The Tinky Winky Therapy Pony

29/12/2021

Twinkle gets a visit from the dentist. Her first time ever having her choppers done and she was good as gold. One sharp edge rasped away and a clean bill of dental health!

26/12/2021

Little Christmas outing to the pub!

05/12/2021

Twinkle has a bit of down time with Mr Ed

24/11/2021

Twinkle had a friend round for a play date yesterday. PRE Andalusian gelding Perla joined her. A few quick ‘hellos’ and she left him to enjoy the hay while she trotted off to explore the paddock.

12/11/2021

Twinkle is deep in conversation with her Spanish friend Jake.

09/11/2021

They says mares are moody. They say ponies are crafty. They say Shetland ponies are naughty. They say chestnut mares are to be avoided.
Well Twinkle is all of these and none of these.
Mare ✅
Pony ✅
Shetland ✅
Chestnut ✅
Yet she is the kindest, sweetest most lovable little pony ever!
The exception to the rule and we love her for it

05/11/2021

Bit chilly today so popped Twinkle’s little rug on. It’s all good handling experience for her and she really is coming on a treat. She has formed a wonderful bond with me already and calls to me as soon as she sees me!

30/10/2021

An old poem about Shetland ponies……..although Twinkle is just 33” high.

⭐️ The Sheltie ⭐️
Bonny, bijou dray horse
Some forty inches high,
Little kiddies’ riding horse
Trotting gaily by,
Constitution hard as nails,
Sound as any bell,
How long you’ve lived in Shetland Isles
Nobody can tell.

You can live on seaweed
If other food should fail,
You can stand the driving sleet
Of bitter winter gale ;
Shelter you object to
Because it is your boast
That snug within your woolly coat
You’re just as warm as toast.

Trotting with a rider,
Trotting with a cart,
Everyone looks at you
And thinks you jolly smart;
All the children love you,
Women gosh and coo,
And every man admires your style
Who knows what you can do.

Taken altogether
Ev’ry one must own
You’re the grandest little horse
The World has ever known;
Beautiful and hardy,
Diligent and strong,
I wish I knew more folk like you
To help the world along.

Supported by
NAF
Cavallo Hoof Boots
Riding and Harness Stuff
Ariat Europe
Dengie Horse Feeds
DriRug
Mole Valley Farmers Equestrian
Champion Equestrian

📍 You can come and see my Shetland stallion team, Albert, Ernie & the minis live in action on our tour…Tickets 🎟 available at https://www.emmamassingale.com/tour2022

The Grange EC – Devon – 1st April – Adult Ticket Arena UK – Lincs – 22nd April – Adult Ticket Myerscough – Lancs- 23rd April – Adult Ticket Merrist Wood – Surrey – 29th April – Adult Ticket Bishop Burton – 30th April – Adult Ticket https://www.emmamassingale.com/product/har...

28/10/2021

Today Twinkle met Olivia. Olivia is going to be coming to help with her training over the coming months.
She now has a new hairdo and a new friend!

26/10/2021

Today Twinkle’s training took a step further forwards. She met little S. S is a 3 year old lovely little boy with special needs. His mum was looking for a pony he could meet so he came to say hello to Twinkle. She responded so well to him and wasn’t phased by this tiny person zooming excitedly around her. He was able to groom her and lead her back to her paddock.
Twinkle is just at the start of her training, and the opportunity to interact with S was fabulous for him and excellent training for her. She shows such promise as a future therapy pony. I’m so proud of her and huge thanks to S’s lovely mum for bringing him along.

*please note I have full permission from S’s mum to use his photos on this page*

26/10/2021

Twinkle loves to be groomed and pampered, and has already started road walks. She’s brave in the traffic, just a little worried about cars coming from behind. But she listens to me and is getting more confident by the day!

26/10/2021

Arrival day.
We had to wait until October 5th, my husband’s birthday, to bring little Twinkle home.
She was a little hesitant getting on the lorry, but a couple of shoves and she was in!
Then out the other end and down to her newly but stable ‘Twinkle Towers’.
We let her settle for an hour or so then she met her new mates, Perla and Jake the Spanish horses, then out for a chill in her little paddock.

26/10/2021

This is how I first saw Twinkle advertised, back in early September 2021.
I truly believe horses find us. They ‘tug’ us.
Twinkle tugged me and as soon as I saw her I felt that connection. Her owner was sadly having to give her up due to circumstances I later found out confirmed she was indeed sent to me.
Her owner felt I would give her the perfect, loving home.
And so the story began…..

26/10/2021

This page is to tell the story, and follow the progress of my miniature Shetland pony Twinkle aka The Tinky Winky Therapy Pony.
I’ve been around horses all my life and recently bought Twinkle, a 3 year old miniature Shetland pony. Originally she was bought as a companion to my two Spanish horses, and to teach my husband how to handle horses. But I decided I will train her as a therapy pony to take to hospices, care/nursing homes and schools for children with special needs.
The power of animals and their intrinsic healing is so valuable and a precious gift.
Twinkle’s journey has begun…….