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The Herd Explore

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The Herd Explore

A small herd of Dales ponies and native friends enjoying adventures with a gang of humans who share their lives with them

08/03/2026

👀Looking for a special (and lightweight) person to share or loan an incredible little dude who just wants to be loved and have fun out with his mates!!

The issue with gorgeous Paddy is at approx 12.3hh he’s smaller than the other ridden ponies and for two reasons it really needs to be a lightweight adult who shares/loans him.

1. he’s a clever pony and an expert at finding holes in inexperience so he needs someone who can measure up to his quick wits and love him for them!

2. we generally ride out weekdays, during the school day (that said if there is a pony crazed and experienced home educated young person out there that would also be perfect! We already have Matilda who is home educated in our gang - her Mum’s ponies are in our herd and young Tills is partner in crime to our Mighty Magnus! But to be very clear, Paddy is not a novice pony and both the young person and their adult would need to be experienced with ponies. I say all of this because Paddy deserves the world and I would love, love, LOVE to find him his human(s)!

Paddy has been with his herd since we rescued him nearly 10 years ago so this would be a loan to stay with us - certainly for now, however if a solid relationship is formed and he would have a forever home I would be happy to consider a move if it was suitable and also a LWVTB - but only if both were in the interest of the boy.

NB Hattie is 5ft5 in these photos and approx 8 stone

08/03/2026

Are you looking for a pony share? Would you like to share one of our rare breed Dales ponies or one of their native friends with us?!

Opportunity to ride out once or twice a week on beautiful and safe ponies within a supportive group of other sharers, and pony owners, spend time in the field, within the herd environment, help to care for them holistically both as individuals, and as a herd, enjoy annual trips to the beach, picnics, adventures and just generally have fun caring for a beautiful bunch of ponies with other likeminded folk.

We also welcome non-ridden sharers who love being around ponies, want to care for them but, can’t, or don’t fancy actually riding. There are ponies that love being led out and enjoy hours of fuss in the field so please don’t feel that you have to ride to share!

🤠Two seasonal locations - Southorpe and Castor with some amazing rides
🤠Ridden ponies range from 13.3hh - 15hh. * we do have an awesome 12.3hh gypsy vanner pony looking for smaller/lighter confident riders to either share or loan him.
🤠There’s a financial and physical contribution towards the ponies upkeep required
🤠Sharers need to be over 18 years
🤠Ridden sharers must be independent riders. Confidence issues we can absolutely support within our group - we have all been there - but you MUST have the ability to ride kindly and quietly without tuition

If you’d like to chat or have any questions please feel free to pm me!

30/11/2025

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on here - I knew I had to write this post and so I have been putting it off.

We lost Danny in June, that boy fought so flipping hard, he was so incredibly hardcore it takes my breath away to think about everything he went through - he became one of only a very small handful of ponies to beat the rare infection he developed. He was stubborn, stoic, just so courageous - like only a hardarse Dales pony knows how to be.

We thought we were out of the woods, over a year after beating the infection but out of the blue his heart began to fail; the infection had left him with heart disease and there was nothing he or we could do this time. We knew.

So on a sunny day, with his girl Hattie at his side and his herd grazing next to him we said goodbye to the beautiful and magnificent Danny Boy.

It’s taken some adjusting, well ‘taking’ some adjusting. There’s still a huge hole for both ponies and humans. While discussing with a dear friend who also owns a pony in our herd she said “the thing is, Danny was the herd” and I thought about it and she is so right - although individuals, they are also a ‘one’ and I think this is why it feels so strange/out of kilter in the field without him, but equally because of this it also feels like he is still with us…in the other ponies, in their herd energy - a settled herd is so intrinsically entwined, knitted together with a sheer life thread or force, I don’t know, almost psychic, it’s a special thing.

So when I wander amongst the ponies grazing peacefullly and a warm breeze brushes past my cheek I whisper Hello Danny, gorgeous boy.

