HEARTBREAK turned into a feel-good story over the Easter weekend for the Kingston family from Drimoleague. They lost their 12-year-old Irish Draught mare Carrigbawn Sunset from post-foaling complications but found an unusual foster mother for her orphan colt in the form of a nanny goat, supplied by Waterford Sport Horses Breeders group member Niamh Creagh.

“I just put her in the back of the car, the dogs were sitting in the front and we went down after milking,” said Niamh, after getting the SOS call from the Kingston’s neighbours; her sister Aoife and brother-in-law Teddy O’Regan. Nanny goats are occasionally used as foster mothers and school teacher and artist Niamh, who juggles “milking cows by day and painting by night!” has seen 11 other orphan foals raised by her goats.