A fundraising push has been launched in a bid to fund food and medical care for a former wild horse following a 10 hour rescue mission.

The horse, named Wilson by staff at Galley Hill Equine Surgery in Breach Barns Lane, Waltham Abbey, was captured following the 10am to 8pm chase in Gunpowder Park which saw him shot with nine darts of ketamine, diazepam, detomidine and butorphanol in a bid to sedate him.

The mission was launched after residents reported the colt weaving through traffic on busy roads and running wild around Waltham Abbey for up to four weeks on Wednesday (March 8).

Vetenary staff at the surgery started a fundraising page at the weekend in a bid to fund £2,500 for bedding, food, a farrier, dental care and worming and flea treatments.

Galley Hill vet Susanne Troster said: “Wilson is getting a lot more trusting but still won’t let us touch him.

“He is crawling with lice so we are hoping by the end of the week we will be able to get close enough to give him treatment for that and also a worming tablet.

“He is really scared of quite a few things including the broom so we think he may have been beaten.

“We haven’t been able to scan for a microchip yet but there are rumours that he was released on purpose so we are hoping to find out when he trusts us a little more.

“We are using our own resources , which we do not mind doing, but we just need to cover the costs of medicine , food and bedding.

“He is happy now he is safe and I am surprised how well he has recovered after the chase.

“He will be here for a while but when he is rehomed he will make a great addition.”

You can follow the teams progress with Wilson or donate, here.