Give Fanto a second chance

Fanto joined the Harkness family in April 2025, a beautiful palomino PRE x, albeit riddled with mud fever, scars, and upside-down muscle, but beautiful all the same - inside and out. Born in Spain, he was bred for dressage, brought to England, and suffered significant trauma and abuse.

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Thea rebacked him very slowly, bitless and using positive reinforcement, always giving him the chance to express himself, and feel heard. It became quite quickly evident that there wasn't just mental discomfort, that something was off physically too. He would be fine one day, and bucking, ears back, kicking out the next.

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So they left the ridden work, and gave him a four month break, before (even more slowly this time), starting to reback him again. It was, again, evident that there was physical discomfort alongside mental trauma, so he was scoped - no ulcers, took bloods - all normal, took a urine sample - all okay... and then he has x-rays on his back and neck... mild kissing spine.

Vets were on the fence as to whether this find was clinically significant or not, but he was injected, and began rehab, they were determined to help him just incase this was what was causing his pain. However, he still isn't right under saddle. They have also noticed a pattern of knees buckling when picking feet out, and/or when he's eating food with the saddle on, there's a few things now that point towards neck. However, he's already cost masses in vets bills and to CT scan his neck would be a huge cost, which they simply cannot afford.

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They love him dearly, and although its important not to have goals with a horse like him - with so many unknowns, Thea couldn't help but dream about what adventures they could get up to together in the future. They just want to be able to make him comfortable. 

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Fanto's journey has been shared on YouTube for a while, so if you're interested to learn more about him, and the work we've been doing to help him, then have a look at Thea's Youtube

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Any donations, or even just a share, is hugely appreciated.

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Thank you so much for your time.

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Please note, any refunds issued will be without the transaction fee.