Bon Bon, a Mare and Foal Sanctuary loan pony, has formed a ‘stable relationship’ with her carer’s goat Brian.
When the Teignbridge charity’s tiny Welsh filly Bon Bon found a home with carer Karen Hutchings it was assumed she would bond with the family’s other horses.
But Bob Bon, who is just 9.3hh and two years old, took an immediate shine to Brian, who has been the pony’s constant companion ever since.
Karen Hutchings said: ‘Brian was a present from my husband and we all adore him. However, we didn’t expect Bon Bon to react to him the way she did.
‘From the start they just seemed to get on like a house on fire. Brian then started following her around and eventually decided it would be a good idea to move into Bon Bon’s stable.
‘They’re both really cheeky and they play together in the field all the time. We love watching them. Both of them love lots of fuss and now they’re pretty inseparable.’
Bon Bon arrived at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary when she was just two weeks old with her dam, Dolly Mixture, after they were abandoned on public land.
The Sanctuary, which rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes abandoned, mistreated, orphaned or neglected horses and ponies, maintains ownership – just in case the carers’ situation changes - and they have horses in happy homes throughout the South West.
Bex Sherrell, of the charity’s equine team, said: ‘We regularly carry out home visits to make sure our horses and their carers are getting along okay and visiting Karen, Bon Bon and Brian is one of the highlights of my job.
‘They are just great together and really behave like a husband and wife, with Bon Bon wearing the trousers. They play together all the time and I swear, at times, I’ve seen them laughing.’
Brian even has his own Instagram account so fans can keep up with his farmyard romance on brianfromoverlands.
Bon Bon still has some growing to do but it is hoped, after her young bones have fully developed, she could go on to be a great little riding pony.