and he's lapping up the fuss."

It is thought Phoenix probably walked up to his attacker expecting to be petted, as he is used to being fussed over and brushed by visitors at the farm.

The pony, who is about the size of a Great Dane dog, is expected to be able to return to his field with the farm's other ponies in a few weeks.

Rural Crime Team officers at Dorset Police are investigating the attack on Phoenix.

The force said the pony had been "possibly shot in the leg with a BB gun" between 18:00 GMT on 1 November and 08:00 on 2 November at the farm in Valley Road, Bournemouth.

Officers have carried out enquiries into the incident but no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the force.