A S an animal lover I was delighted to read how the severely emaciated pony, Buddy, who was taken in by staff at Bristol's Horse World and given little chance of surviving, has made such a remarkable recovery.

Some of the cases I have read in the Evening Post of cruelty on poor defenceless animals send a shudder down my spine. But nothing has shocked me as much as the way Buddy was left in the depths of last winter, lying in mud cold, wet and unable to lift his head.

I'm pleased Buddy has a friend named Severn-Up. Like Buddy he fought back after he was in an appalling state.

There's just no excuse for such inhumanity in a nation of supposed animal-lovers.

D F Courtney

Weston-super-Mare