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‘Amazing’ horse helping injured troops back on road to recovery

Rescued horse Polly is now a key part of the team at charity HorseBack UK, which helps mentally and physically scarred soldiers recuperate.
Rescued horse Polly is now a key part of the team at charity HorseBack UK, which helps mentally and physically scarred soldiers recuperate.

A real war horse is helping injured Fife and Tayside troops get back on their feet.

Polly was nursed back to health by World Horse Welfare after being found tangled up and badly injured in a fence in a field at just eight months old.

The wire had cut down to the bone on one of her hind legs and the exhausted and underweight filly was also suffering from worms and cracked feet.

She was eventually rehomed by HorseBack UK, which helps heal mentally and physically scarred soldiers and Royal Marines.

Former Fife Royal Marine and helicopter pilot Jock Hutchison chose Polly as part of his team as “she’d been through stuff too”.

“I wanted to give her a second chance, and not just for her to be written off because she’d been hurt,” he said.

“Yes, there were consequences to her past injury she was flighty when we first got her but she needed time, that’s all.

“Polly is drawn to the people here who have been hurt the most it’s amazing.

“You put six ex-war guys in the arena and she’ll head straight to those who have been damaged the worst.”

The Dunfermline-born cowboy left the forces and used £100,000, inherited following the death of his father, Jack, to set up a ranch in Aboyne.

The charity provides horsemanship and outdoor activities for servicemen and women injured in the line of duty, many of whom have lost limbs.

“Polly is as bulletproof as anything now, she’s one of our safest horses without question and plays a big part in these men’s recovery,” said Jock.

“World Horse Welfare did a superb job when they took her on and we’ve just continued her education. Now she’s an essential part of the team helping our heroes.

Working with horses has helped many injured ex-service personnel come to terms with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The courses also include activities with falconers, ghillies, bushcraft experts and countryside rangers, both to build new skills and open possible horizons.

The charity is also engaged in an ongoing research programme with Robert Gordon University, in order to record data about exactly how the work at HorseBack improves and enhances the mental and physical health of participants.