NEW FOREST PONY
Photo courtesy of horsecanada.com
This wonderfully sturdy and reliable breed originates from the British Isles, and is a crowd pleaser amongst both children and adults. They come in all solid colours, and make for excellent riding horses due to their calm and reassuring nature. They play an important part in maintaining the biodiversity in New Forest - a giant and longstanding plot of pasture in Southern England.
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: Unexpected Visitor
Read along to learn about the time where Alice the Pony strayed from the barn... and found herself in a furry friend’s den!
Unexpected Visitor
It was a mild, partially cloudy November day. Alice and her pony pals saw it as one of their last chances to get out on The Great Trail before it was snowed in for the winter This network of winding paths started at the back corner of the farm property, then looped in zigzags through the forest until it eventually led all the way to the town square The riders had planned their journey in advance, mapping out a scenic route that passed by trees and caves before ending up back at the barn. With knowledgeable Oliver in front, five riders in tow, and experienced Alice in the back carrying the supplies, the group marched forwards into the wilderness.
“What a lovely day!” Coach Steph remarked, leading the way on Oliver They walked adjacent to a babbling brook, its bank lined with overgrown trees. The colours of the leaves varied from vibrant shades of amber yellow, to burnt orange and crimson red Little bits of sunlight peeked in between the branches. A light gust of wind blew softly across the horse’s backs It was a perfect snapshot of the transition between Fall and Winter: not too warm, but not cold either, with nature displaying a whole rainbow of beauty all around them.
The group proceeded past several of the landmarks they had mapped. They stared in awe at the old fallen oak, which grew various species of mushrooms from its exposed trunk. Further down, they encountered the faraway sight of the neighbouring log cabin on the other side of the tree line. The owners had known the riders for many years, waving to them from the porch as they trotted by Soon they were riding towards the sound of tumbling splashes. They felt the mist of a waterfall against their rosy cheeks, the sight of its cascading water marking the halfway point
All was going well, and the riders were enjoying themselves thoroughly but all of a sudden, the fun came to an abrupt halt From seemingly out of nowhere, a pheasant burst out of the trees, its flapping and squawking startling the horses and sending them shooting off at a frightened gallop They thundered down the path and past the bend until they were no longer visible. Alice, who some referred to as “unspookable”, stood left behind in their dust
She wandered up the path in the same direction as everyone else. But much to her dismay, she soon came to a fork in the trail There was no way of telling which direction the others took when they ran off: the two paths were so similar, the only difference was whether they veered east or west Alice would have to pick one at random and hope for the best
Turning eastward, Alice picked up a light jog in hopes of catching up to the others (the packs of supplies were heavy, so this was the fastest she could go). The path snaked deeper and deeper into the woods, and Alice started to feel truly lost She stopped in her tracks and breathed a big sigh out of her nostrils Oh well, she thought to herself The others will come find me eventually. I may as well do some exploring.
Alice began poking around the bushes and shrubs, occupying her time by sniffing through the forest floor She meandered off the trail and around the side of a giant cedar tree. Alice couldn’t believe her eyes when she looked at its base - for there she discovered a giant horse-sized opening beneath it Huh, thought Alice, inspecting the massive hole It looked almost like an entrance; one she was sure she could fit through. The wind picked up, and Alice began to shiver ever so slightly. It’s getting a little chilly Maybe I should hang out here to keep warm while I wait for my friends
Alice lowered her neck and went inside She glanced around at the inside of what appeared to be a den, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness Although she couldn’t stand with her head straight up, there was still lots of space for her to turn around and lie down The air was warm and dry, and the soft dirt floor cushioned her tired feet “Cool!” she said out loud, to who she thought was only herself. “This would make a nice place for some forest dwelling critter to live ”
Right on cue, Alice watched a sparkling pair of eyes light up from the corner of the den Then came a low, growling yawn, followed by the sound of curious sniffing Alice could feel the ground vibrate as the large animal stood up with great effort. Stepping into the light of the entrance, Alice could see it now: the black bear in all his glory He caught sight of Alice and stared, blinking slowly, as he was evidently still waking up from a nap.
“AHHHH!” whinnied Alice, spinning on her hooves and racing out of the bear’s den. She ditched the supply packs as she sped away, leaving them strewn all over the ground. The bear watched her speedy departure with confusion. Then he shrugged, using his big paws to claw open the container with the packed lunches Alice had been carrying “Thanks for the snacks” he called after her, although she was already long gone.
With instinct taking over, Alice ran and ran down the trail until she found herself all the way back at the barn Her concerned friends were there waiting for her, looking perplexed “Alice!” nickered Oliver, “where on earth did you run off to?” Alice, who appeared terrified and exhausted, finally caught her breath enough between panting to say “oh, you know a bear’s den ” The horses and riders looked around with wide eyes. “It was the most scared I’ve ever been” Alice went on to say. “We really need to start packing bear spray ” Coach Steph chuckled and shook her head “We did pack bear spray ” she reminded Alice, “ you were the one carrying it” At this, everyone began laughing. “Speaking of supplies...” another rider piped up, “where are our supply packs? I had a sandwich in there I was really looking forward to eating.”
Back at the den, the black bear licked his lips, settling in again for his hibernation after finishing off every last crumb of food
THE END.
Activity of the Month: WHERE’S ALICE?!
It’s time to tack up Alice for your riding lesson... but she’s out wandering and enjoying this crisp autumn day! Can you find her on the next page?
Where did I wander off to? Down
The neighbouring farmer’s field? Or did I go back to my herd?
HORSEY FACTS OF THE MONTH: DON’T GET STUCK IN THE MUD!
As we begin to see more rain and a bit of snowfall heading into winter, muddy paddocks are not uncommon this time of year. Here are some important things we do to keep our horses healthy, happy, and sound throughout these seasonal changes.
Image provided by Canva
Be Gone, Mud!
1 Pick out horse’s feet thoroughly and frequently - just like always! This is especially important for preventing mud-borne bacterial infections like thrush and abscesses.
2 Check for heat, scabs, or swelling on the legs - these may be signs of mud fever, a skin condition also caused by bacteria from mud
3.Ultimately, stay on top of grooming routines and be sure that horses have the opportunity to dry their legs and feet off (i.e., by bringing them inside for a bit)
