TWO HEARTBREAKING GOODBYES: CANNON HALL FARM MOURNS BELOVED SHIRE HORSE RUBY AND FOAL IRIS
The South Yorkshire farm has reflected on a difficult period for its Shire horses after losing Ruby, a much-loved mare, and Iris, a young foal whose early struggles had given staff and followers hope.
Cannon Hall Farm is remembering two much-loved members of its Shire horse family after the deaths of Ruby and the young foal Iris left staff and animal lovers grieving.
The farm, based in Cawthorne, South Yorkshire, has shared many moments from its animals’ lives with a large online audience. Ruby and Iris became familiar to followers who watched their journeys and hoped for happier outcomes as both horses faced serious health challenges.
In September 2026, the farm announced a special online event with its equine veterinarian, Marco, to look back on what it described as an “incredibly difficult few months” for its Shire horses. The event was intended to discuss the efforts made to save Ruby and Iris, the veterinary challenges involved and the difficult decisions that sometimes come with caring for seriously ill animals.
RUBY’S BATTLE AFTER GIVING BIRTH
Ruby’s health crisis began shortly after she gave birth to a foal on May 4, 2026.
The following day, the Shire mare developed colic, a term used to describe abdominal pain in horses that can sometimes become life-threatening. She was taken to Rainbow Equine Hospital in Malton for emergency treatment and surgery.
Farmer Rob Nicholson later described the frightening uncertainty surrounding her condition. At one point, he feared she would not survive, while supporters followed updates and sent messages of encouragement.
Despite the veterinary team’s efforts, Ruby’s condition eventually deteriorated. In July, the farm announced that, after discussions with her veterinary team, the difficult decision had been made to put her to sleep.
The decision was made with Ruby’s welfare in mind, bringing an end to a distressing period for the people who had cared for her.
IRIS’S JOURNEY BROUGHT HOPE — AND FURTHER SADNESS
Iris was a young Shire foal whose early life also brought serious medical challenges.
In June, Cannon Hall Farm shared news that Iris and another foal, Soldier, had experienced complications and required specialist hospital care. Their return to the farm was a welcome development for staff and followers who had been anxiously following their progress.
However, Iris later died, bringing another painful loss to the farm’s Shire team.
Her story was especially difficult for those who had celebrated her recovery and hoped to watch her grow. Although the two horses faced separate medical challenges, their losses came during an already difficult period for the farm.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CARE
Behind the updates shared online were farm staff and veterinary professionals working to provide care for animals they knew well.
Cannon Hall Farm’s special September event with equine vet Marco offered an opportunity to reflect on the treatment efforts, the decisions involved and the emotional reality of caring for seriously unwell horses.
The event also looked toward more hopeful developments, including Yorkshire Rose’s success in the show ring and the progress of the farm’s remaining Shire horses.
The farm’s work with the breed extends beyond its role as a visitor attraction. Cannon Hall Farm maintains a Shire horse breeding programme and has highlighted the importance of supporting this increasingly rare breed.
A COMMUNITY THAT SHARED THEIR STORIES
Ruby and Iris were not known only to the people who cared for them in person. Their journeys were also followed by people who came to know them through the farm’s videos, photographs and updates.
That connection can make the loss of an animal feel personal, even to people who have never visited the farm.
For the staff, the grief is rooted in the everyday work of feeding, monitoring and caring for the horses, as well as the hope that treatment might bring recovery. Their experiences also highlight the difficult decisions that veterinary professionals and animal carers sometimes face when an animal becomes seriously ill.
Although Ruby and Iris’s stories ended in sadness, Cannon Hall Farm continues its work with the Shire horses that remain in its care.
THEIR MEMORIES WILL LIVE ON
The loss of Ruby and Iris has marked a painful chapter in the farm’s story, but their lives remain part of the memories shared by staff and followers.
Their journeys brought moments of hope, concern and, ultimately, grief. They also offered a reminder that caring for animals can mean celebrating new life while facing the possibility of difficult goodbyes.
For everyone who followed their stories, Ruby and Iris will be remembered with affection.
Rest peacefully, Ruby and Iris. Your stories touched the hearts of the people who cared for you and the many supporters who followed your journeys.
