Horse Shelter &

Ponies are not toys...they are not paddock decorations, and they are not the 'horse you buy when you know nothing about horses'. Most importantly...they are not something you breed because they're cute / you can't be bothered gelding your colt / you want to 'have a foal' / they're small enough for you to manage when you really don't have a clue, etc. There are many responsible and knowledgeable pony breeders out there, leave the breeding up to them.

If you cannot be discouraged from breeding them, PLEASE, handle your foals, educate them, and ensure they are polite, well mannered individuals. Failing to do so sets them up for very bleak futures.

The photo at left is of young Charlie, (now Spike), who we took in briefly a few months ago, and have now re-homed. His desperate original owners contacted us and said their only other option for him was the knackery. They were absolutely terrified of him, which is evident in the photo attached. Sad picture, as they wouldn't go near him without this stick. No fault of his own, just another pony who has been left ungelded and unhandled and has reached the point of being unmanageable.

We gelded Spike, and he was kindly taken in by an associate of Quest, but he continues to be a little terrorist, towards both horses and people alike. Luckily for Spike, his new home can handle his behaviours, and he has a home for life, but things could have been very different for him.

I think most of us are aware of some rampant pony breeders, and of the hundreds of discarded ponies that pass through the saleyards and knackeries. Help to educate those who don't know any better, or don't care, for the sake of these little ones.