51-year-old pony keeps going on favourite food
By Justine Thompson
General news
23 November 2009 15:37
The owner of a 51-year-old pony – believed to be the oldest in the UK – has recently contacted a feed company to say their mix has kept the pony healthy.
Alison Eathorne contacted Spillers to let them know the pony called Scribbles was doing fantastically well on Spillers Senior Conditioning Mix.
Scribbles, a feisty 11hh strawberry roan part-bred Shetland gelding, earned his rations for many years at a riding school near Camborne in Cornwall.
When the school closed down local horse lover Alison leapt at the chance to take him on as a schoolmaster for her young children and as a companion for her riding horse.
“He taught my two stepdaughters to ride at the school back in the 1990s and I found his cheeky character irresistible,” explains Alison.
“Over the past few years he has been brilliant at teaching my youngest girls, Maddie, aged six and Charlotte aged three, all the basics.
“He may be old but he's no plod and still enjoys being ridden. He has always had a great sense of humour, including a high-spirited buck or two and he can still be a handful for our vet!”
Scribbles is in fantastic condition for such a grand age. With the odd molar missing he can still manage a diet of soft haylage and grass but Alison believes it's Spillers Senior Conditioning Mix that gives him the edge.
She says: “I am so keen for horse owners to hear Scribbles' story and to appreciate the pleasures of taking on a veteran.
“Scribbles proves that just because a pony is elderly he doesn't have to look or behave like a geriatric. In this day and age we are lucky to have some fantastic feeds that are especially designed for oldies and they really can make all the difference.”
For more information visit www.spillers-feeds.com