A HAMPSHIRE animal lover has told how her quick reactions - and a vet's expertise - prevented her much-loved pony from losing an eye.
Jan Milsom, who lives in the New Forest, said 16-year-old Charlie was in his field when he suffered an injury to his right eye.
"I saw him standing at the gate, head down, and felt instinctively that something was wrong," she said.
"Charlie’s right eyelid was ripped, his eye lashes were hanging down and there was blood.
"It was such a shock - I'd never seen anything like it. Somehow I got him to the stable yard and immediately called the vets."
Jan loaded the pony into a trailer with the help of her yard mate, Annie Hodgkinson, and drove to Seadown Veterinary Hospital at Hythe.
Equine vet Karolina Kalka prepared Charlie for surgery with the help of assistant Vicky Foot, who sedated him.
He was kept in a stable for two weeks and wore a mask, complete with metal cups covering his eyes, to prevent him rubbing the affected area.
Jan said: "It must have taken more than a month for him to recover but he's back to full health and I'm so, so grateful.
"We don’t know how he managed to damage his eyelid so badly - it was just one of those field accidents - but I know it helped that we acted quickly.
"I can't praise Karolina enough. She saved Charlie’s eye, you can’t tell it happened now."
Karolina said horses and ponies could suffer a variety of injuries in their field, adding: "A cut to the eyelid is the one that needs an immediate reaction from the owners. A severed eyelid cannot protect the eye globe.
"Jan rushed Charlie to Seadown, where the equine team awaited the patient's arrival while preparing for emergency surgery.
"Reconstructive techniques resulted in an excellent cosmetic outcome and a rapid return to the previous activity level.
"If it hadn't been for the immediate response of Charlie's owner he could have faced serious complications.
"Any delay in her decision to seek professional help could have ended up with a devitalized flap not suitable for surgery.
"The protective function of the deformed eyelid could have been compromised, putting the health of the eye globe in danger."
A message from the Editor
Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.
Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.
You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.
Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.
Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook
Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here