When I saw the advert with a cute pony on, stating that there were lots of new abandoned horses up for adoption, I couldn't resist myself. I had wanted a pony for a very long time now, but I had been waiting to find one who felt connected with me. All my friends said that when they had met their ponies or horses for the first time they had just known the moment they saw it that this was the right pony for them. Maybe this rehoming event could be my chance to find my very own pony to love and care for.
A few days before going to look at the ponies, I knew I needed to check that my knowledge of horses was still good enough to be able to actually care for one. I re-read through all of my horse care books on everything from grooming to what to feed which horse. I started to remember everything as I read, and when I had finished I was pretty sure I could look after the basic needs of any horse or pony. But since this one was going to be a rescue pony I knew that it wouldn't be as easy as normal. I read endless articles on gaining the trust of nervous horses, loading scared horses into trailers, dealing with horses that are scared of common items such as rugs and halters, and settling horses in to new homes. After 3 days I thought that I was well prepared for the worst horse I could get.
I climbed into my car, pulling a trailer borrowed from a friend behind me. I put on some
music to pass the time as I followed my satnav towards the address where the rescue ponies were being kept. It was a fairly long drive and I wondered how my new pony would manage it on the way back. After about 30 minutes total driving along busy roads I turned off onto a narrow lane and soon I saw the signs for a pony rescue. I pulled into the drive and saw a huge barn surrounded by lots of small paddocks containing dirty, skinny ponies. I felt a sudden wave of sympathy for them all and walked into the office at the front of the stable. A woman sat at a desk looking through forms. "Excuse me, I'm here to look at ponies that need rehoming." I said politely, making her look up from her papers.
"Sorry, I didn't notice you come in. I've been so busy sorting through all of this paper work at the moment. Give me a minute and I'll show you the ponies." She said, before sorting her papers into a neat pile and placing the aside. She got up from her chair and gestured me outside. "This way, I'll show you to our newest ponies who came in a few days ago." She said as she began walking in the direction of some of the paddocks. I followed her, slightly nervous of the state of the pony I would have to care for. She showed me through a few ponies but none of them really seemed like the one for me. As we wondered through the second field of paddocks I was beginning to think that this trip had been pointless and I would never find the pony I wanted in this place of dirt and fear. Just as I was about to ask to go home, a brown pony came trotting over to the fence next to me. He was covered in mud and looked very underweight, but he had a sparkle in his eyes and a certain charm that I just couldn't resist. I reached out very slowly to pet him but he backed away a few steps, only reaching out his muzzle slightly to sniff at my hand. After a few minutes o waiting he gently nuzzled my hand. "This one seems to hate the heat and stays under the shade of the trees all of the time. He usually never comes out of the shade to meet someone new. He seems to think you are a rather special person." Said the lady showing me around. I smiled at him and gently stroked his face with my hand. "I'll take this one please." I said, before I could change my mind.
I was passed a halter and lead role that were hanging off the fence. "You should catch him, he seems to trust you." She said, so I ducked underneath the electric fence and carefully placed the head collar around his face. He didn't seem to mind being led put of the paddocks, and since the trailer was cold and shady it didn't take any persuasion to get him to go inside. I checked he was secure and comfortable and then went into the office to sign a few forms and give a donation to the charity. I thanked the woman for showing me around and promised to do the best for my new pony. I checked once more he was okay and then began driving my car away.
As we drove home I listened to the same song as earlier. I loved the song because it always made me think of the snow. I hated summer, it was always too hot for me and the sun was blinding, and my new pony luckily seemed to feel the same way about it. Just then I thought of a name. Lumimyrsky, meaning snowstorm or blizzard, and Lumi for short. It sounded so cute too, just like his little brown face. I smiled to myself and drove Lumi the rest of the way home happily.
