April 2007: Latest News

Golden Flame has entered the spring in a super mood and in magnificent condition. She has worked well over the winter and the sessions of walking and training, in the wet and the cold, are now paying us dividends. We now think that she is ready for The Jubilee Challenge and that she will get those children through the hardest day of their young lives with all the pride and courage we know that they have.

George will be going with Golden Flame on the eight mile walk and we know that he too is ready. He leads well and we have confidence in his ability to motivate the children. His coat is turning to the beautiful bright bay that he wears in summer, shown off by his black mane and tail; he is in superb condition. He has being playing with Rolo of late and they get on well together. His very best friend is still Charlie and they are inseparable.

Charlie has wintered well and is definitely going to be our biggest pony. He could eat for England, if we let him, yet he still finds time to play with George. We would dearly love to take him on the Challenge but poor old Charlie ( he’s twenty months) does not travel well and it is too far to walk him there. He hates being enclosed so we will have to start with very short journeys in the trailer, then gradually lengthen them.

Rolo has done well on his special diet and has developed into a very attractive young pony. He has a lovely character and teases the others mercilessly. Around people he is totally trustworthy and adores attention. He will surrender immediately you walk into the paddock to be first for fuss. His features have changed to a proper Dartmoor head and his whole being shouts Heritage Pony.

Starlight has had a setback; she now has a problem with her other hind leg. A stifle problem again and she will have an operation to put it that leg right. Her other leg is perfect now so we are not worried that the procedure will not work. We are disappointed, though, because we don’t think that we should breed from her. We are told that it may be hereditary and we don’t think we can go through this again.

All our ponies together with India, Rosie and Blue ( more about these three next month), have been working with the children from Millford School in readiness for The Jubilee Challenge. To see smiles covering the faces of the children when they touch the ponies is wonderful. The ponies seem to know that they have to be gentle and the trust on both sides makes all the cold days worthwhile and most of us will admit it makes your throat burn with pride.

Mrs. Dru Butterfield
Charity Manager
Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust
Registered Charity No. 1109196
Telephone 01626-355314