This month we will start the pony reviews with Rolo. He went to his maternal home farm, Holwell, where he, along with six others; was castrated. Philippa and Sebastian Hughes looked after us all so well and the ponies each had their own loose box for their ops.. Rolo had been really fired up lately and was becoming a handful to control. He would have minutes of madness then stand and look at you as if to say, what the dickens is going on? Joy and the other girls were disappointed that he was growing up and was no longer the little foal. He has blossomed from the proverbial ugly duckling into a beautiful young gelding. His summer coat is almost through and he has taken on the form of a true Heritage Pony while still retaining his gentle nature. He and Charlie vie to be first for attention and adore meeting the visitors.

 

 Charlie has been feeling his strength these past few weeks and he will lean on you to change your direction if you let him. The grass has come on and he is putting on condition and has learned that if he uses his size the others will move out of his way. There is no aggression, he just walks in straight lines and barges through. We will teach him manners before he thinks that this behaviour is the norm. He still adores attention and will actively seek contact and will stand untied to be groomed. He finds travelling difficult and sweats up when confined; so we are working on short journeys in the trailer and visits to the stable to reassure him.

  

George has been testing us with spells of non co-operation when being caught. He soon gives in because he loves to go for a walk and he also goes for trips in the trailer. He goes to events with Golden Flame and always behaves so well that we can forgive him his periods of teenage moods. His summer coat has come through and he looks a picture with his lovely bright bay coat and his black mane, tail and lower legs.

 

Golden Flame, still a bit portly but coming on, has a marvellous temperament and is dearly loved by all. She is the boss and now with a new pony, Blue, with little India here for a few days she is in her element. One look from her to the others which says, ”don’t even think it”; is enough to keep control. She recently completed the Jubilee Challenge, part of the Ten Tors walk with George, India and Blue and after the walk she was at the rear of the trailer, about to be loaded, to go home; Joy and I approached the trailer from behind her, having been at the finish line. She had not seen us since she left Brimpts the day before; she raised her head, pricked her ears and whinnied; just as she does to us at Brimpts. She had picked us out from the other people around her, how special is that?

 

Starlight, has become more trusting of late and knows her place in our small herd. She is, however, showing signs of her other stifle giving notice of causing her problems. We will monitor the situation and should the need arise we will give her another operation. George is her half-brother and is not showing any of the signs of this trouble. She is showing her summer coat which is almost through and she looks a picture.

 

Blue, is as his name suggests; a beautiful grey who, in a certain light, is almost blueish. He came to us from Kerry Smith and John French both of whom are wonderful friends and supporters of our charity. He has been trained to carry a pack-saddle by Vanessa and Philip at Positive Horsemanship and is settling in to the new herd very well. He has a lovely gentle nature with people but will not be pushed around by the other ponies, except Flame. He will not be offered as an adoption pony just yet.