Recently, we found out that there is a proposed offshore cable route coming through our field in the next year/eighteen months, and we are devastated that this will affect us not once, but twice with a return project planned for additional work.

We are unable to plan ahead for the stud, and with a third of our grazing taken up with this project we needed to put in place some contingencies that would ensure the long term future for our ponies and ensure we are able to continue to care for those remaining in the manner we wish to do so.

The decision was taken to reduce numbers - much against any wishes or plans we had for building on our recent successes. I would have loved to have kept a filly this time. It gives us great comfort, however, that our friends have our ponies, and they will be cared for and loved.

We are reducing to a couple of mares, our oldies who will live out their days - as is our commitment to them - and of course Teddy who will never leave me. Teddy still needs company and will have one mare a year live with him. Subsequently there will be one foal a year available. The 2025 foal has a name against that already.

I have been involved with and breeding Shetland ponies for 45 years and during that time have worked hard to produce ponies I am proud of and to make Gay proud as well, in continuing her work. Not the ending I had hoped for but we will make what we have left count.