THE chairman of a Monmouth-based horse charity had no time to call the midwife when a rescued pony gave birth in the middle of the night.

Jenny MacGregor, 81, who cares for abandoned horses and ponies at her farm at Coxstone, St Maughan’s and runs the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies, was forced to deliver a foal on her own.

Mrs MacGregor, MBE, was carrying out a late night check onAmy, a heavily pregnant grey pony that had been found at Cefn Golau, near Tredegar, a fortnight ago when the drama unfolded.

The pony, named Amy by volunteers, was so thin her spine and pelvic bones were showing.

Mrs MacGregor found Amy lying on the floor, halfway through giving birth.

She said: “She was exhausted and had completely given up. It was up to me to get on my hands and knees and try to tug the foal free. She made a rather feeble attempt to give birth, but she had no strength.

“I gave her a lot of encouragement and on the third contraction the foal, much to my relief, came away from its mother.

“I have been around horses for 70 years and have never had the joy of seeing a foal, named Tod after my maiden name, born.

“For me to have not just seen but to assist in the birth was the most wonderful experience imaginable. I’m also pretty chuffed that at 81 I have acquired a new skill.”

Both Amy and Tod are now doing well.