Staff at the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies are mourning the loss of an elderly and much-loved mare called Lilly who, having been rescued herself, went on to act as foster mum to many abandoned foals.

Chronicle readers may recall the case of Cracker, the last foal she raised, who was found in a sink hole on Llangynidr Moors last summer, and Winston, found abandoned near Fforest Coalpit by a party of walkers who went to the nearest Tourist Information Centre for help.

“Every horse and pony that arrives at SWHP is special, they each have their own amazing story to tell,” said the charity’s press officer Sian Lloyd.

“When Lilly was found eight years ago in a field at Pontypool her emaciated condition, hidden by a rug, shocked us all.

“Due to her advanced age we felt she could not be rehomed and would see out her days at Coxstone. However, when she was fully restored to health, we very soon discovered she had a passion for young foals and during her eight wonderful twilight years with us she has raised no fewer than twelve orphan foals.

“Lilly was priceless to us and those orphan foals, allowing them to suckle - though she had no milk - and thereby giving them the comfort that only a mother can give. She loved them all dearly and they in turn loved her, as did we all.

“She instilled them with good manners and corrected them when needed so they grew up happy youngsters with a good future ahead of them.

“Last week Lilly, now in her thirties, started to fail and we knew, with the heaviest of hearts, the kindest decision was for her to be put to sleep.

“She is resting under her favourite tree in the paddock where she always liked to snooze with a foal at her side.

“She is deeply missed by all especially her adopted foal Cracker, our yard manager Ann and the staff who looked after her for many years.

“We know she will also be missed by our many loyal supporters who made a point of visiting Lilly and her latest orphan foal when coming to Coxstone.”