A new adoption pony has made her debut at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary.
April has joined the Newton Abbot based charity and can be ‘adopted’ by people who love horses but may not have the space to keep one.
She’s taken over the reins from the Sanctuary’s beloved Dipsybell, who sadly passed away over the winter.
The charity said they are going to be hard horseshoes to step into but they believe 22-year-old April will take everything in her stride.
The little 11hh Bay Dartmoor Hill Pony was born at the Sanctuary and from 1998 to 2017 was almost constantly out on loan as a children’s riding pony, partly because of her reliable temperament and sweet nature.
Her adoption pony status will enable pony fans all over the country to get regular April updates, as well as meeting the little mare at the charity’s Coombe Park Visitor Centre.
April’s groom Gemma Bygrave said: ‘April is a real sweetheart and adores children. She was a children’s riding pony on loan for years but she’s 22 years old now. It’s time she took things a little easier.
‘She’s great to handle and loves a lot of fuss. I think April will make a terrific adoption pony because she is happiest when all eyes are on her!’
April will also be taking part in the Sanctuary’s Happy Hooves Pony Club over the school holidays, when youngsters learn a little of what it takes to look after a pony.
Dawn Neil, the charity’s education manager, added: ‘April really is a little diamond. She genuinely loves meeting new people and is always up for a groom or a scratch. We are so lucky to have such a little gem willing and happy to make new friends every day.’
The Sanctuary has more than 800 adopters all over the UK and it now has five horses and ponies ready to be adopted, including tiny Shetland Sir Didymus and gentle giant Kavaner.
Visitors can meet all the horses and ponies at Coombe Park, which is open every day during the summer from 10am to 4pm.
For more details see www.mareandfoal.org/adoptions