SAD NEWS: Cannon Hall Farm Breaks Silence With Major Update After Devastating Loss
The Yorkshire Vet delivered an emotional update from Cannon Hall Farm after the heartbreaking loss of beloved Shire horse Herkules left the family facing a “massive void”.
The Channel 5 series had previously visited the Barnsley farm, where brothers Rob and Dave introduced viewers to their three-year-old Shire stallion.
Rob described Herkules as the “horse of our lifetime”, with the farm hoping he could help preserve the dwindling Shire horse population.
The breed is considered rare, with fewer than 1,500 remaining nationwide.
But those hopes were shattered when Cannon Hall Farm announced that Herkules had died from colic.
Speaking emotionally about the loss, Rob admitted the family’s “world had been turned upside down”.
“Heartbroken’s an easy word but we are,” he said.
“I never thought we’d have an animal like him here on our farm.”
Herkules’ Loss Leaves ‘Massive Void’
Rob struggled as he reflected on the moments with Herkules that the family would never experience again.
“To see him trotting down the yard at spring time and to think we’ll never see that again is really upsetting,” he said.
“He was three-years-old, he had his whole life ahead of him…it’s left a massive void in all of our lives.”
However, just weeks after the loss, there was a glimmer of hope.
The brothers called Yorkshire Vet star Shona Searson to Cannon Hall Farm after suspecting that two of their horses might be pregnant.
Before his death, Herkules had been paired with the mares, leaving the family hoping that part of his legacy could still live on.
“He was the best horse we’ve ever really produced and we’re just hoping he’s got these girls in foal,” Rob explained.
“If he has, his legacy will live on.”
Shona Delivers the News They Had Been Hoping For
After carrying out examinations, Shona was able to confirm some hugely significant news for the farm.
Both horses were pregnant.
The announcement brought an immediate sense of relief following the devastation surrounding Herkules.
“We had a massive blow with Herkules but this is great news,” Dave said.
Shona added: “He’s got two babies on the way.”
For Rob, the news gave the family something positive to focus on after such a difficult loss.
“I can shut my eyes now and imagine two little grey foals running about in that field next summer,” he said.
“And that’s something to hold onto and look forward to.”
Herkules’ Legacy Lives On
Eight months later, The Yorkshire Vet returned to Cannon Hall Farm to discover how things had progressed.
Silver had given birth to a filly overnight, while Brooke welcomed her own foal a week later.
The arrival of the newborns proved especially emotional for Rob, who immediately saw reminders of their father.
“Seeing this foal reminds me of its dad,” he said.
“She’s got a look of Hercules.”
For the family, the foals represented far more than another generation of Shire horses.
They provided a living connection to the stallion they had believed would play such a major role in the future of their farm.
Rare Breed Gets a New Generation
Shona was equally delighted to see the newborns after returning to the farm.
“Seeing newborns is just one of the best parts of the job,” she said.
“And especially to have such a beautiful rare breed.”
The arrival of the two foals gave Cannon Hall Farm an emotional ending to a story that had begun with profound loss.
Herkules may only have been three when he died, but his impact on Rob, Dave and everyone at the farm was clear.
And with two of his foals now running around the fields, the family has been given exactly what they had hoped for in the difficult weeks after losing him — a chance for his legacy to continue.
