PitterPatterPonies "Kirsty's Little Soldier"

Stable name: Shadow

Sire Looking Glass Excel. 33.5"

Dam: Talwiaky Kirsty.  30"

DOB: 8^th June 2004

Weight at Birth: 4.1Kg

Height at Birth: 16"

Hello, I'm named after my Mummy. She was attacked by a dog and went into labour 3.5 weeks early. The Vet came to see us and said I had to say goodbye to mummy as she had broken her jaw and neck. It was very sad.

I have another Mummy now but she only has 2 legs not 4? Because I was premature my lungs wouldn't work properly, I couldn't stand and was not fluffy like other foals.

Mummy 2 legs fed and turned me every 30 minutes for 24 hours and slept with me to keep me warm. I had to have a course of antibiotics. Mummy 2 legs friends helped too. One gave me a space blanket to wear under my dog coat and another lent me a heat lamp. Because I needed feeding and turning every hour until I was 10 days old I had to go everywhere with Mummy 2 legs. I travelled in a dog crate visiting a place where she picked up some smaller 2 legs every day, shopping and the feed merchants, in fact anywhere that would mean I'd be alone for more than an hour.

Now I am bigger I eat grass, foal mix, chaff, grated carrots/apples and hay. I have a bottle of mare's replacement milk every 21/2 hours with a 4 hour gap during the night. "Aunty Lady" who is my big sisters Mummy will let Mummy 2 legs milk her everyday so I can have a drink of real milk. I don't need my heat lamp anymore now I am big and strong.

To make sure I don't forget I'm a horse, Mummy 2 legs turns me out with the other mares and foals so I can learn and play. We have great fun chasing each other, playing at being a big horse and exploring the field. Sometimes I go and stand where my Mummy gave birth to me; I think it still smells of her.

Please have a look at my photographs; they are a sort of diary of my life so far. Am I spoilt or what?!

Love

Shadow

 X

NB At Doncaster All Breeds Show 2004 Shadow and I were honoured to receive the "Win Smith Endeavour Award" for outstanding contribution to the Miniature horse world. Although he now has a new home, he will always be my special little man.