Rescued mare and her 11-week-old foal stolen from field near Caerphilly

Piebald mare Tulip and her foal Pippa were stolen from a field near Caerphilly

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a mare and a foal were stolen from a field.

Piebald mare Tulip had been in foster care near Caerphilly since she was rescued from neglect in December 2021. Her foal Pippa is just 11-weeks-old.

The pair were about to be officially adopted by the farm owners.

The foster carers arrived at the field, on the outskirts and to the north of Caerphilly town, on Tuesday, August 30 at around 7.30am, but found the paddock empty and the gate forced open.

RSPCA Special Operations Officer Kirsty Withnall said: “We are extremely worried about Tulip and Pippa and we are very keen to find out where they are as quickly as possible.

“Understandably, their foster carers are heartbroken. They took Tulip into their care after she was rescued from neglect, and gave her a peaceful, comfortable place to have her foal. Since Pippa was born, they have formed a really strong bond with both mare and foal, so much so that they asked to officially adopt them both. It’s extremely sad as both ponies are very friendly and easy to handle, so they would have likely been trusting of whoever took them.”

Both Tulip and her filly foal Pippa are piebald cob-type ponies. Tulip is approximately seven-years-old and 13hh (132cm). Tulip and her foal are both microchipped.

Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA in confidence on 0300 1234 999 or Gwent Police on 101.