A Pony Named Bart

By Angela Hobbs

This story is written through Bart’s observations and thoughts of his life from early memories to the present day.

As well as telling his story it is also educational. Bart teaches many aspects of horse and pony care. He explains his early training, both as a riding and driving pony. He tells his readers about the many animals who live in the New Forest and life in this magical place.

It is presented with warmth and humour and provides an insight into the lives of these noble creatures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Aug 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398429994

Angela Hobbs

Angela Hobbs has loved horses, ponies, and donkeys since she was 18 months old. Her first much-loved donkey was a toy named ‘Neddy’. Riding and owning horses have been her lifelong passion. Over the years she has ridden a UK Chasers cross country course, attended many riding club activities, learned carriage driving then competed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, and recently received training for novice level western riding. A few years ago, Angela obtained her British Horse Society Horse Owners Certificate stages 1-4. She gained valuable experience as a youngster by working voluntarily, weekends and evenings, for 10 years at a thoroughbred stud in Surrey. She now lives in Somerset with her husband and ‘a pony named Bart’.

Book preview

About the Author

Angela Hobbs has loved horses, ponies, and donkeys since she was 18 months old. Her first much-loved donkey was a toy named ‘Neddy’. Riding and owning horses have been her lifelong passion. Over the years she has ridden a UK Chasers cross country course, attended many riding club activities, learned carriage driving then competed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, and recently received training for novice level western riding. A few years ago, Angela obtained her British Horse Society Horse Owners Certificate stages 1-4. She gained valuable experience as a youngster by working voluntarily, weekends and evenings, for 10 years at a thoroughbred stud in Surrey.

She now lives in Somerset with her husband and ‘a pony named Bart’.

Dedication

To my lovely pony, Bart, who has given me hours of fun

and enjoyment.

Copyright Information ©

Angela Hobbs 2022

The right of Angela Hobbs to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398429987 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398429994 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

My wonderful husband, Edwin, without whose encouragement and support, this book would not have been submitted for publication.

Chapter One

My Early Memories

I was born in the summer of 2003. My mother, who I later discovered was called Bonnie, was experienced in producing foals as she’d had four prior to my coming into the world. She was a cute Welsh pony, brown in colour, almost to the extent of looking black in a certain light. Like me she had three white socks and a small star on her forehead.

During the night she detected the signs of my imminent arrival and headed for a sheltered place in the field under the oak trees. My first memory was of a drip coming off the tree as there had been a rain shower during the night. The drip landed right in my ear. I shook my head vigorously, in an effort to dislodge it. This was my first experience of water. Actually, since then I’ve had a dislike of water and will always make a run for cover when it rains.

After a while my mother got up on her feet and looked round to inspect me. She gave me a gentle prod as if to say, come on lad, up you get. I rose carefully, one leg at a time, but it was all too much effort and I fell back down right into a patch of stinging nettles. Bonnie was very patient and after letting me rest for a while, she gave me another little nudge on my bottom. This time I found I could steady myself and I was up on my feet. I felt rather wobbly on my long legs.

Soon, instinctively, I knew I had to look for the milk bar. It had to be somewhere but I just had to find it. Ah, success. The milk tasted warm and sweet. Apparently, this first feed is very important for a foal as it contains all the antibodies I’d need for a healthy start in life. Gradually dawn was breaking and it was getting light. Bonnie had a further inspection of me and seemed to like what she saw, another sturdy little bay colt.

Later that morning I experienced the first sight of humans. I found them rather intriguing. Why do they walk on their hind legs? I asked myself. Surely it must be very uncomfortable. The gate clicked open and in came Farmer Green, accompanied by his daughter. Farmer Green was a tall man about 18 hands high (that’s equestrian language by the way). He had a thatch of rough hair, the colour of ginger biscuits, a red check shirt, jeans and a pair