arki
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Posts: 364
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Post by arki on Nov 29, 2011 8:53:45 GMT 1
When do they need a home by? Sorry it is just they have really got to me and would love to have a couple but not sure I can sort something out in time x
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Post by SarahW on Nov 29, 2011 9:28:28 GMT 1
The being mauled about by children argument is one that could be aimed at ANY pony that is too small for an adult to ride. The DPTC and HOPE have re-homed a stack of ponies this autumn and I know that they are all doing well. There is now a facebook group of people who are all bringing on their wild ponies and they are generally tame within a week. There's an IHRA whose written a book about how to tame them (No Fear, No Force) and it has really come into its own with these ponies. I hear that they also offer an after sales service so that anyone who gets stuck can contact the author for help via the internet or referral to another IHRA. So far, the book has been enough. I've come to the conclusion that you don't really know horses until you have tamed a wild foal and seen the world through their eyes. The bond between the human and the pony and the pleasure they get from each other cannot be beaten.
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Post by guesstimation on Nov 29, 2011 14:50:35 GMT 1
Thanks Sarah - your support has always been amazing as has your guidance for everyone!! :-)
I totally agree with your last paragraph, I can't tell you how taming wild foals opened up my eyes to so many different things in their world, also it's great therapy for humans too!!
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indigo
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Post by indigo on Nov 29, 2011 18:08:43 GMT 1
Getting a copy of No fear, no force is where we suggest ALL of the people who take ponies start Sarah. Have you had a rush on recently lol???
Agree that saying ponies are better off dead than being ridden by children would surely put all of dealings with equines in jeopardy? No one can 100% guarantee the entire quality of life of a horse or pony from start to finish but we can help give them a chance that they don't otherwise have.
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Post by heather on Nov 29, 2011 18:17:16 GMT 1
Indigo, have you heard of the new Moor Pony Resource Group? We had another meeting last night at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary at Coombe Park- it was formed to promote the Hill pony, but also to help educate to control numbers to levels which are beneficial to the Moor but not overstocked. If you are interested, do drop me a PM- there are a number of very exciting projects planned. We are looking for more volunteers and you seem particularly apt!
Heather
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Post by mrsmills on Nov 29, 2011 18:27:04 GMT 1
I've come to the conclusion that you don't really know horses until you have tamed a wild foal and seen the world through their eyes. The bond between the human and the pony and the pleasure they get from each other cannot be beaten. Sarah, I totally agree. When I did a similar course with the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, it was incredibly moving to work with the young feral foals. We were all in tears. It is incredibly humbling when a creature that has been born and bred on the moors, and run free with its mother and herd, DECIDES to put its trust in you. Nothing has ever come close, in my equine journey. And they make such fantastic ponies. Ours are the most people-friendly little chaps you could ever imagine - amazing when you think that ours had only ever experienced humans when chased across the moors by shouting men on quad-bikes, herded into a pen, and then held with a coat over their eyes whilst their ears were cut (as an alternative to branding!) And yes, I understand the arguments of the other posters on this thread, but these little ponies didn't ask to be born. Wasn't there a caption in one of Kelly's books which said "every pony deserves to be loved by a little girl at least once in their lives" Just wish I could take more, but the acres I have just about support the ones I've already got. Good luck in re-homing these little guys, indigo.
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indigo
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Post by indigo on Nov 29, 2011 18:35:03 GMT 1
Thanks everyone x
Yes Heather I met the lady who is co-ordinating the Moor pony resources (forgotten her name duh lol), it all sounded very promising. I think Nat asked if they wanted me to attend the meeting but they never got back to us and I got busy and forgot to chase it lol! Please do pm I'd love to see if I can get involved in some useful way for sure!!
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Post by jackiedo on Nov 29, 2011 18:56:40 GMT 1
I wish I could help ten years ago I used to be able to, but now, I know my limits. Rewarding as this is, you need the time and the facilities to rehab these babes. Having said that my finest pony is Maestro, who is on loan with a racing family and has people waiting for him!! I can honestly say that if Dartmoors made 15.2hh there would never be a need for any other breed. I adore the bog standard brown heritage type, which my maestro is, but have had spottys and a dun as well. I really wish I could help
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Post by guesstimation on Nov 29, 2011 19:09:33 GMT 1
I wish I could help more can't tell you how frustrating it is being physically unable to Grrrrrr!
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indigo
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Post by indigo on Nov 29, 2011 19:18:58 GMT 1
Bless you Katherine, you do plenty, can't imagine how rubbish it must be for your brain to say yes and your body say NO! Poor you. But still people just have to do what they can, every bit helps, even just the kind positive messages from all the nice people on here help keep me motivated xxx
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Post by andyt on Nov 29, 2011 20:17:36 GMT 1
We have a couple of friends asking a couple of people they know about whether or not they could take a pony. Fingers crossed - we'll let you know asap if they say yes. , have you heard of the new Moor Pony Resource Group? We had another meeting last night at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary at Coombe Park- it was formed to promote the Hill pony, but also to help educate to control numbers to levels which are beneficial to the Moor but not overstocked. If you are interested, do drop me a PM- there are a number of very exciting projects planned. We are looking for more volunteers and you seem particularly apt! Heather If you need more helpers Heather then let us know! We have 2 resuce Dartmoors already from the Mare and Foal.
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Post by sarahbing on Nov 30, 2011 14:52:04 GMT 1
Upping! Have you had any success yet Indigo? I am sorry I can't take one, but am happy to lend my trailer if anyone is collecting from Suffolk direction.
Best of luck and great work. I read with interest what Sarah W wrote - is there a potential market in the equine assisted therapy world?
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Post by guesstimation on Nov 30, 2011 15:05:09 GMT 1
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sixfootblonde
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www.western-saddler.co.uk
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Post by sixfootblonde on Nov 30, 2011 19:02:56 GMT 1
Having rescued one of the french rescues a few years ago, and also heard all the arguments for supporting the trade, I do agree, it is not ideal. But saving one ponies life means the world to that pony. Guinevere is delightful. If we hadn't had her she would have been pizza topping by now, as would have Arthur (the foal she popped out 9 months later). It is a slightly different scenario to the Dartmoor Hill Ponies, but breeding will continue until people change their views. I guess the zoo market will continue with needing a supply, so this will continue regardless of how many are saved?
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Post by bramblesmum on Nov 30, 2011 20:32:52 GMT 1
I wish you were closer as one of those guys would have been great company for my weanling
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