The Herd Explore

28/01/2025

Does anyone else have this in their herds? These guys split like this alot. Is it a breed thing, a friend thing or a colour thing? 🤷‍♀️

19/01/2025

I can promise you these days will be amazing...get yourselves booked on!

Spend a day training with Emma. Would you like to come and spend the day training with me? Your day will be surrounded by fields of my Liberty Ponies. (and a few other animals too!) We live in the beautiful Cornish Countryside with sea views. You will get to work alongside me for the whole

10/01/2025

Some serious insulation going on right there. The frost showing that their coats are doing just what they should and they are lovely and warm

02/01/2025

What a difference 24 hours makes. Look at the blue sky and of course those amazing wooly coats 🥰

We take care to do minimal grooming in the winter months so we don't disturb the natural oils and dirt that helps keep their skin protected.

These guys have not needed any hay whilst being here, they have so much to choose from in these meadows.

01/01/2025

Happy New Year from this lot ❤

The ridden team have been enjoying their winter holiday. For me it is a unique time when my interaction with them is purely as caretaker/visitor.

When I walked up the track towards them this morning they were snoozing under a hawthorn 'tree' with a relaxed buzzard in the branch right next to Ned's head - feathers all puffed up, likely to also be snoozing by the way my appearance startled her/him! It always looks unusal when totally different animals choose to hang out together, happy in each others company. It was so calm and peaceful, the only disruption was a flock of Canadian geese that came into land over our heads and a handful of over enthusiastic ducks who were clearly still drunk from NYE and 'water skiing' on the flood plain - having a whale of a time! Nature can be so loud sometimes!

I know there are many horse owners willing this season over, and granted there are days when I do feel the same, but mostly I love it, it feels like one of the most sensory interactive seasons - the sounds and textures of the weather are more tangible. It's also a time to admire these magnificent fluffballs, their wooly, waterproof coats and heating systems, their foraging skills, their resilience and hardarseness, infact their all round awesomeness. If you zoom in on Gina's coat you will see it is wet on her back, but her tummy is warm, dry and fluffy and take it from me, she was lovely and warm under her flanks.

Looking at the weather forecast I think they're going to have shock over the next few days 🥶 if their coats are working correctly theyll all look like they've put a hoof in a plug socket!.

29/12/2024

It's not just the summer when the ponies enjoy the fords. They are just as keen in the winter! These photos were taken a few years ago at the beginning of January - we were soaked...they loved it though 💦

28/12/2024

You've got to love a winter Dales pony ❤

26/12/2024

Amongst the Christmas madness I finished a book I first picked up whilst on holiday in the highlands in the summer. Yes that is indeed about four months ago and no it's not a really long book - I just don't get much time to read and I'm not the fastest of readers either (I'm one of those readers who has to hear every word in my head for me to take it in)...but that's ok because I wanted to take it in properly, it's one of those books that is so beautifully gentle that it's nice not to rush it.

Ponies at the Edge of The World by Catherine Munro not only takes you alongside her very personal journey of finding 'home' it's also a wonderful insight into the communities on Shetland and the tough little ponies which inhabit the islands alongside their breeders. It highlights how the lives of animal and human are intrinsically linked, sewn together by nature and the phenomenon of 'just knowing', 'having that feeling'. It really does pack a powerful punch and one that resonated with me - We are constantly seeking the balance of giving our herd a sense of autonomy, freedom to make their own way, their own decisions within as natural environment as possible at the same time as creating workable, safe relationships based on trust and partnership. Native ponies have such a strong work ethic, and the fact that our ridden herd 'work' alot I believe it's vital that they have down-time, breaks/holidays to just be ponies and that their field time is most definitely their time...I 'feel' like they appreciate it, of course I'll never know, but if there is such a thing as having a 'feeling' then I think they do.

I highly recommend reading this wonderful book, I've just got to drag my imagination back from the shetland Islands and get it back here! The page is Shetland Pony Research

21/11/2024

Always in awe of a native coat. Nature is incredible! 😳🥰

14/11/2024

Well this was a first for the ponies 🤣

26/10/2024

Another misty and beautiful start to the day. Today membership share rider Jo and I were joined by Sarah who was returning for her second ride with us and her friend Mary, who was here for the first time. We were treated to some lovely weather and had a great ride!

24/10/2024

A peaceful herd of fluffies ❤

11/10/2024

Sabine is a great friend of one of our share team members Janine. What she offers and what she wants to develop is amazing. If anyone feels they can support this please do - it means so much to so many people 🥰

The Lads Lodge Riding School at Penton, near to the Scottish and English border, is at risk of closure. | ITV News Border

09/10/2024

Part of our herd, but not in the ridden team is the gorgeous Dylan ridden here by share member Kelly. He is the most beautiful boy ❤

07/10/2024

Two of our new herd members Hattie and Daisy hanging out together this morning.

Human Hattie and Elsie spending time with Danny before Hattie returns to uni.

04/10/2024

What a place for our herd to live ❤ we are so lucky

28/09/2024

Sunrise this morning ☀️ ❤