 |
| Above: Early days of Tunny's handling (...a very young Pip the dog in the background)! Right: Tunny with Paul - much happier looking chap isn't he! |
This week Cilla found Tunny on the internet! He was the first pony to be handled from the original group (in June 2002) after having jumped out of the field - he was the main stallion and with lots of mares about, there had been some challenging by the other young stallions. Having jumped out of the field meant that he automatically volunteered himself to be the first pony for Paul to work with!
Being a registered Exmoor meant that he was of great interest to the Moorland Mousie Trust, which was being established at the time...and so after his rehab and gelding he went to them. He is now living in Scotland, conservation grazing on land known as Traprain Law with 12 other geldings. The herd of 13 ponies are known as the "Kings of Traprain" and they have their own blog. There are also some photos featuring Tunny which you can find by following this link: http://exmoor-pony.blogspot.co.uk/p/news-from-traprain.html
Tunny's registered details mean that we know he was born in 1998 (and his registered exmoor name was Porlock Eryngo) so he will be 18 next year! Cilla and Paul had called him Tunny when Paul had noticed the "100" mark branded into his shoulder - Cilla says that "ton-up" means going at 100mph. When they named him they didn't know the numbers meant he was a registered pony. When they realised what the numbers meant, they had quite a job getting any details from the Exmoor Pony Society who were highly secretive...but they did eventually tell Cilla that Tunny was listed as dead - slaughtered. He had obviously had a lucky escape being bought by Terry and thankfully he avoided that fate a second time because Terry was quite adamant that the herd shouldn't be slaughtered, or bought by unscrupulous dealers (who did try to "get their hands" on the ponies after unbelievably having been given details by a well known national animal welfare organisation...)
So Tunny was the first of the many...some of our volunteers holiday in Scotland so perhaps they'll go and visit him one day!
Comments:
Anonymous said...
from Cilla and Paul
Nice pictures Faye - we are so pleased for Tunny to be out on Traprain.
He made a profound impact on us during the weeks that he was here and working with him was an eye-opener into how much early negative experiences, associated with humans, impact on a wild pony.
Tunny had many "trauma triggers", one being waxed jackets, and Paul was definitely persona non grata when he put one on to go to Tunny on a wet day. On another occasion Tunny would not even walk past such a jacket that was simply hanging by the stable. (Waxed jackets are standard wear during the Autumn pony roundups and subsequent brandings).
We were worried about Tunny's impending gelding operation as he was a mature stallion by then and had only been lightly handled - well, very obviously traumatised by his first handling for the branding and then this completely different approach by Paul 4 years later. Particular concerns were about the close approach of an unfamiliar person and the initial anaesthetic injection. I had contacted the Moorland Mousie Trust - they came to see Tunny and said they could take him, which would mean safety for Tunny, and they also paid for his gelding but it was thought best if it was done whilst still with us and so that Paul could be with him in a familiar environment.
The vet was Brian Crawford - we didn't know at the time just how skilled and respected Brian is. When he arrived he looked quietly over the door at Tunny whilst getting things ready. Paul asked Brian if he would mind putting on a shirt - one of two ethnic patterned shirts that Tunny was very familiar with Paul wearing. Brian said not a word, but solemnly did as required, and went in with Tunny, Paul holding the headcollared pony on the offside. Brian turned away from the pony to pick something up, and Paul asked if he thought he would be able to inject the anaesthetic. Brian said 'I've done it! ' !! Paul was absolutely amazed as in spite of his intense interest in the proceedings he had not noticed the syringe already in Brian's hand and there had been not a flicker of fear or even acknowledgement from the pony. After a few seconds Tunny visibly wilted, but didn't fall - Paul was by now sitting on a stool directly in front of the pony and Tunny's head dropped sleepily until his muzzle was resting in Paul's lap. Brian efficiently accomplished the procedure from Tunny's nearside, being sure to count the portions removed. After another five minutes or so Tunny began to wake up; Brian was outside the stable quietly cleaning up and Paul was still with the pony and was able to steady a wobble or two as he moved.
The wound healed perfectly. It was the first of many geldings performed on the group, in a bid to stop the breeding. On Brian's advice I wrote to the various drug companies that were involved and they donated the drugs for 25 operations. We had special rates from Brian himself; he became a friend and advisor to the project and we feel indebted to him for his wonderfully quiet and skilful bedside manner.
Cilla King
Nice pictures Faye - we are so pleased for Tunny to be out on Traprain.
He made a profound impact on us during the weeks that he was here and working with him was an eye-opener into how much early negative experiences, associated with humans, impact on a wild pony.
Tunny had many "trauma triggers", one being waxed jackets, and Paul was definitely persona non grata when he put one on to go to Tunny on a wet day. On another occasion Tunny would not even walk past such a jacket that was simply hanging by the stable. (Waxed jackets are standard wear during the Autumn pony roundups and subsequent brandings).
We were worried about Tunny's impending gelding operation as he was a mature stallion by then and had only been lightly handled - well, very obviously traumatised by his first handling for the branding and then this completely different approach by Paul 4 years later. Particular concerns were about the close approach of an unfamiliar person and the initial anaesthetic injection. I had contacted the Moorland Mousie Trust - they came to see Tunny and said they could take him, which would mean safety for Tunny, and they also paid for his gelding but it was thought best if it was done whilst still with us and so that Paul could be with him in a familiar environment.
The vet was Brian Crawford - we didn't know at the time just how skilled and respected Brian is. When he arrived he looked quietly over the door at Tunny whilst getting things ready. Paul asked Brian if he would mind putting on a shirt - one of two ethnic patterned shirts that Tunny was very familiar with Paul wearing. Brian said not a word, but solemnly did as required, and went in with Tunny, Paul holding the headcollared pony on the offside. Brian turned away from the pony to pick something up, and Paul asked if he thought he would be able to inject the anaesthetic. Brian said 'I've done it! ' !! Paul was absolutely amazed as in spite of his intense interest in the proceedings he had not noticed the syringe already in Brian's hand and there had been not a flicker of fear or even acknowledgement from the pony. After a few seconds Tunny visibly wilted, but didn't fall - Paul was by now sitting on a stool directly in front of the pony and Tunny's head dropped sleepily until his muzzle was resting in Paul's lap. Brian efficiently accomplished the procedure from Tunny's nearside, being sure to count the portions removed. After another five minutes or so Tunny began to wake up; Brian was outside the stable quietly cleaning up and Paul was still with the pony and was able to steady a wobble or two as he moved.
The wound healed perfectly. It was the first of many geldings performed on the group, in a bid to stop the breeding. On Brian's advice I wrote to the various drug companies that were involved and they donated the drugs for 25 operations. We had special rates from Brian himself; he became a friend and advisor to the project and we feel indebted to him for his wonderfully quiet and skilful bedside manner.
Cilla King
To send a message or ask a question, please click on the 'comments' link below
Posts
