05/01/2023
This has been the hardest thing I've ever had to write in my life. Sometimes life gets in the way and as the age old saying goes, “you can’t have your cake and eat it.” Due to personal and financial circumstances, I am having to look for a new home for my little boy Winston.
Winston (Seeka Time to Conquer) is a 2019 black 32” registered miniature Shetland Pony. He is up to date with vaccinations, wormer and farrier.
My mum and I chose his father (Romany Shelby) in 2017 and waited two years until he was finally born. His mother (Seva Sybil) gave birth so easily, in about 10mins and he was up and about whinnying in no time. After his first few steps he ran into the electric fence which was horrifying but I think that is what has made him the toughest pony known to man – affectionately named ‘Stig’ on our yard.
The good bits. His breeding is PHENOMENAL, his mother was not proven in the ring as she was quite young but is a gorgeous 34” bay mare and came direct from the Seva Stud. She is just the most perfect Shetland type we had ever seen. His Dad was proven in the ring and was a beautiful little black stallion in Warwickshire. This of course, and completely non-biasedly has made him STUNNING. He has a beautiful little head, big shiny black eyes and lovely conformation and bone. The only downside being he is very slightly turned in on one of his front legs due to lax-tendons when he was born. This does not affect him at all and he still moves beautifully and straight. Another massive pro to Winston is that he does literally anything that is asked of him. A few weeks ago, I took him for a walk where he crossed a river and jumped down from a bridge, things which he has never been asked to do before and had never seen and he didn’t hesitate one bit. He is super with traffic and I take him out for walks all the time with no dramas what so ever. This pony is hard as nails. He doesn’t get fed much, he doesn’t get rugged and he had never been sick or sorry a day in his life. He is my easiest pony because he doesn’t cost me anything other than basic bills such as hay and livery. He can be turned out alone, but the fencing must be decent (if electric then on!) as he is a mega Houdini. I have had many afternoons called out of work because I thought the fencer “would be fine”. It wasn’t. He absolutely ADORES big horses. He thinks he is 16.2hh for sure. He is obsessed with big horses but gets on equally well with our other Shetlands. He is super super super with any horses we have ever had.
The questionable bits. Winston really is what you imagine a Thelwell pony to be. I’m not sure why as he must have been the most well-handled foal in the entire world but he seems to have some patience issues I won’t lie. With Tying Up, he takes about 15 minutes of fidgeting (including rearing) before he will stand quietly, however, if he does manage to get stuck then he is a gem because he doesn’t panic, he just stands super still which is a bonus. As well as this, with the Farrier/Vet he has the same patience issues which generally leads to some rearing. This can be solved with a bucket of some food and/or some seriously hard neck scratches. He loads perfectly (no questions asked) and travels beautifully too but you have to be quick tying him up/getting the door closed because he will throw himself around (rearing, again.). On the food front he is a fuss pot. To me this doesn’t matter a lot because he doesn’t really need to be fed and what he does eat is Fast Fibre which is fairly easy to find and not too expensive! He loves carrots and apples but doesn’t really bother with any other fruit or veg which is super weird. As unfortunate as it is, Winston is not a children’s pony. He does absolutely not bite or kick and he is not bargy (can be a tad strong leading sometimes, but is generally a dope on a rope), but I just think he would be better with someone a little bit more aware about horses due to his occasional rearing.
All I want for him is somewhere he will never have to leave, somewhere where he can run around with his friends like a loon and somewhere with someone who will understand his funny little ways. I think he would make a fantastic driving project or for someone who fancies a trick training or liberty pony, equally a brilliant companion.
I would love more than anything in the world to stay in touch and should the situation arise, I would like to first to be offered to buy him back (should my circumstances in the future change). I hope that the perfect person for him is out there, I'm just gutted that it couldn’t be me.
Please PM for any more details.
Sincerely, Layla and Winston x