25/04/2025

From last week we ceased being a trekking centre. I want to say a huge thank you to all the wonderful people who came and rode with us - I met some truly amazing people, many I now count as friends. You all treated the ponies with the upmost care and respect and there wasn’t one rider who I wish hadn’t come!

The ponies will continue to enjoy their herd rides out with share team - I am very lucky to have such amazing people helping to care for the ponies.

Today we enjoyed a ride out with the Dales, a Fell and a Highland. We are spoilt with such wonderful native breeds to ride ❤️. If you have a native who you think would benefit from some time training or adventuring with the herd get in touch

09/03/2025

This is George...George is cool...George is a dude.

This gorgeous, playful boy belongs to Vix and has been with us since December. George is a highland and Vix has owned him since he was 8 months old and they have such a wonderful relationship - he absolutely adores her. George came to live with the herd so he could get lots of hacking exposure in a calm, confidence boosting environment (which these guys are perfect for). Vix is an experienced and extremely capable rider but she has lost her confidence in George a little - (as we all can do very easily, it's so easy to loose, yet so hard to get back sometimes) and she's not yet confident enough to put all her trust in him. Over the last couple of months I've been riding/working with George whilst Vix rides Matt and we've been slowly transitioning over as Vix starts to feel more confident. I love being part of this journey these two are on and I'm looking forward to galloping next to them on the beach in the future.

George and Vix have joined us permanently which is so lovely ❤

If you think you and/or your pony would benefit from living in our herd to gain confidence and support please get in touch, we have short, holiday, medium and long term options.

08/03/2025

A gang of us headed out yesterday to enjoy the beautiful weather!

07/03/2025

Earlier in the week share teamers Helen and Kelly tried their hands at longlining. I love longlining, and I think it's great not just for young ponies.

05/03/2025

Its a snoozy morning in the livery herd 😴🥰

04/03/2025

Its nearly a year since Danny fell ill with an infection in one if his heart valves - his condition was particularly rare and we were given a poor prognosis...but here he is, thanks to Theo and his colleagues at Fellowes Equine happily living with his brothers, sister and rest of his herd mates. I can't tell you how happy this makes me. Danny Boy you are a walking, muddy miracle ❤

02/03/2025

If you were hoping to come out on adventure with us you still have time! Treks are available throughout the week.

There's no day treks as the ponies aren't fit enough after the winter break.

PM to arrange x

01/03/2025

Reading back through this post I am proud to say the ponies' wellbeing is still at the centre of what we do and for this reason I have decided not to renew my equestrian business licence in April. The ponies are mid to late teens and as wonderful as it has been meeting and riding with lots of incredible people I feel at a crossroads - these guys have always been family ponies through this whole process and I never want to compromise their enjoyment of life for commercial needs. The Herd Explore made them my work colleagues, my team mates, but as I explained in the post last year my concern has always been that they can't actually tell me how they feel with words and it is important to me that I make this decision BEFORE it is ever obvious.

I want to thank all you brilliant people who have supported and ridden with us - it has been such a joy sharing our ponies with you, I have made some wonderful friends, so please keep in touch!

Our awesome share group will continue to enjoy riding and looking after the ponies - for them I am ever grateful - let me know if you are interested in being part of our share.

Sooooooooo...If you were hoping to come and ride with us you have until mid April...so get in touch.

Oh and we will still have space for native training, so if you'd like your pony to come and live with the herd for some adventure training send me a message.

❤

25/02/2025

Whilst Hattie (the youngest in this photo) is off at uni I decided to sort out her room (it's ok, I have permission!!) In amongst all the 'stuff' I found this, an old Your Horse edition from 2011...and this folks is where the love for Dales ponies begun! ❤. Who knew what that visit (one of many) up to Richie and Freda would lead too...I think perhaps if Rob would have foreseen it he might not have been so keen to go...but he did, and here we are now we a few more in our herd family 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤣

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