30/10/2025
Alwynsdal is where I'm so very fortunate to be able to keep my pony (thank you Sandra) together with her little loan companion, (always grateful Cilla, she's a darling). It's 6 hectares of fynbos and native grasses, which is absolutely excellent for easy keepers, with little fear of metabolic problems arising.
Alwynsdal is situated about 4km inland and at approximately 50m above sea level. Consequently strong winds are frequent, but this means that flies and midges are minimal. Sea winds mean that moisture laden with salt and iodine are deposited. Salt is invaluable and iodine is essential for thyroid function,
supporting brain development, aiding in energy production, and helping maintain a healthy immune system.
I have ever recommended that horses are managed outside whenever and as much as possible. And fed a roughage based diet. Long before the idea gained popularity. I've been accused of being extreme (out there) in my ideas of management and of showing off when I fed my Tb oats, preferring straights to compound feeds. Merrylegs being a pony and only lightly worked, ridden 2 to 3 times per week, (thanks Alta and occasionally other riding buddies), does perfectly well on a forage diet comprising oathay, teff and lucerne. She receives an oathay/lucerne chaff to deliver her supplement. That is my own Equilibrate CHF, comprising minerals, vitamins and nutraceuticals. In existence now for 20 years in SA and formerly similar in the UK.
My very rudimentary but servicable and adequate setup is a shadecloth wrapped shelter, with roof plates on top.
This provides a sturdy wind and rain proof shelter. Cool thanks to the shadecloth above which also reduces the noise of rain. The shelter is specifically designed for ponies and fronts a small container where I keep forage and other small necessities. This enables me to work in all weathers between shelter and the container.
Our water supply is piped in and of human quality, as supplied by the local Municipality. I have had a shadecloth structure erected over our water. This reduces evaporation and maintains a cooler water temperature while also reducing algea.
Merrylegs is ridden in a 16.5" Wintec Enduro that I love. It's supportive, safe and fits her like a glove. Her bridle is without a noseband. I've had it for 30 plus years. It formerly belonged to my 7/8ths Arab/Thoroughbred/ Welsh Cob and subsequently to my SA Thoroughbred who had a small head. Or perhaps Merrylegs has a big head.
Her bit is a loose ring mullen naithe. I prefer a bit because it provides a direct and precise contact rather than multiple, potentially confusing pressure points. It is quite useless when she has a variance of opinion to mine. Fortunately I have learned, after riding mostly geldings who are more guidable or gullible, to compromise. And most of the time we share each other's aims.
Merrylegs and companion Misty are seen by the dentist annually, have their feet trimmed every 6 weeks and routine antihelmintics.
Merrylegs, shy of 14 has never needed veterinary attention. I like to think this is due to her species appropriate lifestyle. And of course, Lady Luck.
