Having spent several months speaking via phone and e-mail to the Ardens in Dartmoor, we had finally been found 4 Dartmoor Hill Pony Foals.

Arrangements were made for us to travel down to Dartmoor over a weekend to collect said ponies and bring home to Findon, West Sussex.

This adventure came to fruition over the weekend of 12^th and 13^th November.

We set off Saturday morning at just after 7am and having studied the map, decided upon a route suitable for the time of year, and the fact we were travelling down in a horse lorry.

We had arranged to contact the herd owner (John French) once we arrived at Ashburton and assumed this would be somewhere between 2pm and 3pm that afternoon. To our delight, the journey was effortless and we arrived at our meeting point at 12 noon! We contacted John via mobile who promptly came out to the meeting place in order to 'lead' us to their village. Never having met John before, but only spoken on the phone, we were met by a wonderful character who towered over us and instantly made us feel like we were old friends. John then proceeded to lead us through some of the narrowest lanes there must be in this country!! Thank goodness he'd agreed to act as escort as he was able to confront any oncoming traffic and warn them of an approaching lorry.

Having arrived at the farm, we were then sent off to the local pub to get some lunch and arranged to meet back at the farm at 2.30pm. We arrived back at 2.50pm! No sign of anyone about so we wandered around the farm looking across the fields at a variety of horses and ponies. Then in the distance we could hear shouts and rather a lot of clattering and surmised our friends must already be up at the holding coral. After a further 10 minutes or so, we spotted a tractor in the distance towing a livestock trailer and being followed by a pickup. The convoy appeared in the farm 5 minutes later and at this point John's partner Kerry stepped out of the pickup, all smiles and saying that the foals were indeed in the trailer having JUST been weaned. The foals were let out into a deep straw-bedded barn and this was our very first sighting of our new ponies. We were absolutely delighted with them straight away. Well grown, sturdy ponies, 2 colts and 2 fillies just as ordered.

Time for inspection - What a great first viewing!

John, Kerry and Chris (another very amiable character whose assistance they barter for) were then going back up to the holding coral to carry out some 'checking' and 'worming'. We were asked if we'd like to stay with our foals or come along with them - we opted to go with them.

We jumped into the back of the pickup and off we went across a couple of fields (at what seemed like about 80 mph!!) to the coral. The views from up here were stunning.

Time to admire the view

John and Kerry needed to check out the condition of a couple of ponies and then worm about 10 other completely untouched and wild youngsters!!! They had a good system and used an avenue of gates to provide a 'crush' type effect.

Rounding up ponies for worming		John and Chris - job well done	Mandy stays out of the way - the photographer even more so!

This procedure took about 3/4 hour and then the ponies were released. The other group and which included the mares and stallion of our foals were due to be returned to grazing a couple of fields away and we were able to help here by herding them back across the fields, over a stream, through a wood and safely back into their designated area, safely missing the 'common' as this could lead to them having several hundred acres to roam on…..by mistake!!! It was then all back to John and Kerry's for a well-earned cup of tea.

After sustenance we walked the 200metres down the road to our B&B which was a beautiful old farmhouse called Dodsbrook Farm (highly recommend). We washed and changed as we had agreed we would call in on the Ardens to introduce ourselves and thank them for all their liaison work. Just before leaving the B&B Judy (the owner) said that John had just rung to say the Ardens were expecting us and to go along as soon as we were ready.

After supper, we spent a further enjoyable hour or so (continuing to sup more wine!) watching video's of Johnny driving various turnouts of ponies over the years and hearing stories of their adventures.

Johnny and Maggie Arden's - relaxing after a welcoming dinner	The dogs settle down to watch Johnny again!

At the end of the evening we walked back to the B&B and slept blissfully until the alarm woke us at 5.30am. We dealt with the ablutions and then went down to find that Judy had not only prepared us cereal and toast but also a fried breakfast (at 6.30 in the morning) and stating that we couldn't possibly drive all the way home on an empty stomach. As the sign on the back of our bedroom door had stated "Breakfast 8.30am" we felt extremely honoured to be fed and watered so satisfyingly at such an early hour.

Anyway, rucksacks repacked, goodbyes said and off we went back to the farm. John and Kerry were already there and sorting out other 'jobs' they needed to do. Derek reversed the lorry up to the entrance of the barn and with an avenue of gates leading into the lorry, the foals very obligingly walked up the ramp and into the lorry like old hands. Amazing.

We said our farewells and promised to keep in touch with our new friends and set off on the journey home, with John again acting as lead escort back through the narrow maze of tiny lanes. 5 1/2 hours later with some very tired ponies we arrived back at Findon. Ponies again very obligingly offloaded easily and took up residence in their new home, albeit for the first couple of weeks in the little barn so that they can be 'tamed' and halter broken.

Some very tired ponies

They do all of course have names as every horse and pony these days has to have a 'passport' by law. They are all prefixed with 'Michelcombe's" and are : Star; Shanty; May Flower (who has become Maisey) and Ringleshutes!. However, 'stable names' usually develop out of these and very often come about once a personality is identified.

We'll keep you posted with their progress and will post new photos as time goes by.

Time to relax