An Eriskay foal has been born at Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm in Salisbury. The filly arrived on 21 September and has been named Cholderton Solara Seren, or Solly for short.
With only around 400 Eriskay ponies left worldwide, every foal is vital for the survival of this endangered native breed.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Solly into the world,” said Sophie McConnell, Managing Director at Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm. “With Eriskay ponies being so rare, every birth is incredibly special.
“Her arrival is not just a joy for us, but also an important step in protecting this wonderful breed for the future.”
Solly’s dam is Heather and sire, Texa. The filly is the full sibling to Cholderton Sunset Attenborough (Sunny), who was born at the farm in May last year.
Solly’s full name reflects both her heritage and the farm’s link to the Wiltshire landscape.
Solara relates to the sun and the Stonehenge solstice, which has inspired the names of many of the farm’s previous foals, including Summer, Twilight, Solstice, Merlin, Eclipse and Equinox. Seren, meaning star in Welsh, symbolises light and hope, while Cholderton is the prefix given to all animals born at the farm.
The now month-old Solly is thriving alongside her mother.
“She’s doing really well, getting a bit steadier on her feet and is glued to her mothers side unless she doing adorable zoomies around her field,” added a farm spokesman.
