“FAREWELL, OUR BEAUTIFUL GIRL”: CANNON HALL FARM MOURNS THE HEARTBREAKING LOSS OF RUBY AND FOAL IRIS

The Yorkshire farm has endured a devastating period after losing two much-loved Shire horses. Ruby’s difficult medical journey and the loss of young foal Iris have touched the hearts of the team and thousands of followers who had hoped for happier endings.

For the team at Cannon Hall Farm, some animals become far more than familiar faces. They become part of everyday life — cared for, watched over and loved by the people who know them best.

That is why the losses of Ruby, a much-loved Shire mare, and her young companion Iris have been so painful for the farm community.

In September 2026, the farm announced a special online event with its equine vet, Marco, to reflect on what it described as an incredibly difficult few months for its Shire horses. The event was an opportunity to discuss the efforts made to save Ruby and Iris, the treatment they received and the difficult decisions involved in caring for seriously unwell animals.

For those who had followed their journeys through the farm’s regular updates, the news brought another wave of sadness.

RUBY’S FIGHT AFTER GIVING BIRTH

Ruby’s health problems began shortly after she gave birth to a foal in May 2026.

The birth initially brought excitement to Cannon Hall Farm, but the situation changed when Ruby developed colic — a term used to describe abdominal pain in horses that can sometimes become life-threatening.

She was rushed to Rainbow Equine Hospital in Malton, where veterinary specialists worked to treat her condition.

Farmer Rob Nicholson shared updates with followers as Ruby underwent treatment. At times, there were encouraging signs, but her recovery proved difficult and uncertain.

The farm’s supporters followed the updates closely, hoping the much-loved mare would return home.

Despite the efforts of the veterinary team, Ruby’s condition later deteriorated. In July, the farm announced that, after discussions with its vet, the team had decided that euthanasia was the kindest option to prevent further suffering.

It was a painful decision for the people who had cared for her, but one made with Ruby’s welfare at the centre.

IRIS’S STORY BROUGHT MORE HEARTBREAK

Iris was among the Shire foals whose early lives had already brought serious challenges.

In June, Cannon Hall Farm shared an update explaining that Iris and another foal, Soldier, had experienced complications and needed specialist hospital care.

Both eventually returned to the farm, bringing relief to the team and to the many people who had been following their progress.

Their return was celebrated in an online broadcast, where farmers Rob and Dave Nicholson shared updates about the young horses and the farm’s wider Shire breeding programme.

But the happiness surrounding Iris’s return was later overshadowed by the news of her loss.

For the team, the experience was another reminder that caring for young animals can involve uncertainty, intensive treatment and decisions that no one wants to face.

THE PEOPLE WHO DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD

Behind the farm’s public updates were staff members and veterinary professionals working to care for animals they knew well.

Cannon Hall Farm’s special September event with equine vet Marco was designed to explain more about the medical challenges, the efforts made to save Ruby and Iris, and the difficult decisions that followed.

It also gave the team an opportunity to share more positive news, including Yorkshire Rose’s success in the show ring and the progress of the farm’s other Shire horses.

The farm’s work with Shire horses is particularly meaningful because the breed is considered rare and at risk. Maintaining a healthy breeding programme requires careful planning, dedicated veterinary support and a commitment to the welfare of every animal.

Although Ruby and Iris’s stories ended in sadness, the team continues to care for the horses that remain and work towards the future of the breed.

A COMMUNITY THAT SHARED THEIR JOURNEYS

Cannon Hall Farm has built a large online following by sharing everyday moments from farm life, allowing people to see the personalities of its animals and the work that goes into caring for them.

Ruby’s illness attracted widespread attention earlier in the year, with supporters following the farm’s updates and hoping for positive news.

That connection helps explain why the losses of Ruby and Iris resonated with people who may never have visited the farm in person.

For the staff, however, the loss was much more immediate. They had watched the animals grow, cared for them through difficult periods and worked alongside veterinary professionals to give them the treatment they needed.

Their grief reflects the close bonds that can form between people and animals in a working farm environment.

REMEMBERING RUBY AND IRIS

The story of Ruby and Iris is not only one of loss. It is also a story of the people who tried to help them, the veterinary care they received and the determination to make decisions in their best interests.

There are no guarantees when an animal becomes seriously unwell, even when experienced professionals are involved. Sometimes, despite every effort, recovery is not possible.

Cannon Hall Farm’s willingness to discuss these difficult experiences gives its followers a more honest picture of animal care — one that includes both joyful milestones and painful farewells.

Ruby and Iris may no longer be at Cannon Hall Farm, but their stories remain part of the farm’s history and the memories of the people who cared for them. For everyone who followed their journeys, they will be remembered with affection.

*Sources: Cannon Hall Farm — An Evening With Marco the Vet; Cannon Hall Farm — Online video broadcast; The Yorkshire Post — Ruby’s medical emergency.