NL 82

Newsletter No 82 Fforest Uchaf Farm. Maindy Road, (Maendy) Penycoedcae, Pontypridd.

R.C.T, Wales. UK. CF37 1PS Tel; 01443 480327 info@pitponies.co.uk www.pitponies.co.uk www.sponsorapony.co.uk Open to visitors = by appointment, www.visitpitponies.co.uk Adults £4:00 OAP/Children £2:00 or £10:00 per car. Groups/Schools/Clubs by appointment. Special needs visitors please telephone to discuss your needs.

NB All visitors need to telephone 01443 480327 or 07798584735 before you visit.

PROVIDING TENDER LOVING CARE TO NEEDY HORSES & PONIES

Sadly Pit Pony Dylan passed away recently. He was really poorly with a lame foot and despite three vets the Farrier and an x-ray costing £900+ he didn’t make it. Dylan had been here a long time and came to the centre after having been sold to a young woman as a riding pony he was totally unsuitable for riding. He was owned by a business man who rented Pit Ponies all over the coalfields area in South Wales.

Apparently following a back injury Dylan was turned out to graze and recover for a while then sold as a riding pony to a young lady. Dylan was far too strong in body and spirit for her.

He was taken to a horse sale but failed to make the reserve. At work he pulled several Drams of coal and was a popular strong pony with the men. Dylan is a roan pony and changes colour with the seasons, with age and even each year. In the winter he has a thick coat. The large picture is taken in the spring.

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This picture was taken at Pentwyn No3 colliery Goderagraig. Here Dylan or a pony very like him is hauling empties back underground to be filled. The journey of drams will be filled and the pony will squeeze past them to the other end and be recoupled for the outward journey. This colliery had an uphill inward journey through several “air” doors. The journey out was very dangerous a degree of care was required by the colliers. The pony is not able to stop the full journey at the air doors themselves. The colliers must insert a tool called a sprag at the right time into the wheels of the dram to jam them causing them to brake the journey. Another pony called Dolly was killed when a collier didn’t sprag the wheels and she was crushed against the underground air door.

Just to survive life as a pit pony was quite an achievement and many didn’t. Dylan survived his years as a rented Pit Pony survived his trip to the horse auction where the butcher would have had his eye on such a nice round pony and had a better life at the Centre with us. He was quite a character and we will miss him dearly.

The top of the gate was made by cutting one of the old Pit Pony shafts into two and welding on the top of the new gate,

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Letters from friends.

The Bevin Boys Association. Secretary Mrs D E Todd sent stamps and a donation for the ponies and wrote, I will mention the Pit Pony Sanctuary once again in my spring Bi-Annual Newsletter to members. This year we celebrate 30 years since the founding of the Association and we will welcome ex-Bevin Boys family and friends to our re-union and AGM at Cap House Colliery the National Mining Museum in Wakefield in early October. I noted that C A Polly in our last Newsletter asked if something could be done for the memory of Pit Ponies who spent long hours underground sometimes in terrible conditions. I would recommend reading ex Bevin Boy Derek Hollows book “Voices in the Dark” and mining tales published in 2010 ISBN 978-1-4457-0898-0 Mrs Todd says she had a long conversation with Derek recently he is now confined to home but still active and preparing a new book. Many members tell of their close association with Pit Ponies as many were on haulage it gave them an opportunity for strong bonds to be made. My late husband Gordon talked fondly of his Pit Pony Jake with tales similar to many others I have heard and read. Thank you Bevin Boys & Girls.

Roma Martin. Wrote to say she had a Jimson Weed (Devils Snare, (Thorn Apple) in her garden and thought the seed had come from wild Bird seed. She thought it was very pretty until she read our newsletter and realised the danger for her little dogs.

Mrs Linda Barratt. Wrote discharging her duties as executor of her friend Lizzie Bowen’s will and Ponies enjoying early spring sunshine. We feel sorry for the sending a cheque for the ponies.

Horses & Ponies we see in fields as we travel around still in Talking to Mrs Barrett on the rugs they must be so uncomfortable. telephone she had realised what a task being an executor was but was glad to have supported her friend. Well done girl!

Marion Guest wrote. Thank you for sending your latest Newsletter. I enjoy reading them.

Although we don’t have any Horses or Ponies at present we do have pigs, sheep, chickens, guinea fowl and guinea pigs. My main reason for writing is about the comments by Cheryl Rodon about the animals in wartime. I am not a knitter but friends made me a lot of purple poppies which were in the Church and the animals were mentioned in the service. Well done you!

The Turners wrote Please find enclosed a cheque for some treats for the ponies.

No receipt is required but maybe a mention in your next newsletter as we have saved this by cutting down on xmas spending. Maybe others might think that it’s a good idea for the future. Also we thank you that your magazine is not all posh and adverts as we feel you spend on what is needed more, and that is the ponies. Keep up the good work. We have been supporting you for a long time now and will continue to do so. Well done all of you!

Donna Hardy wrote, I just wanted to let you know that as we live in Canada please don’t send me the physical newsletter as I will view it on-line, I have enclosed some stamps though of course as mail is not so common now it takes a while to get enough to send. I have made a donation by credit card. My sister Angela Hardy bought me a sponsorship of Jake 2 Christmases ago. I understand he passed away recently bless him, Anyway you do sterling work I hope this summer is a good one for you. Thank you for your good wishes”

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Roy writes. Dear Donna and friends the electronic newsletter are too much for us!

