and that is how it happened!!

We were at the vet one day with one of our dogs and in conversation the question was asked; " do you know of anyone wanting to sell a horse?" That night we received a text asking if we would be interested in Whirlz, a polo pony who had been injured in the field by catching her neck in the 'V' of a tree, that from this incident, she was made blind in her right eye, but she was the sweetest mare ever.....

Within the week we had seen her and there was no doubt whatsoever that she is the sweetest mare and it was a resounding yes

The dilemma was that from having Arabians in the USA and thoroughbreds in the UK, we knew that ponies/horses form bonds and that whatever stability one can retain during change that it goes a long way to the health and well-being of the ponies during the settling process; to this end it was established that Whirlz was very dependent on one of the mares in her existing herd, that this mare, WiWi (pronounced WhyWhy)

was actually Whirlz's right eye; Whirlz would lean her right side into WiWi's left side and WiWi would be her 'lead' from the right; the issue was not that WiWi was Whirlz's best friend, she was also her guide and protection from the right - there was no question, Whirls and WiWi were inseparable and now there were two !!

Even though I would try and spend time with Whirlz, she would stand behind the other ponies, it was clearly where she felt safe, they had been with her during her traumatic experience of loosing her sight and she very clearly found comfort in their protection; it was then that

Kvellar decided that I was her best friend, I think the carrots I brought also had something to do with it but, you would find Kvellar and her friend

who used her rear as a pillow on hot days, around the edges of the herd, then it happened... one day I was visiting Whirlz and the herd and Kvellar would not leave me alone, it seemed like she was trying to direct me back to the car, it was very odd, but she was insistent and I gave in to her and started to walk back. Kvellar was this side and that side of me, she kept me so occupied with her movements around me that it was only when I got to the gate and she turned around to go back to the herd that I saw a troop of baboons pass my path behind me; whilst some would say that these are 'friendly' baboons, baboons by nature can be extremely aggressive and I would have been beyond afraid had I known that they were there, somehow Kvellar knew and from that second on, my heart was was hers; I do not know what would have happened that day without her protection, I just really have no idea because even IF those baboons were 'friendly' I did not know this and I would of reacted and animals sense fear

It was not very long after this, maybe two or three weeks, we received another text about a broodmare that urgently needed a home or she would be PTS; within a day or so we meet one of the kindest and most gentle mares called Krystal

and we decided that she was definitely joining our growing herd

We were told of a gelding who was coming off circuit after tournament and was to be retired from polo; we went to visit him and oh my goodness, we were warned that he was a gentle giant and gentle giant he truly is, a heart stopper for sure; there was no question,

he is Dovid, our lucky number six

The day came for us to round up the ponies from the three different herds that they were in and for them to be united as one in their own field; the fields were arranged and five of the six were lead down to their new field; Krystal had said her goodbyes and made the road journey up and was first to explore their new field; it was not long after Krystal arrived that she was joined by the rest of what would become her new herd; actually the transition to the new field was unbelievably smooth and the synergy between the ponies was remarkable

A week or so after moving into our field, we were told that a

twenty year old mare, Pulzi was to be retired and would we be interested in having her join the herd; it was now really dawning on us that this was who we are and what we are about, our love and passion for ponies/horses was making room for the birth of The Herd | Polo Pony Sanctuary, a forever home for injured, rescued and retired polo ponies; it was truly effortless and ever so natural, it just came about, it happened, it unfolded before our eyes and what an honor and privilege it is... words cannot express the joy and resounding happiness one feels when without striving the path unfolds before you and your destiny is made known

May we take this opportunity to thank all those who have been part of and who have made The Herd | Polo Pony Sanctuary possible and a reality; we look forward to working together with you in the future as we reach out to injured, rescued and retired polo ponies

The Herd | Polo Pony Sanctuary, forever home for injured, rescued and retired polo ponies