My
name is Alison Fisher and I moved to Exmoor 2 years ago. I had ridden all my life until I had to have my
beloved mare put down aged 27yrs. I was so upset and decided I wasn’t ready for
another horse in the near future. 6 years later and still no horse. It was just
by chance I saw an article in the North Devon Journal about fostering Exmoor ponies with the Moorland
Mousie Trust. That was the beginning of my love for Exmoor ponies.
DK and
Miller arrived on a sunny but cold February morning. Linzi had just driven away
when Jack the old retired hunter we inherited with the property came galloping
over in his bright purple rug and frightened DK and Miller to death. To our
horror they went straight in the river and disappeared under the water, a
second or so later they popped back out none the worse for their experience.
Thankfully we did get them into the stable before night to dry off. Ever since
then they have become water babies and can often be seen in the river cooling
off in the summer.
With
a surplus of grass in August Calvin and
Ernie arrived. Calvin was very small and timid and Ernie extremely friendly. They grazed solidly for a
fortnight not even lifting their heads to say hello to DK and Miller in the
next field. Since then they have blossomed and grown into strong 2 year-olds.
After
my first ride on an Exmoor pony (Abbi) up at the Centre I knew I wanted a riding pony.
In
November Cadbury arrived. Linzi had been working on Cadbury and had taken him
to HOYS 3 times. Before he arrived I had been riding him out with Linzi to
check that we were well suited; it was love at first sight! Since
then Cadbury and I often ride out on the moor where he loves to say hello to
the wild ponies grazing the moor. He is so sure footed, sensible and happy. You
really couldn’t ask for a nicer pony to ride.
Fostering
the ponies has been great fun and very rewarding. Seeing the ponies develop and
grow in confidence is very satisfying. It’s lovely to know they have a
promising future ahead of them.
If
you have the time and space and a love for ponies then I would definitely
recommend fostering Exmoor ponies.
Thanks
to Val, Linzi and all the staff at Moorland Mousie Trust who do such a
wonderful job with these ponies.
Alison