'Can't go to the ball without a horse': Disney's newborn pony to one day pull Cinderella's carriage

Updated: 12:34 AM EDT Jul 14, 2023

"The most magical place on Earth" is celebrating a "magical" new arrival this week.Disney Parks announced on social media that a white shetland pony was born on Tuesday morning at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground in Bay Lake, Florida.The news of the new arrival means Cinderella won't soon be without a horse, which is important because, as Cinderella's fairy godmother once advised, “You can't go to the ball without a horse.”In the video player above: See images of the foal and her mom, Lady"Give a warm welcome to this sweet, newborn foal at Tri-Circle-D Ranch! Less than 24 hours old, she’s already in the pasture bonding with mom," Disney Parks tweeted Tuesday. "With her beautiful white coat, this Shetland pony will be living out a fairy- "tail” & joining the team who pulls Cinderella’s coach."In Disney Parks' announcement on Instagram, Dr. Mark Penning, vice president of Animals, Science and Environment for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, commented about the pony's birth."This sweet, Shetland pony foal was just born at Tri-Circle-D Ranch! Less than 24 hours old, she’s already in the pasture bonding with mom," Penning wrote in one of the announcements on social media. "She was born with a beautiful, white coat, which means one day she will help pull Cinderella’s coach. For now, though, she’s keeping close to her mom Lady."Births like these are possible thanks to the care and dedication of our ranch hands at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground."According to CNN, the foal has an older sister, Lily — who was born in 2019. The hope is that the sister Shetlands will follow in the hoof steps of their parents, Lady and Ferdinand, who have both served on Cinderella's horse team, which pulls the pumpkin carriage at The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World for weddings and parades. The ranch, according to the Walt Disney World Website, is home to more than 90 horses of a variety of breeds including Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons and Quarter Horses and Shetland Ponies. In addition to being home to Cinderella's ponies, the ranch is home to the horses of Main Street, U.S.A. and Discover the Dragon Calliope.

ARVADA, Colo. — To keep a barn running, there are of course the chores, and the mud, but when you get down to it, it takes more than that.

"A lot of heart work," said Margaret Blaha, the director of operations at the Horse Protection League.

There’s no shortage of heart here at HPL, a rescue that takes in neglected, abused, and surrendered horses in Colorado with no place left to go. Unfortunately, passion is not enough to keep the barn doors open.

"We've seen a number of increases in both the costs of everything and also animals that are coming into the rescue. We've also—the more alarming thing on my end—is that we've seen a reduction in adoption," said Blaha.

While the 32 horses in their care remain blissfully unaware, Blaha sees the impact of inflation on the work they do every day.

"In 2021, we were able to successfully adopt 21 horses, which was amazing, and then last year in 2022, we were only able to adopt three," she said.

The pandemic brought with it a nationwide adoption boom. Current inflation, however, has pet owners across the country second guessing their ability to keep their animals.

A recent study by Forbes says 63% of pet owners said inflation has made it more difficult to pay a surprise vet bill. Vet bills of $1,000 and under would cause 42% of pet owners to go into debt. At rescues like the Horse Protection League, where they spend thousands of dollars per horse per year, the lack of adoptions and the increase in surrendered animals coming in has created anxieties about how long they can keep going.

"We hope to see some changes probably within the next four months, three to four months, for us to feel a little bit more comfortable with the upcoming year," Blaha said.

Animal rescues need help from the public right now and Blaha says there are more ways to do that than adopting an animal or giving a big sum of money since times are tough for everyone. There are more creative ways like business sponsorships or donating equipment, and people can also look into membership options for rescues near them.

Although this rescue is struggling, they have a strong team of volunteers determined to carry on their mission. It’s the heart work that’s giving Blaha hope they can survive these turbulent economic times because when it comes to the animals in need they serve, they have no other choice but to keep going for them.

"With gratitude, we have volunteers of all different walks of life that have something in common when it comes to loving animals and wanting to provide the best that they possibly can," Blaha said.

Another horse was euthanized at Churchill Downs Friday afternoon.

Related video above: 8th horse dies at Churchill Downs after suffering an injury

According to spokesperson Darren Rodgers, Lost in Limbo suffered a significant injury to his left front leg near the finish of Friday's seventh race.

Dr. Will Farmer, Equine Medical Director, determined that the injury was unrecoverable, and the horse was humanely euthanized.

This is the 10th horse death at Churchill Downs since start of the Spring Meet less than a month ago.

Three-year-old filly, Swanson Lake, trained by Michael McCarthy was euthanized after being vanned off with a significant injury during a race on Sunday.

Before Swanson Lake's death, eight other horses died at Churchill Downs during the course of the month.

8th horse dies at Churchill Downs after suffering an injury

Updated: 10:00 AM EDT May 15, 2023

Another horse has died at the home of the Kentucky Derby after suffering an injury.According to Churchill Downs spokesperson, Darren Rogers, Rio Moon broke his leg earlier on Sunday.The horse was at the finish line, in the sixth race of the day when the injury occurred and had to be euthanized.The horse was a 3-year-old colt, trained by Dale Romans of Louisville.This comes after seven horses died over 10 days during the Spring Meet at Churchill Downs, which is home to the Kentucky Derby.Two of those happened Saturday, on Derby Day. And two others were under the same trainer, prompting a suspension from the track. Churchill Downs released a statement after the Derby, saying they would continue to look into the deaths and what may have caused the injuries leading to them. Read that full statement here.The Associated Press reported that Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was indefinitely suspended by Churchill Downs during Derby week after two of his horses collapsed on the track and died. Kentucky racing officials scratched his Derby entry, Lord Miles, too.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Several Hilltown, Pennsylvania, police officers helped save a distressed horse from a burning barn last week, which was captured by an officer’s body-worn camera.

Officer Matthew Reiss told KYW-TV that he did not have much time to get Phoebe the horse out of the barn.

"Quickly improvise, and come up with a solution to get that animal out,” Reiss said.

Other horses were in the barn at the time of the fire and were rescued by friends and family, but Phoebe was reportedly too spooked to follow.

That’s when the officers and horse trainer Lena Obernesser teamed to get Phoebe out. Obernesser used a shirt to cover her eyes and push the horse to safety as Reiss used a rope to pull Phoebe to safety. Phoebe then ran to safety.

"She was definitely terrified, the cops were fantastic though, they jumped right in,” Obernesser told KYW. “I saw the footage and I was just in awe. Like oh my God, thank God they were here."

Obernesser credited the officers for rescuing Phoebe.

“They really stepped up, we had so many people reaching out,” she said. “it was, I was so proud to be a part of this community."

After a week, Phoebe is reportedly in good health. The condition of the barn is still being calculated, but members of the community have started a fundraiser to help the Red Wing Farm care for their horses.