The Herd Explore

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 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤣

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 🤣