Pony Tails April 2026 Issue by Horse Council BC

PONY TAILS APRIL 2026

A Letter from

Alice

Hi kids, You know what they say - April showers bring May flowers. But do you know what else April brings? A brand-new issue of the Pony Tails Kids Club Digital Magazine! Grab your umbrellas, rainboots, and raincoat, because the next few pages have lots of fun in store! I hope my stories, activities, and games help to cure your boredom on a rainy day. Have an awesome April my friends. And, as always, don’t forget to pat your pony! Love,

Alice the Pony

Horse/Pony Breed of the Month: HACKNEY HORSE

Photo courtesy of Horse & Hound; https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/hackney-horse-factfile-795305

The Hackney is an English breed of horse (not to be confused with the Hackney pony, which developed later and differs in size and characteristics). As pictured, the Hackney horse’s distinct high stepping makes them particularly flashy and marvelous to watch. They are commonly used in carriage driving events, as they are reliably sound and can sustain the trot for long periods of time.

What breed do you want to see featured in our next issue? Reach out to Alice at ponytails.alice@hcbc.ca and let her know!

Story Feature: Rainy Day ...

Flip to the next page to read about how Alice managed to adapt to the dreary weather for a funfilled afternoon

Rainy Day

It was only the start of April, and the farm had already been hit with a rainy day. “Oh bother” groaned Alice, as she peered out warily from her paddock shelter. She watched as pools of water accumulated in every corner of the field. The droplets of rain fell freely from the sky, and Alice recoiled sullenly as one landed on the tip of her muzzle. “I know they say April showers bring May flowers, but can’t we just skip this part?” complained Oliver, the other chestnut horse who had retreated to the shed with her. The two of them stood there miserably. They were comforted only by the roof over their heads; but still, both of theirs hung low in disappointment. Simply no fun could be had until this bad weather passed. “What’s going on with you two?” inquired Truffles, the oldest pony on the farm. Her wet brown coat was plastered to her skin, but she still seemed content - cheerful, actually. “Take a look outside” replied Alice, motioning with her nose towards the rain. “We’re going to be so bored until this storm passes.” Alice let out a long, defeated sigh. “Don’t be ridiculous”, argued Truffles, stomping her hoof down in defiance. “You young horses have so much to learn. There’s so much fun to be had on a rainy day. Follow me!” Alice and Oliver glanced at one another, then followed Truffles hesitantly out from under the comfort of their shelter. “What you see here is merely a puddle” explained Truffles, leading them over to the largest one in the middle of the pasture. “But what I see is a giant splash pad!” At this, Truffles began pawing and thrashing around in the water. She kicked out with her back leg, playfully spraying Alice and Oliver. The horses found this amusing. They joined in with the old pony, splashing around and trotting through the puddle energetically. They soon started a competition to see who could jump over and clear it - quite like a liverpool that the showjumping horses would soar over on TV. Despite being trained in dressage, it was Oliver who was most successful. On his first attempt, he jumped several feet past the puddle, landing with lots of room to spare. Next, Truffles took them over to a large rock on the far end of the field. “Check out what’s under here!” she said, flipping the rock over with her hoof. Dozens of worms and insects crawled around in the earth. Alice and Oliver oohed and aahed as they watched them squirm through the dirt. “See - if they like the rain so much, we can learn to like it too” said Truffles, who was careful not to step on them as they wriggled around underneath her. Lastly, she took the horses to a large area of mud on the opposite side of the shelter. “And finally...” she announced, “my favourite spa treatment. A MUD BATH!” Truffles dropped carefully onto the ground and began to roll, covering herself in a thick coat of sludge. Alice and Oliver joined in too, and soon they were all rolling around without a care in the world. In the meantime, Kira, who had approached the gate to grab Alice, stood watching and shaking her head. Her pony was hardly recognizable from underneath the layers of mud. “Forget it”, Kira declared, turning around and retreating back to the barn. Her decision was one that only those who have owned a grey pony on a rainy day can understand.

Activity of the Month: PONY PUZZLE Can you put Easter Bunny Alice back together? Go ahead and colour the background however you would like. Then, cut out the pieces and scramble them up (if you need to, ask an adult for help with this step). Now you have your own homemade puzzle to complete!

HORSEY FACTS OF THE MONTH

BRAIN-STORMING

Wild Winds Horseback riders often report their horse being spooky when it is windy. This is because it makes it harder for their ears to pinpoint where sound is coming from, causing them difficulty hearing and distress. Waterproofing Horses have two types of hair: guard hairs and undercoat hairs. The former is like a water-repellent rain coat, whereas the latter is like a warm puffer jacket. The guard hairs are what protect the undercoat from precipitation, helping the horse stay dry on a rainy day. Rain Rot When it’s wet and rainy out, the bacteria causing rain rot can easily be activated. This skin infection can lead to irritation, scabs and hair loss for your horse - so it must be attended to immediately.