Stacey Solomon has delighted fans by introducing two adorable new members of her ever-growing animal family—but the heartwarming announcement has also reignited speculation about her reported rift with Mrs Hinch.
The Sort Your Life Out presenter revealed on Instagram that she and her family are now fostering two rescue ponies, Mermaid and Thumbelina, describing the moment as the realization of a lifelong dream.
Sharing an emotional video of the pair settling into their new home, Stacey explained that both ponies had difficult starts in life. Mermaid’s previous owner was sadly no longer able to care for her, while Thumbelina had been rescued after suffering severe neglect.
“We are officially pony foster parents,” Stacey wrote. “Seven-year-old me would never have believed this day would come.”
Stacey Solomon has taken inspiration from her ‘frenemy’ Mrs Hinch once again by fostering two ponies
The two stars were once inseparable and regularly appeared in each other’s social media content, but in recent months, distance between them has sparked questions of a feud
She added that the ponies are being cared for with support from Redwings Horse Sanctuary, whose team will continue to monitor their progress and provide expert guidance, while a close friend from Hopefield Animal Sanctuary will also help the family learn everything they need to become responsible pony carers.
The touching update was warmly received by followers, many praising Stacey for giving rescued animals another chance at life.
However, the announcement also prompted fresh comparisons with cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch, whose real name is Sophie Hinchcliffe.
Back in 2022, Sophie and husband Jamie Hinchcliffe expanded their own Essex home by welcoming three alpacas—Roy, Rodney and Raymond—a move that became hugely popular with fans.
The similarities have not gone unnoticed, particularly as speculation surrounding the pair’s friendship continues.
Stacey and Sophie became close friends in 2019, frequently appearing in each other’s social media posts and supporting one another as their online popularity soared. Stacey even chose Sophie as one of her bridesmaids when she married Joe Swash in 2022.
In recent years, however, fans have noticed the pair are rarely seen together, fueling persistent rumors that their once-close friendship has cooled.
Neither Stacey nor Sophie has publicly addressed reports of any fallout, and both have continued to focus on their families, careers and growing collections of rescue animals.
For now, Stacey’s latest post has shifted attention back to what matters most to her—providing a safe and loving home for Mermaid and Thumbelina as they begin the next chapter of their lives.
