About

about

I got the horse bug and spent my every spare minute at Whitakers Riding Stables. I learnt a lot there. Enid Whitaker has to be admired – she ran a riding school/ livery stables, raised 4 boys, drove to shows etc. My favourite horse was Brother Scott, ridden by Michael Whitaker, Scotty’s memory lives on in Kettlesnout Brother Scott, a favourite little character when owner Catherine takes him showing. My journey into shetlands began when we bought our first ponies, Dilston Golden Sundaymouse & Dilston Foxglove (pictured above centre)  from from Sue & Peter Jackson. Their stud was based largely on South Park bloodlines. We remain for grateful for their support over the years.  

It wasn’t an easy start, Sunny came in foal and was a joy to own and sailed through pregnancy but then had a difficult foaling with 2 vets in attendance. Her beautiful colt, Star, was tragically stillborn. Sunny was sedated so was less aware of her loss. We were devastated. Afterwards, Sue Jackson generously offered one of their foals. We hesitated at first as it couldn’t replace Star but then took up Sue’s kind offer which gave us a focus. We chose Dilston Piper, a fantastic foal who subsequently became our first stallion. Piper is pictured as a foal left.

The following year, Merriville Stud kindly loaned us a stallion, Redcedar Firefly Bobby.  We built a new stable over winter, in good time for Foxy’s foal due from 19th March. The day after I finished nailing on the roof, in terrible winds when disaster struck – a neighbour’s tree fell on it in a storm (right) luckily no ponies were inside. I despaired after all our toiling!  We had to quickly make repairs so Foxy could go in overnight as planned from the end of February, over 2 weeks before her due date.  

However, at the end of February I was shocked to find a tiny, wet, cold foal in the field (seen below right) with North Wells Scotch Rose who had been blood tested not in foal. We brought them both in and our vet came and said she needed to inject Rosie to promote milk production; it didn’t come, something wasn’t right. Then Foxy, who had been in the field next to Rosie was seen running milk and looked a different shape – it dawned on us this might not be Rosie’s foal. 

To cut a long story short, it transpired the filly was Foxy’s. She must have foaled prematurely by the post and rail fence and pushed her foal out under the bottom rail into the next field where Rosie adopted her. After a hefty vet bill (2 plasma infusions) and 2 weeks on our ICU, it was a happy ending for Cinderella, our filly. We had to keep her. If things hadn’t worked out with Cindy, I doubt I would have continued breeding. Needless to say our fencing was modified!! 

Despite setbacks, we’ve since had many wonderful foals. We aim to breed well mannered, friendly ponies. Over the years, our foals have found lovely homes  – from down to the road to sales to Finland, Austria etc. Ponies have sold for many purposes; breeding, companions, being shown (little Scotty has won lots!) Our policy is honest selling to help ensure long term homes. See our for sale page for ponies available. Foals usually available and possibly mares. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we have excellent friends/contacts who may have. See our pony care page if you’re thinking of buying a shetland pony.

My experience has taught me to take nothing for granted – don’t assume that the mare the foal is with is it’s mother! Now we use everything, such as milk tests and CCTV, to keep foals safe. 51 foals on, we still marvel at a new foal birth.  Sadly Sunny has never had a foal since losing her first but we love her to bits!

 

visit us

Visitors are welcome but please contact us first.

  • Kettlesnout, Ripponden, West Yorks. HX6 4PA
  • andreamerri@yahoo.co.uk
  • 01422 822888 or 07813130179