From ‘skin and bone’ to showing dream: pony transformed by loving family
A Welsh mountain pony who was emaciated and on the verge of being sold for meat has been making waves in the show ring.
Henllan Jasmin (“Jesse”) was bought as a six-year-old for £125 from a sales by Victoria Wells in 2013.
Devon-based Victoria said the Welsh section A was “skin and bone” and difficult to handle.
“I was planning to buy a chestnut three-year-old section A but she went for silly money,” she told H&H.
“When I saw Jesse in the pen at the sale her head was on the floor and she looked really depressed.
“I could see she was a good pony despite her condition so went she went in the ring I started bidding for her.
“When I first brought her home people said, ‘What is this rubbish? You should take her back’.
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“My kids couldn’t go near her and she would bite.”
Since then, Jesse’s behaviour improved and today she is unrecognisable from the pony she once was.
Victoria employed the help of Cheryl Green of Gemini Equine and Animal Communication and Healing to help understand Jesse’ troubled past.
“Cheryl said she was resigned to the meat man. He was who I was bidding against at the sale,” said Victoria.
“I spent time with Jesse and sat in the stable and took her out for walks each day. Not knowing her past it was difficult to know what she had been through, so I started from scratch with her.
“She’s absolutely brilliant now and such a special little pony. She follows me around, she’s more like a dog than a pony.”
Jesse has had great success in the show ring, starting with local competitions and more recently enjoying wins at prestigious events.
This year the now 10-year-old pony won the Welsh section A mare or gelding of the year title at the South Western Association of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Medal Show (13 August).
Jesse also took reserve champion and reserve supreme at the Cholwell Novice Show on 24 September.
Jesse is ridden by Victoria’s daughters, Gracie and Amber.
“When they grow out of her I won’t sell her, she will enjoy her days being groomed a day loved,” added Victoria.
“I had people asking about buying her but I wouldn’t let her go after her past.
“Money wouldn’t buy her now. She will be with us until her last breath.
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“She adores the children now and they are able to do everything with her.
“Getting Jesse to the Royal Welsh is what we hope to do his season coming, but I’m not too worried as she has nothing to prove.
“Jesse owes us nothing at all.”
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.