I had a lovely surprise in the post today (makes a change from bills and junk mail advertising monogrammed silver toothpicks as the perfect gift for HIM!): Chris and Cherry Hughes sent me a DVD full of photos of the 2008 pony handling course. Here are some of the best (more of the best on the Exmoor pony page of our website http://www.westilkerton.co.uk/ )

Everyone was given a talk about how to handle ponies

Here's Claire with Rocky. He didn't like having his headcollar buckled to begin with, so Vanessa taught us a handy trick with baler twine

Nikki and Kirbie: love at first sight

The ponies appreciated Colm's laid-back attitude

Vanessa showed us how to use a rope to teach a pony to lift its hind feet

Then we had to do it (Boudicca was overwhelmed by my bottom!)

On the second day we took the ponies into the yard and introduced them to scary things like trailers, hoops, plastic and road signs

Nikki with Kirbie and Cathy with Bucks Fizz

Shaun with Sunny Delight

Lisa with Fanta

Cheryl with Boudicca

Nikki with Kirbie and Cherry with Sandy

Rocky, Lisa, Vanessa, Kirbie, Nikki, Sandy, Cherry, Philip, Boudicca and Cheryl

The grown-up Harry Potter, ready to fly off on his turbo-charged glove-on-a-stick to work his magic on more ponies

The pony handling course was a great success. This year we handled the ponies before they were inspected and branded, and it definitely made each process less traumatic. The foals have now been turned back with the herd for the winter, and will go to their new homes next spring. All three colts passed inspection. It was decided that the young filly was too small to inspect and brand, so she'll be presented for inspection next autumn.

The colts are:
Ilkerton Sandy 265/22 (named by Cherry)
Ilkerton Kirbie 265/23 (named by Nikki and Cheryl)
Ilkerton Rocky 265/24 (named by?)


Many thanks to Vanessa and Philip Bee http://www.positivehorsemanship.co.uk/ for running the course, and to Vanessa, Philip and Lisa for helping on inspection day.

The adult ponies were obviously overjoyed to be reunited with the youngsters, and the mares instantly suckled their foals. Hopefully, by handling them and then turning them back with the herd for their first winter, we will have given the foals a good start in life.
As the fox says in The Little Prince, 'You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.'

Here are a few photos of the pony handling course (more to follow):