Dave the hero horse saves life of hospital neigh-bour

Wednesday 03 August 2022

A hero Shire horse from Jersey has been praised for giving a life-saving blood transfusion to a hospital 'neigh-bour' - days ahead of undergoing surgery himself.

Dave, who is among New Era's largest patients standing at 18 hands tall, is currently at the Liphook Equine Hospital, having been referred to the UK for surgery.

Pictured: Dave, who is affectionally known as ‘Big Baby Dave’ and ‘Dave the Rave’, is one of the biggest horses in Jersey, standing at 18 hands tall.

Liphook Equine Hospital is one of the largest specialist veterinary practices in the UK and Dave was there to have tie-back surgery to open his airways.

Pictured: Dave and owner, Rachel Greenaway, at the Home Farm Halloween fancy dress competition which they won.

Owner Rachel Greenaway explained: “I’ve had Dave since he was three, and he’s always had a breathing issue which makes him sound like Darth Vader!

“Now that he’s six, he’s old enough to get the surgery, which will hopefully allow him to breathe better.”

Pictured: Rachel describes Dave as “a character”.

Due to boat timings, Dave went over to the UK on Friday and had to wait over the weekend for his treatment which was due to happen on Monday.

While Dave was waiting for his procedure, another unwell horse called Sheridan came into the hospital in desperate need of a life-saving blood transfusion.

Sheridan was suffering from colic, which affects the abdomen and is one of the biggest causes of death in horses worldwide. 

Unfortunately, Rachel had already lost her other horse, Brad, to this disease so described the decision to agree to donate Dave’s blood as “easy”.

Pictured: Rachel lost her other horse, Brad, to colic.

Brad, who was known as 'The Dark Destroyer', also made headlines in 2017 when he had to be rescued by the Fire Service after getting stuck in the mud in a field in St. John.

Rachel said: “When Brad had colic, we didn’t have the option of life-saving surgery as they do in UK, but if we did I know I would have been praying that the other owner would say ‘yes’ to save him. 

“As owners, our horses are our babies.”

Pictured: Blood recipient, Sheridan, is feeling much better after the successful transfusion.

The procedure went well, and Sheridan is now on the mend.

Dave has also successfully had his tie-back surgery and will return back home to Jersey on Friday.