Parsley

2014 | Black | Cob | Under 13.2hh

Back in the early part of the horse crisis, one of our team was asked by Durham County Council, if they could take in a mare and foal.

Everyone was then a little surprised, when a foal followed a yearling colt off the horsebox!

Poor Parsley had clearly been weaned rather too early and was making fruitless attempts at suckling from his new found guardian. The wardens, who had been called to help the abandoned pair, had understandably assumed they had found a mother and her son.

Despite being in fairly good body condition on arrival, it took many months to bring Parsley to good health; he had a heavy worm infestation and suffered repeated bouts of scouring (diarrhoea).

As a result he needed prolonged medication to allow his inflamed gut to heal. It is unlikely he would have survived without this timely intervention.

Parsley has now grown and is fully mature. From a sad, straggly little unwanted mite, he is now a beautiful, ‘leg at each corner’ mini cob, with a fountain of mane and lots of silky feather, (the name given to the long hair on their legs).

His early issues are thankfully long behind him and he now carries excess weight rather too easily!

Parsley was – and still can be – a rather shy character and unlike many of our ponies who jostle for attention, he will carefully and very sweetly, wait to introduce himself to visitors.

Having enjoyed an idyllic existence here with us, Parsley was expertly started under saddle with long-standing supporter Theo Hopkins.

Theo did a fantastic job and Parsley took to the showing scene with her, like a duck to water, claiming many rosettes.

He then returned to us and needless to say, we were looking for someone very loving and special, keen and able to take him on the next part of his journey.

We hadn’t ruled out a competitive home but when Marilyn Anderson came to meet him – in search of a fun, happy hack – we knew the match was perfect and thankfully we were proven right!