This three-week-old foal needs a new mother.

The animal was left an orphan after its mother suddenly died last Thursday.

It’s owner, Julie Gough has done everything to try and find it a foster-mother, but without success.

Julie from Gillingham, owns six horses and has been hand-rearing the foal, which she plans to call Hope.

Julie said:“At first I was bottle-feeding her every two hours with a powdered formula.

“Now she is feeding every four hours and is taking it from a bucket, but she desperately needs a foster-mother or she will not learn the skills she needs to learn from a mother.

"Its been a very traumatic week or so and we thought we had found a mother, but she did not take to the foal, so my hopes were dashed.”

Julie says it is essential for the animal to be mothered, as otherwise she will not grow up to be a well behaved and happy horse.

She has also contacted the National Foaling Bank, but as yet a foster-mother has not been found.

She added: “She had started eating foul mix, so feeding is getting a bit easier, but I can’t teach her the horse skills she needs to learn from her mother.

"She is currently being kept company by her older sister, but she is only two-years-old and has never been with foul so can’t teach her how to behave or give her the loving she needs.

“I am prepared to take her where ever there is a foster-mother, or the she can come here.”