All the new IT

stuff passes us by. We do publish our newsletter on issuu and they can be found at http://issuu.com/pitponies in glorious colour. However we will keep sending the paper ones as we need to keep track of what supporters do and have paper to show the Charity Commission.

Candice Young wrote Please find enclosed 4 multi packs of Polo’s for the Horses to enjoy.

Well done Candice! The ponies don’t say much except munch, crunch! Thank you girl!

Mrs J Prench wrote. Please find cheque proceeds from saving change in a Kilner jar. Keep up the good work and best wishes to you for the future. Thank you girl!

Mrs B Harrington wrote. Many thanks for the Newsletters over the last year it’s always very interesting to read and without it we wouldn’t know what marvellous work you all do for the ponies. I have enclosed a cheque donation and some Jewellery for your stall. Well done girl!

Donations have recently been received in memory of; Mr Victor Sainsbury, Gordon Todd, Pam Downing’s Great Uncle Joe who was killed in the Great War. Mrs Lizzie Bowen. oO-0-Oo The Lawrence Family’s Sooty,

Easyfundraising is great.

Whilst we are mucking out, laying fresh bedding, cleaning out their water butts and feeding the ponies some of you are shopping on-line. Another cheque just arrived for £48.54. Well done all who have signed up!

Seen on St Valentine’s day 2019.

A beautiful Butterfly catching some of the sun’s rays in an empty bucket in the feed shed.

Helen Moncrief wrote. I sold my old car and enclose a cheque for the proceeds. I hope it helps! Yes it’s a big help and very much appreciated. Giveacar do all the work and the Ponies benefit.

Twinwood music festival is in August at the wartime airfield of Twinwood in Bedfordshire famous as the station that Glen Miller was staying at when he took off and was never seen again. We will have a stall there again this year and hope to sell lots of the donated Jewellery and other vintage items you have sent over the years. Maybe we will see some of you there? To find out more go to https://twinwoodevents.com/ Please send anything “Vintage” you can and don/t forget to ask your friends, family & neighbours for the ponies.

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Puzzle looking so clean. A rare sight?

It can be difficult to keep visitors a safe distance from the Horses & Ponies. But this little girl is Ellie and she loves Lady and Lady loves her.

Lady is now 27 years old. If you remember the state she was in when she came, it is well in her past now thanks to your support. Thank you all!

Ellie comes to stay sometimes. She puts sliced carrots and any other tit bits in all the ponies feed boxes for Angela

Arnie and Star behind in a new Bug proof Rug Star is the oldest pony here now.

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Left to right Thunder, Spike, Puzzle, Winston and Dylan. Behind Dylan down the bank further is Jake.

Ponies enjoying the early spring sunshine and fresh mountain air.

Angel is pictured here with Katja who is grooming her, as she is moulting very fast and looking quite tatty. It’s a very early moult and she’s the only one started so far. Perhaps her body knows something we don’t or maybe she has never been loved and stabled before.

Katja is wearing her new Xmas bobble hat knitted by Angela.

She is a very reliable volunteer.

Angel is elderly and really struggles walking downhill.

Vets say she has arthritis in her knees. She has very strange behaviour coming in to her stable every day. She wanders round and round the yard making awful faces at the other ponies. She does settle eventually and comes to her stable but then churns her stable up going round and round making more awful faces at her neighbours in doing so.

Eventually she settles down to enjoy her feed.

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Bonnie (Puzzles mum) looking beautiful.

A little taste of Wales.

Monmouthshire Pudding Pwbin Mynwy Ingredients 6oz breadcrumbs, ¾ pint milk, 1oz sugar, 1 lemon, 1oz butter, 4-5 tablespoons raspberry jam, 3 egg yolks Method Grate the rind of the lemon, add to the sugar, butter and milk. Bring to the boil. Pour over the breadcrumbs and leave to stand for 15 minutes. Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Stir the yolks into the now cooled breadcrumb mixture. Melt the jam. Pour ½ the mixture into a greased ovenproof dish and spread with half the jam. Add the remainder of the pudding mixture and then the rest of the jam. Bake in a warm oven 325 F or Mark 3 for 40 – 45 minutes. For the Meringue Topping use the 3 egg whites and 3oz of Caster sugar. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold in the caster sugar using a metal spoon. Cover the pudding and bake in a cool oven 300F or Mark 3 for twenty minutes until the meringue is gently browned.

Mwynhewch y pryd! (Enjoy your meal

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Cocky helping to soak Spikes hay to help with his colliery cough. Without soaking his hay for 20 minutes he would be coughing all night.

Billy the apparently un-home able and untouchable cat has settled in well. He rules the roost but patience, love and time has sorted him. Here you can see he has found a nice sunny comfortable place on the cover of the log store,

One of the slow worms who share the Farm with us all.

At 850+ feet above sea level The snow is melting but the drifts across the track take several days before we can get the car out of the Farm

Hens fed up with queuing decide to share.

How many hens can you see? When Angela is doing the stables when they are busy laying can be extremely ear piercing when they tell everyone they have laid their egg,

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