A FACEBOOK appeal has resulted in a happy ending for an orphaned foal in Enniskillen who lost her mother just hours after being born. 

The thouroughbred was born at John Lunny’s farm in Trory at 1am last Tuesday but sadly his 23-year-old mother, Chevet Girl, died later that morning.  

It’s believed that the former National Hunt winner passed away as a result of either a haemorrhage or heart attack following the birth. In a separate twist of fate, one of her sons, seven year old Junction Fourteen, romped home in the Bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase at Sandown on Saturday. 

  An appeal went out on social media across the North as Mr Lunny raced to find a foster mare for his new-born filly. 

After scores of inquiries and shares on Facebook, horse owner Martin Collins from Dungannon offered to loan one of his mares, whose own foal had died. 

Thankfully by Tuesday evening the foal had a new mother, Flash, a 14-year-old mare, after being successfully adopted. While mare and foal were both exhausted after their separate ordeals, they were soon happily bonding. Whether the two would accept each other or not was unknown but the fantastic result means that the foal is now facing a much brighter future.

Mr Lunny told the Herald: “The mare took to the foal like a duck to water which was unbelievable. As soon as we brought the foal to her she sniffed it and let her feed right away. We were very lucky because sometimes it doesn’t work out at all and can take hours for them to bond. It could have ended up as a kicking match so it was like a miracle. 

“Now she is walking between the foal and me and pushing me back to get out of the away. I’ve had over 600 messages on Facebook wishing me all the best and I’m very thankful to everyone who helped to make this happen. 

“The foal has a promising future as she is a Dylan Thomas breed so a good pedigree and out of a winning mare,” added Mr Lunny.   

    The foster mare will be needed until the unnamed foal weans in the autumn.