07/10/2026
Oh what a journey it’s been for our beautiful Bunny girl (formally known as Penny)
Bunny has been reunited with her special human Hayley, Hayley had her for many years prior to her ending up in the wrong hands.
She was a very special part of their family, and on Monday they were reunited 💗
Words from Hayley:
Sometimes life happens, and horses you truly believed you'd never let go have to find new homes.
When we left the Lockyer Valley, I dispersed all my mares, my part-Clydesdale c**t, and my beloved paddock ornaments. I thought I'd done everything right. I'd filtered out the trash, found people I believed would love and care for them, and made one thing clear:
If they ever need somewhere to go, or you ever need help with them, call me. I won't intrude, but I'll always be here.
A little over a year later, a photo of some brands was posted on Facebook asking if anyone knew who the mare was.
I did.
It was Penny.
I reached out with her information and asked how she was, expecting nothing more than a little update.
Instead, I found out she was emaciated, injured, had changed hands, had a foal at foot, and was on her way to the hospital with a guarded prognosis.
My heart absolutely broke.
And there was nothing I could do except check in, hope, and wait.
Penny isn't "just a horse" to our family.
She looked after both of my daughters in the saddle. She was the first horse Chris climbed aboard after a 20-year break from riding.
She's babysat foals and nervous horses in paddocks and floats. She's led breakers and helped me with just about every project around the farm for more than half of her life.
And when Wh***ey was in her final hours, Penny stood beside her and kept her calm.
She's spent her life looking after everyone else.
Then, when she needed someone to look after her, Charlie and her family stepped up.
I don't think I'll ever be able to properly express the gratitude I have for them.
For the tireless hours spent tending to Penny's wounds. For feeding her and slowly putting life back into her body. For caring for her foal. And for keeping her sad, slightly annoying previous owner updated along the way when they had absolutely no obligation to do so.
Today, Penny's foal was weaned. He's a big, strapping c**t, and both Penny and Charlie have done an incredible job with him.
Instead of simply separating them and moving on to Penny's next chapter, Charlie and her family gave us something I don't think I'll ever be able to repay them for.
They let her come home.
After a year and a half apart, I didn't know what to expect.
But she knew me.
She didn't just recognise me — she rested with me. She softened. She took comfort in my presence like the time apart hadn't erased everything we'd shared.
And that absolutely broke me in the best possible way.
Penny owes the human race absolutely nothing.
Especially me.
She's carried my children, carried my friends, raised babies, steadied nervous horses, taught youngsters, helped me through countless days on the farm, and stood beside another horse when she needed comfort most.
Now she gets to come home and ask for nothing.
No job. No expectations. No debt to repay.
Just grass, love, familiar faces, and somewhere safe to grow old.
I am so incredibly honoured that, after everything she's been through, she still finds peace in my company.
And I will forever be grateful to Charlie and everyone at Manny Park Equine for everything they have done for Penny — and for being kind enough to give this old girl back to the family who never stopped loving her.
Welcome home, Penny. 🤍
