“TWO HEARTBREAKING GOODBYES” — CANNON HALL FARM MOURNS THE LOSS OF BELOVED SHIRE HORSES RUBY AND IRIS

They were more than animals at a farm. Ruby and Iris had become familiar faces to thousands of followers who watched their journeys unfold. After months of medical challenges and desperate efforts to save them, Cannon Hall Farm has been reflecting on two deeply painful losses.

Cannon Hall Farm in South Yorkshire has endured a difficult period after losing two much-loved Shire horses, Ruby and the young foal Iris.

The farm, known to viewers of Channel 5’s Springtime on the Farm, regularly shares the lives of its animals with a large online audience. Over time, Ruby and Iris became part of that story, drawing messages of encouragement from people who followed their progress.

But behind the heartwarming videos and updates were serious medical challenges, difficult decisions and the emotional reality of caring for animals whose lives can sometimes take unexpected turns.

In September 2026, the farm announced a special online event with its equine veterinarian, Marco, to discuss the losses, the efforts made to save the horses and the future of its Shire breeding programme.

RUBY’S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

Ruby’s ordeal began shortly after she gave birth in May 2026.

The Shire mare developed colic, a condition associated with abdominal pain that can become life-threatening in horses. She was taken to Rainbow Equine Hospital in Malton, where she underwent emergency treatment and surgery.

Farmer Rob Nicholson later spoke about how frightening the situation had been. At one point, he feared he might lose Ruby, and her condition appeared to improve only after a period of intense uncertainty.

For a while, there was hope that she might recover sufficiently to return to the farm.

Supporters followed each update, sharing messages of encouragement and hoping to see the much-loved mare back on her feet.

Sadly, Ruby’s condition deteriorated again. In July, Rob announced that, following veterinary assessment, the team had reached the point where continuing treatment was no longer considered the kindest option.

The decision to say goodbye was heartbreaking for the people who had cared for her, but her welfare remained central to the decision.

IRIS’S STORY ALSO ENDED IN HEARTBREAK

Iris was one of the Shire foals born at Cannon Hall Farm in 2026.

Her early life included serious medical complications, and she required specialist veterinary care. In June, the farm reported that Iris and another foal, Soldier, had experienced significant difficulties but had returned home after treatment.

That return brought relief and hope to the farm team and the people following the young horses online.

However, the farm later confirmed Iris’s death. By late August, Rob and Dave Nicholson were discussing the loss on their podcast, describing it as another heartbreaking week for the team.

The news was especially difficult for those who had watched Iris’s progress and hoped she would grow into a healthy adult horse. <Cite refs={[“turn414768search6″,”turn414768search9”]}/>

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CARE

Caring for large animals such as Shire horses requires more than affection. It involves close monitoring, specialist veterinary treatment and difficult decisions when an animal’s condition becomes critical.

Rob and the team have spoken openly about the emotional demands of that responsibility.

Their updates have also offered followers a glimpse into the work of the veterinary professionals who treated Ruby and Iris, including the uncertainty that can accompany serious illness even when every reasonable effort is made.

The losses are a reminder that veterinary care cannot guarantee recovery. Sometimes, despite intensive treatment and the dedication of those involved, an animal cannot be saved.

For the farm team, the grief is personal. These are animals they see every day, care for closely and come to know through their individual personalities and routines.

A RARE BREED AND A CONTINUING COMMITMENT

Cannon Hall Farm’s Shire horses are also part of a broader effort to support an increasingly rare British breed.

Shire horses are known for their great size, strength and distinctive appearance. Their place in British agricultural history is significant, but the breed faces conservation challenges.

The farm’s breeding programme aims to contribute to the future of these horses while allowing visitors and online followers to learn more about them.

The deaths of Ruby and Iris have made the work more emotionally difficult, but the farm continues to care for its remaining Shires and share their progress.

The team has also celebrated brighter developments, including Yorkshire Rose’s success in the show ring and the progress of the other young horses.

THEIR STORIES WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN

For the people who followed Ruby and Iris online, the news has been a painful reminder that the animals they come to know through videos and photographs are living beings with their own struggles.

For Rob, the farm staff and the veterinary team, the loss is much closer still.

They were involved in the day-to-day care, the treatment decisions and the hope that each horse might recover.

Their experience shows the emotional reality of animal care: joy at a new arrival can exist alongside fear, uncertainty and grief.

Ruby and Iris may no longer be part of the daily life of Cannon Hall Farm, but their stories remain woven into the farm’s history. For the people who cared for them and the thousands who followed their journeys, they will be remembered with affection — not only for the heartbreak of their final chapters, but for the lives they touched along the way.

This article is based on updates published by Cannon Hall Farm and reporting by The Yorkshire Post. Ruby and Iris’s stories involved separate medical challenges and should not be treated as a single incident.