A PONY whose owner was prosecuted and banned from keeping horses has left her difficult past behind her after being rehomed.

April was given a new future in Rishton thanks to the intervention of World Horse Welfare workers.

She is now relishing her role as a true family pony belonging to Abigail and Michaela Allen-Thompson.

April came into the care of Penny Farm rescue and rehoming centre near Preston in January 2015 as part of a large group removed by the RSPCA after their owner was prosecuted and banned from keeping horses.

She had had little previous handling so the Penny Farm team began her rehabilitation and training to become a ridden pony. April progressed quickly through her education and was soon ready to be rehomed.

Abigail said: “I first saw April on the rehoming page and after our application and riding assessment, I was thrilled to be chosen to be able to give her a loving, forever home.

“April came to her new home with us in January this year and immediately became great stable and field buddies with my other pony, Dipsy.

“When April first arrived she was quite green but her progress has been amazing in every way.

“She is very willing and eager to learn new things all the time – our most exciting moment so far is when we started to jump poles and small fences together.

“We recently went to our first show together and I hope to do more shows next year – I am sure we have a great future together.”

October is World Horse Welfare’s annual rehome a horse month.

Each year the charity, which is based in Snetterton, Norfolk, rehomes around 300 horses and ponies with more than 1,800 currently out in loving homes around the UK.

Deputy chief executive Tony Tyler said: “We are so grateful to all of our fantastic rehomers who are giving these horses and ponies a second chance at the life they deserve.

“It really is incredible to hear of all the amazing things they are achieving.

“From loyal companions to horse agility superstars, lead-rein ponies to driving dynamos and hacking horses to show ring successes, it seems there is nothing rehomed horses and ponies cannot do.”