Stacey Solomon broke down in tears as she and husband Joe Swash welcomed two rescued ponies to their countryside home, Pickle Cottage, fulfilling a childhood dream. The couple, who regularly share updates on their sprawling property, had previously announced plans to foster ponies as part of their ongoing transformation of the land, which includes a lake built by Joe.
Emotional Arrival of Thumbelina and Mermaid
On July 2, 2026, Stacey took to Instagram to share a heartwarming video of the ponies arriving and meeting their children for the first time. She wrote: "We are officially Pony Foster Parents. Meet Thumbelina & Mermaid. They are two girls who were rescued by the incredible Redwings Horse Sanctuary. Thumbelina was seriously neglected when she was rescued by Redwings who saved her & mermaid’s owner could no longer look after her. So we are so grateful to be able to offer them a home. In the hope that they’re happy and want to stay forever one day."
Preparations for the Ponies
Earlier in the month, Stacey had filmed Joe building an enclosure for the ponies, saying: "He's been building an enclosure for if we, well, when we, because we've gone far with it now, foster some ponies. So, I've just come down to see it." The Loose Women star was heard exclaiming: "This is exciting, bubba!" and concluded: "This is actually happening!" The couple have set up a grass area and a dry area for the ponies, with Redwings Horse Sanctuary providing guidance and regular check-ins.
Support from Friends and Family
Stacey revealed that her close friend Lianne from Hopefield Animal Sanctuary will act as a "pony hand" and extra support. She stressed: "We do not take rescuing animals lightly and want to be the absolute best foster parents we can be." Reflecting on the moment, she added: "We can’t even describe how incredible it feels to be able to do this. I dreamed of rescuing animals growing up. 7 year old me would not believe where we are today."
Fans React Emotionally
The update sparked an outpouring of emotion from fans. One user, @rebeccasglamhome, said: "Made me cry. How beautiful. You will definitely give them a beautiful life." @covermybubble replied: "Oh my heart it’s happened? Happy New Home. They are so lucky, thanks for rehoming them." @abby_randle_91 commented: "Congratulations @staceysolomon and @joeswash I've loved watching the journey and everything it's taken to get to this point! Today must feel like a dream." Others praised the family's commitment, with @woodenyoulove1 writing: "They are so beautiful and will enjoy all the pony cuddles. Well done Solomon-Swashes for rescuing them."
