Nelly the Noo

Nelly around the same time as Blue and was always the leader out of the two. She was renowned for getting over stable doors and pushing through whatever stood in her way. She's tenacious and sensible and has lots of New Forest nous, just like her sire, Knightsway Billy Boy.

She used to come and go from the farm as she pleased and we never did work out how she got out - or in. 

Most of the time, the two girls stuck together whether they were in or out and Blue was an excellent nanny to Nelly's three foals that she had intermittently out of the Forest.

The first was Sherekhan Cello who went to live with a family that have kept him ever since. 

He is shown in-hand and in ridden classes by his lovely owner, Talitha, who thinks the world of him.

Next she had Sherekhan Cello whose picture featured in the Hampshire Life Magazine. Originally he went to live with a lady who hoped to ride him but when she didn't get around it she let me have him back and he was turned back onto the Forest.

He still loved his Mum and settled back well into the herd. 

His father was Lovely Hill High Jack from whom he took his roan colouring.

He was adorable and adored from the outset. All of the members of the herd doted on him.

But his mother loved him the most and never palmed him off on to anyone else. 

At four Nelly had still not weaned him and my intention was to keep them together, with the rest of the herd, for the rest of their lives. Sadly, both Peechay (colic) and Juma (road traffic collision) were killed in the same year. I miss them so badly. 

Here they are making their way to their usual haunt having been turned out from a different part of the Forest. Like homing pigeons they found the fastest route.

She loved being out on the Forest but knew exactly where the feed shed was when she was home. 

But she could just as easily live out all year round.