Newsletter No 75 Fforest Uchaf Farm. Maindy Road, (Maendy) Penycoedcae, Pontypridd. R.C.T, Wales. UK. CF37 1PS Tel; 01443 480327 info@pitponies.co.uk www.pitponies.co.uk www.sponsorapony.co.uk Open to visitors by appointment, Adults £4:00 Children £2:00 or £10 per car load. Special needs visitors please telephone to discuss your needs. www.visitpitponies.co.uk All visitors please telephone 01443 480327 or 07798584735 before you visit.
PROVIDING TENDER LOVING CARE TO NEEDY HORSES & PONIES.
In June some Girl Guides from Efail Isaf came to help. They are pictured here picking up stone from the track. This service is good for us as it gives us clean stone for building work and each stone means a little more grass can grow for the ponies. Well done girls. They also brought some stamps and a donation. What good girls! And they had a bar-b-q but left no mess and no litter. They can come again.
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Puzzle, Bonnie and Arnie.
The sheep get a summer haircut
Thunder had a swollen face probably from a kick. Okay now
Pontypridd Vintage Transport Day.
The Welland Steam Fair Bagging & weighing your stamps for postage >>
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We had a visitor on Horseback! Vyv came with her two Fell ponies Magic & Micky . She had been to see Sultan the Pit Pony Earth Sculpture on her travels and wanted to meet some real Pit Ponies. Here is an extract from her journey log on Face book for you. Computer users can go to; https://www.facebook.com/horselandjourney and read it all. Vyv wrote; “Determined to find out more of the back story behind Sultan, and unable to resist opportunity to meet some of the last surviving pit ponies, yesterday we visited the pit pony sanctuary at Fforest Uchaf, above Pontypridd. One of the highlights of my journey. I went to learn, not judge or assess, but could not help but be impressed by the happiest, healthiest horses imaginable enjoying retirement and all the love and care they deserve in the most idyllic location. Hard to imagine now the horrors they and their chums went through. Thank you Angela and Roy for making us so welcome, opening my eyes and contributing so much to my horselandjourney” Micky, Magic and Vyv arriving at the centre. The ponies enjoyed some rest in a little paddock and Vyv came with us for tea & chat. She spent one night with us and was gone next morning heading for the Severn Bridge, England and beyond.
As the weather is becoming more autumnal Bella is getting more approachable and will take a tit bit now.
Long term supporters Ken & Del noticed their local news TV channel was looking for stories. They came and filmed here and a nice piece appeared a few days later. It is available to view on You Tube pitponyman channel
Waitrose have been good to the ponies again and we have had donations from the store in Pontprennau and the one in Cardiff’s Queen Street. ASDA have also been good and we have had donations from Blackwood and Aberdare. Inter-aid Charity Shop in Cardiff have also helped the ponies greatly.
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Mrs E A McGovern left a generous legacy in her will for the ponies. As did Mrs Josephine Makowski a horse lover who left us a share of her residual estate in her will. It is very sad that we lose these friends of the ponies. Easy Fundraising sent a further £61.11 If you have not tried it yet please go to;
www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/pitponies and give it a try.
It really is an
easy way to raise funds. This really works for us!
Donations have recently been received in memory of; Mrs Deirdrie Chapman & Rees/Dillon via Inter-Aid Charity Shop Roma Farman, Mrs Mary Snelling, Rosa Wallace,
oO-0-Oo Lukie, Beauty, All Pit Ponies past and present.
Wanted to raise funds for the Ponies! Items from the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and the swinging sixties. Things like: Gentlemen’s suits, Uniforms, dresses, handbags, jewellery, hats, suitcases, records, if fact just about anything! You will find a small poster enclosed please get it displayed wherever you can. Waiting rooms at Vets, Doctors, Dentist’s, etc. are always good as what else can you do but read the wallpaper as you wait your turn? If you, your friends or family use E-bay would you be kind enough to select us as the favourite charity? To do this type “charity.ebay.co.uk” into your browser search engine. It will take you to Ebay for Charities home page. In the search for a charity box type “Fforest” we are the only one and we come up straight away. Just click on the tag “make my favourite” If you wish you can do this for your other favourite charities there are 2000+ available. If you’re having trouble this is the full link to our Charity page: Thank you. http://www.ebay.co.uk/egw/ebay-for-charity/charity-profile/Fforest-Uchaf-Horse---PonyCentre/23412
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Coming out of the swimming pool recently we met a man from the Mines Rescue (who now do Health & Safety training). We chatted for a while and he told us of a few collieries with plans to re-open. We will investigate.
