All about Holly
Holly is a Shetland Pony, small in stature but huge in character and personality. She has a huge heart and really loves attention and just being with people. Holly came to us from a social media advert one Sunday morning in 2015, at the time we really needed a companion for a horse who was on her own at home so we hitched up the horsebox straight away and went to see her. Holly was no longer wanted as the owners grandchildren had lost interest in two ponies bought for them. So much so that these two ponies had spent 4 years up on the Cumbrian Fells with cattle and sheep and very little human input. Her companion was a Welsh section A who had value as a ridden pony but Holly was not valued at all and was given away free. When we arrived to view her she was cowered in the back corner of a small stable looking terrified. She loaded from sheer fear and we took her out of that situation which could have ended very badly for her. At that point Holly was 9 Years old.
Affectionately she is called Holly Dolly and while she has the strength and speed of a much bigger horse when she’s motivated – usually by something startling her, she is genuinely the kindest Shetland Pony we have ever known. She learned to trust us but remnants of the past remain. She hates to have her ears touched and shies away from this and unfortunately whilst abandoned on the fells she got laminitis which may have gone untreated for a long time. Due to this she does need constant care and careful management to keep this from worsening. Even though she carries these issues with her constantly Holly Dolly loves to be stroked, brushed, pampered and has endless patience for children and adults alike. She has been known to have all her hooves glitter painted by little ones who just love to plait her main and tail too.
In winter she is white and has a very thick coat but when she sheds her winter coat beautiful cremello/ caramel colour patches emerge, that is when she’s not covered in dirt and mud because she loves nothing better than a roll first thing in the morning when she comes out of her stable. Holly, although only small, standing just 9 hands 2” tall, has a huge heart and was the first of our herd to provide EFL sessions to our participants. She is proving to be a very intuitive little pony who gives people time, beneficial attention and real lasting insight to participants of these sessions.
