Newsletter No 77 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 only please www.visitpitponies.co.uk Adults £4:00 OAP/Children £2:00 or £10:00 per car. Groups/Schools/Clubs by appointment. Special needs visitors please telephone to discuss your needs. NB All visitors telephone 01443 480327 or 07798584735 before you visit.
PROVIDING TENDER LOVING CARE TO NEEDY HORSES & PONIES
Meet Tinkerbell. “Tink” for short. This is our first picture of her in the Council pound. She was an extremely nervous and timid little mite. She was apparently dumped all alone and picked up by the Councils animal warden. Her feet were quite overgrown and she stumbled quite a lot when she walked. She had lots of little friends (Lice) living on her, and many (worms) living inside her. All gone now! A large sore patch on her shoulder has also cleared up without intervention.
Her hooves show the ridges caused by Serious trauma and hard times in her short life →
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Above; We had to isolate her from the others for 10 days. She could see and hear them in the distance which was so much better for her than the council pound. We turned her out onto some good grass as soon as possible. The poor little soul obviously had not been on grass before and it took her some time to learn how to graze. Left; Tink with Roy and meeting the Farrier for the first time. When she was eventually let out with the others she was frightened and kept running back. She still had a lot of her winter coat and looked “different� to the other horses. She has settled now and out with the others. Geraldine has become quite aggressive with the other horses of late we assume her eyesight problem makes her frightened and she thinks the best defence is attack first. However she seems to have struck up a friendship with little Tink who is acting as her lookout I guess. Pictured left; having her feet trimmed by James the farrier. He is pictured here gently grooming her to get her used to him touching her feet & legs. Angela has previously spent a lot of time touching and lifting her feet to get to this point. Maybe one of our supporters can find her a kind home?
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Bob at work Carn Cornel 1998
A day for celebration?
Above Pit Pony “Bob” is pictured hauling coal at Carn Cornel Colliery. The large lump coal in the picture was sold to households in Wales. All the “smalls” were sold to Aberthaw power station to produce electricity for the National Grid. 21st April 2017 according to the National Grid was the first day since 1882 that the UK used electricity, none of which was generated by the burning of coal. Britain became the first country to use coal for electricity when Thomas Edison opened the Holborn Viaduct power station in London in 1882. It was reported in the Observer at the time that “a hundred weight of coal properly used will yield 50 horse power for an hour.” and that each horse power “will supply at least a light equivalent to 150 candles”.
Protesters closed Europe’s largest opencast coal mine for several hours in April when they entered the open-cast site Ffos-y-fran near Merthyr Tydfil dressed as Canaries. Police arrested several people for “aggravated trespassing. One of the protestors said “I am taking this action today because Npower is burning Welsh coal which when burnt releases high levels of C02 contributing to climate change and also large amounts of nitrogen oxides causing respiratory illness. The European Union has ruled that the UK government should stop allowing this NOX’s pollution, but no action has been taken. This is simply not acceptable.” The Governments grand plan is that Britain’s last coal burning power station will be closed by 2025.
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Winston.
Star has found a good itching spot.
Thunder. I’m not shy!
There is a shade area under large trees at one end of the pond. It is well used in summer.
Littles have a paddle and drink on a hot day.
Top: Winston hoping his good looks will get him let through onto the garden grass. Sadly we have all the little ones for that job Tinkerbell is really good as she likes all around the edge,
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Mother hen and her chicks helping keep the stables free from insects, lost feed etc.
In the winter, the ponies come in to a good feed. Sometimes, as a treat Dylan has some oats. One week last winter, he had oats three days running. On the fourth day we found his feed thrown everywhere in his stable the next morning. The next evening when they all came in Angela sat quietly out of sight and caught him throwing his food about obviously looking for oats. Dylan oozes character and objects to being short changed.
Jake paws the water in the bottom pond to splash his underside for a cool refreshing splash the booming sound echo’s around the Farm. A lovely sound of a well earned retirement.
Jake and Dylan thinking about getting up. Well maybe?