Spice fell ill recently.
She has been such a survivor with all her troubles. She came to the Centre in 2011. She will be missed as with her sweet itch she needed help with her rugs or her skin almost constantly.
She certainly kept us entertained every day.
If you have things you would like to send to us or anyone. Sort them out pack them in a box then weigh (guess) and measure the parcel. Next find a young person with a computer or go to your public library and ask for help as there are lots of ways to send parcels and many are cheaper than Royal Mail. I found one recently where you can send a parcel from a small local shop to another shop local close to the place that you want it to go and the person can collect it from the shop..
Mrs Savage recently had some trouble with her car on her way to the nursery and then home. She managed to limp from the nursery to her local garage and after they had looked into the trouble was told she needed a new gearbox a mere ÂŁ1600. After a family discussion they decided to replace the car and have given their old banger to the ponies. One phone call on 0207 736 4242 and Giveacar arranged collection from her driveway. Once sold or scrapped the ponies will receive a cheque. She told us that Giveacar were very professional and it was all arranged in a few minutes. The have purchased a nice low mileage estate car with all sorts of knobs, bells and whistles and absolutely love it.
Mrs Silke decided to donate her much loved Honda Melody scooter for the ponies. Her arthritis meant she couldn’t ride it anymore and it was deteriorating in the shed. She has had the scooter since new and loved the freedom it gave her to pop and see her mum, go to the shops, see friends etc. whenever she wanted. She was very sad to see it go but glad it would help with the ponies winter feed. She went on to say she would have a look in her loft etc, for other things to sell to raise funds for the Ponies.
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The littles on fresh grass.
Too fat as you can see. If it’s not too wet they will come in a little later for winter. Trimmed down a little. Don’t laugh. Winston is very quiet now but he thinks he is boss.
Jake is showing his age a little now. However he is still very playful with the others.
Jake and Dylan. With Spike laying & lady behind
Winston playing “I’m the king of this castle”
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Ponies and May blossom.
Angela mowing the lawn.
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Letters from friends.
Mr D G W Allsop wrote “ My Great Grandfather 1870 – 1900 had a removal business on the Isle of Dogs. Horses pulled the Vans. Thus my late Mother was a true Horse lover I Too! The tradesmen’s horse & carts in the 1930’s would not pass by my home until a slice of bread/butter sprinkled with sugar was given. The drivers would knock at my home because the Horses would not budge until that slice was given”.
Mr & Mrs D. Goode wrote “I am the ex-Bevin Boy who phoned you about this month’s BBA newsletter. I am Donald but should have been David who wrote an article in this month’s Newsletter for the Bevin Boys Association. Of my memories of coal mining. My first job in Oakdale Colliery was as a butty to the ex-miner who was a Policeman from Abertillery and had a turned to mining rather than join the armed forces. We worked in a stall and heading with one full tram pulled by a Pony and an empty backed up by the same pony. I managed to get released on medical grounds before joining the army”.
A little taste of Wales.
Welsh rarebit muffins. Ingredients 50g plain flour, 225g self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking-powder, ½ level tsp bicarbonate of soda, ¼ tsp salt, ½ level tsp mustard powder, 100g strong cheese Caerphilly is best but Wensleydale will do, half grated, half cubed, 6 tbsp vegetable oil, 150g Greek yogurt, 125ml milk, 1 free range egg, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce.
Method 1. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. 2. Mix together the self-raising and plain flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and mustard powder in a bowl. 3. In a separate bowl, mix the cheese, oil, yogurt, milk, egg and Worcestershire sauce. 4. Combine all the ingredients and divide between the muffin cases in the muffin tin. 5. Place in the oven for 20-25 mins until golden. Remove and cool slightly on a rack. 6. What you need: Weighing scales, measuring jug, fork, 2 mixing bowls, 12 paper muffin cases, muffin tin, cheese grater, sharp knife, tablespoon, cooling rack. 7. You could ask the children to help get everything ready.
8. Mwynhewch y pryd! (Enjoy your meal)
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