Sad news about Rizz, our talented carriage horse

Rizz joined us last year and took to driving the carriage like a duck to water, as well as proving the calmest of ridden horses. But sadly we learned this month that he has cancer.

It began with a swollen eye, which was found to be a tumour, so both tumour and eye were removed. Rizz returned home to Teddington to recover, and seemed well and happy, enjoying lots of cuddles and attention from visitors and the team. Horses adapt well to losing an eye and if the cancer hadn’t spread, there was no reason why he shouldn’t continue to lead a healthy and happy life with us into his old age.

Sadly, though, tests showed that it is spreading rapidly, and Rizz has only a short while left to live. As soon as the stitches are out, he will join his friends in the field, the best place in his world for him to be, as the spring grass arrives. At the moment he is feeling much better with the painful eye removed. We will check on him every day to make sure that he remains happy and pain-free. And when the time comes, we will do the right thing by him and let him slip away surrounded by friends. It is our duty as his human guardians to give him the best possible ending to his life and that is what we will do.

Thank you from the heart to the very many people who saw his story on social media and donated to help pay for his treatment. We would have done whatever was needed had the outcome of those tests been different, and if it was right for Rizz.

Update: We are very sad to share that Rizz died on Thursday 10 April.

He died with the taste of polos in his mouth and the voice of someone that truly loves him telling him how loved he is in his ear. He was in the field with his friends, with the birds singing and blossom on the trees.

Thank you to everyone that has been so supportive and kind.

Claudine from Shotter & Byers Equine Veterinary Services has been exceptional in her care and treated him as if he was her own.

Sleep easy Rizz, we were lucky to know you. Thank you for the huge impact you made on so many lives.

Where does your strength come from? © Charlie Mackesy Limited, Charlie Mackesy 2024