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Letters from friends. From time to time people leave messages on our answerphone wondering if the Charity would like a particular item, it’s surprising what we can turn into funds for the ponies. Where to send stamps etc. or just a query but do not always leave their number and sometimes number withheld. When we try to return the call it is impossible. So please do try again if you don’t hear from us. Giveacar.co.uk is still going strong and if you have or know someone with an old car, van, motorcycle, caravan, boat etc. please let us know and we will arrange everything for you.
Jake and a visitor. Now a new Spike and friends. volunteer. Mary. Tink is sleeping in the centre of the larger horses they seem to like her.
Tinkerbell showing off.
A little taste of Wales. Welsh rarebit. Ingredients; 1 x lightly whisked free range egg, 1 x level tea spoon of English mustard Lots of grated Llangollen cheese, (other cheeses will do but will alter the taste) Method; Mix the ingredients together in a Pyrex bowl. Place bowl in a Ban Marie i.e lowered into a saucepan with some boiling water in and stirred with a fork until well mixed and thick and creamy. Spread the mixture thickly on the untoasted side of the bread and toast until golden and bubbling. Allow to cool until safe to nibble. Serve as a lunchtime snack or supper with lashings of hot tea. Mwynhewch y pryd! (Enjoy your meal)
Supporters if you would like to visit but have transport or mobility challenges. Please get in touch. We may be able to pick you up from Pontypridd Bus or Railway station and give you a chauffeur driven trip around the Centre in a large 4x4 as long as it has not rained recently.
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Stamps are still doing well Thank you all who save them For the ponies and please tell your friends work colleagues and any other contacts business are especially good. Solicitors, travel companies, etc.
Easyfundraising. Sent another cheque for March totalling £37.78 that is a grand total of £419.90 for the ponies since we signed up. Thank you all who have visited; ( https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/pitpony/ ) and signed up to raise funds for the ponies. Then all you have to do is remember to use their search engine when you need to shop on-line. Ester who lives in the middle of Canada is now using easyfundraising to order her mother-inlaws groceries online. That’s a good idea! Please cut this note out and give it to a friend. Hi , Did you know that whenever you buy anything online - from your weekly shop to your annual holiday you could be collecting free donations for Pit Pony Sanctuary - Pontypridd? There are over 3,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation, including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, thetrainline and Sainsbury's, e-bay, Hotels.com, Debenham etc. – it doesn't cost you a penny extra! I.E a £250 holiday with Hotels.com Up to 5.00% donation. £22.50 for the ponies. Simples? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3... 1. Head to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/pitpony/ and join for free. 2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping. 3. After you’ve checked out, that retailer will make a donation to your good cause of a percentage of the total for no extra cost to you whatsoever! There are no catches or hidden charges and Pit Pony Sanctuary - Pontypridd will be really grateful for your donations. Thank you for your support The Ponies.
Sian sent a parcel of her Mums clothing from the 1960’s and 1970’s for us to sell at the Twinwood festival at the Glenn Miller museum Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire in August ( https://www.twinwoodevents.com/ ). Thank you all who have sent hats coats, gloves, dresses etc. for our stall. We are looking forward to it and hope to do well for the ponies.
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Donations have recently been received in memory of;
oO-0-Oo Prue & Ed Bucks, Cat Molly,
Margaret from Cardiff wrote to tell us of her little band of widows who meet up every Wednesday who she has organised to save their stamps for the ponies. Mrs Smart wrote to tell us that her husband had now retired and she could no longer “Gift Aid” her donations. The rules say you must pay more in Tax than the value of your donations. She did the right thing! You do need to read the small print. Roy went up to Hull recently to collect an old Camper we bought that we can use for accommodation at the summer shows. By the time he left Hull it was getting late so when he saw an illuminated motorway sign “Take a break tiredness can kill” he thought yes I had better do that, so pulled in the services. Not reading the small print cost him £100 excess parking fine for staying over the two hours. Ouch!
Who couldn’t love a big teddy bear pony like Pit Pony Dylan. He is a pony with a coat that when he moults it comes out in clods. The birds love him and their nests must be so snug and warm. Star is usually one of the first ponies in in the winter. Here she is pictured using the steps as Thunder is in her way on the driveway. An ears back warning is all it take for him to scoot past out of her way.
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