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| Mrs Brownhead in May 2004...her next foal was due soon! |
Tess was a very old pony and the vets tried to help, but she didn't respond to treatment for colic and it was just her time to go...
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| Mrs Brownhead and 2003 foal Bibi |
Tess was one of the mares that came with the original wild group bought by the farmer in the autumn of 2001. She had 4 foals that we know about...and in her lifetime it's likely she'd had many more.
In the herd of 51, Tess was Mum to Frodo...and their family group soon became known as The Brownhead Family - after their distinctive colouring. "Tess" was Mrs. Brownhead and Frodo himself was Master Brownhead. Frodo had an older sister (later named Millie) who sometimes looked after him - Millie was Miss Brownhead. Soon there was a baby sister too, born in the summer of 2003 and nicknamed 'Baby Brownhead' or Bibi for short. Apache, a stallion then, hung around with them - he was Mr. Brownhead.
Frodo as a yearling in the various 2003 round-ups got himself noticed. He would not stay with his mother, who was clearly very frightened of humans, but preferred to dash about in a cocky fashion, sending ponies off in all directions and making as if to approach the humans, thus earning the nickname 'the cheeky foal'.
Life had been good for the family; they had a big acreage to roam over with natural water, and woodland and hedges for shade and shelter. However, they had done the required job
Tess was a good teacher and a wise old girl. One skill that Tess and all of her offspring possess is a spectacular array of methods for avoiding/getting through electric fences! Tess herself was traumatised and had been ear notched but all her foals from the rescued group were untraumatised having had sympathetic handling. She's had a good life since she was rescued and could finally enjoy a retirement with no more foals...and with a family who cared about her very much.
...Run free little Tess...
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Tess's passing triggered many memories especially of her 'capture' from the herd. The land they were on was a large tract, 4 miles from our home, comprising woodland, culm grassland, undulating old pasture, hedges and natural water. There was a permanent wooden corrall built at the top corner by the entrance from the road, and we used it to drift ponies into in order to separate them for handling. It was September 2003 when we had a phone call from the farmer's son - he had gone to the field and there were, unusually, ponies in the corrall and he had managed to shut the gate on them. We went along straightaway, keen to see who had been caught. Lo and behold, the Brownhead family! Not Mr, who was standing some distance away, but Mrs BH (Tess), Miss BH (Millie), Master BH (Frodo) and Baby BH (Bibi). Tess at the time was already pregnant with her 2004 foal Winnie.
Over the following days we were able to deal with the four one at a time by separating them into another rather more temporary corrall that we had built adjoining the first one. Paul would typically rope (lasso) a pony in order to start the process - the area was too big for other methods. Frodo was easy; a little chap, just a yearling, who had always been interested in us anyway. He went straight off to a new home where he was well cared for but circumstances brought him back to p4p, accompanied by a dowry to pay for his gelding!
Millie was next; a lovely filly - like Frodo had had no adverse handling and was headcollared without too much trouble. I waited at the field, holding her, whilst Paul went to get the trailer. But getting into it was a step too far where Millie was concerned and with only the two of us and the light fading Paul decided to walk her home. It was a fine evening and I remember letting him get a long way in front and then driving the Land Rover and trailer to catch up. How good she was, how brave, to simply allow herself to be led, to believe in Paul, even when traffic came and passed them. As they approached the crossroads the lady from the house there called out in a friendly manner, and came to see who was passing. She fetched water to offer Millie a drink. They walked on, unaware that we had made a friend who turned out to be a great supporter of p4p. That night after dark there was a knock at our door. It was Debbie. She wanted to know what was going to happen to Millie, and if she could help.
Tess and the baby stayed in the corralls for a week. Paul went twice a day to poo-pick, put out hay and check their water - luckily there was a mains supply from the road that came through the hedge there. My diary note for the eighth day reads "Mrs. Brownhead roped in corrall - a real fight - she has been ear clipped - but Paul stroking her within the hour. Then, rope off and left her". *
Four days later, after working with her again, he led her the half mile, her foal trotting alongside, to one of the farmer's big sheds where she would have shelter and it was easier to work with her to the point where she could be loaded into the trailer and come home with us. Baby Brownhead - Bibi - was rehomed and renamed Phoebe, and Tess, Millie and the pretty 2004 foal Winnie were all homed together in 2005.
Cilla
*Reminiscing about this, Paul remembered Tess's excess of white mane, and that he had spent a long time untangling and fiddling with it, which almost certainly had a positive effect on Tess and helped her come to terms with being close to him. He
eventually separated a rope of it with a large medallion shaped knot of hair at the end.
It is lovely to hear the stories about the ponies. So many of them are in Cilla's memory and her diaries; we really should get them recorded so that they don't get lost.
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