Nia is a beautiful 16.2hh Registered

Lusitano mare who was born in Portugal

in 2005. She is missing her left eye and it is thought that this may be a genetic condition and the reason she wasn’t kept as a brood mare. Nia came to Shy Lowen in 2012. 

Nia is a sweet but nervous mare as she is insecure about being unable to see on her left side. She relies on her horse companions and leaders/riders to help her. She has previously been out on loan, but returned to the sanctuary in 2017 and is one of our permanent residents.

A.P. is a 12.2hh grey roan Carneddau Welsh Mountain pony born in 2007. His name comes from a little girl who visited the sanctuary as part of a list of wishes she made when it was found that she had a terminal illness. She asked if the next pony we rescued without a name could be called Amy, in her memory. As A.P. is a boy, we named him Amy’s Promise instead.

A.P. works on our riding school, giving riding lessons to smaller children aged 4 upwards.

Butler is a bay roan 16.2hh Thoroughbred cross gelding, born in 2000. He came to Shy Lowen together with Louis in spring 2016. Butler is one of our riding school horses and is an absolute gentleman, perfect to handle in every way. He is very handsome and a big hit with the mares! He is available to book for lessons for intermediate and advanced teenagers and adults, and also hacking out and trail rides. He is a permanent resident at Shy Lowen.

Camilla is a 13.2hh chestnut mare born in 1986. She came to Shy Lowen in 2010.

Camilla has never been offered for rehoming due to her age. She is a much valued resident and matriarch here, as she has had an amazing calming influence on some of the horses with behavioural problems. Camilla is a very sweet, quiet, safe and pretty pony and is as popular with people as she is with the other horses. She will remain at Shy Lowen for the rest of her life.

Daisy is a grey registered Welsh Section A mare born in 1996.

She came to Shy Lowen in 2014 as she had been outgrown by the child who rode her. Daisy is a very friendly, very vocal and cheeky little mare who is always full of fun and is enjoying her retirement here at Shy Lowen.

Denver is a 15hh bay gelding born in 2011. He came to Shy Lowen in 2012 as a small yearling colt after a supporter of the sanctuary saw him abandoned in a field. He has a deformed knee joint which affects his gait and eye damage from an infection in his early days. His condition needs to be monitored closely to ensure he remains comfortable so he will remain at the sanctuary for the rest of his life. Denver is a happy, cheeky and often affectionate boy who never lets his problems get him down.

Dinky is an 11.2hh grey pony born around 2000. Originally from the RSPCA, who homed her, she has lived most of her life as a family pony and companion to Camilla.

When the family were unable to keep them, both ponies came to Shy Lowen in 2010. As Dinky was still young, she was rehomed, but returned to us in 2016.

Dinky is a sweet but feisty little girl who can look after herself despite her tiny size. She is now approaching old age and will stay at the sanctuary for the rest of her life.

Flo spent most of her life as a native pony in the New Forest. She was removed by rangers a few years ago because she has a damaged hoof that would prevent her surviving in the wild.

Flo was brought to Shy Lowen last year. Although extremely frightened of people at first, she is also very intelligent and brave and quickly became easier to deal with. She has even done some therapy work with children and military veterans.

Because of her age and special needs, Flo will stay at Shy Lowen for the rest of her life

Harry is a Welsh Mountain pony who came from Anglesey as part of a group of three who had been badly neglected. Rescued by the RSPCA, he suffered further trauma after one of the three had to be put down. Harry was brought to Shy Lowen with Polly, the other survivor. Both were malnourished, and very nervous of people. He has since gained a lot more trust and takes part in our therapeutic programmes. Working with troubled children and military veterans, they assist each other’s recovery from trauma. Harry is unsuitable for rehoming, so will live at Shy Lowen for the rest of his life.

Holly is a 14.2hh bay registered

Welsh Section D mare, born in 1996. Holly is a very pretty, sweet-natured pony who is lovely to handle and to ride. She has been on loan, but returned to us in 2014, when it was decided that she should remain at the sanctuary for the rest of her life. She has worked with schoolchildren and on therapy programmes for military veterans and the homeless. She underwent assessment to be a riding school pony in 2016 and is available to book for lessons for children and teenagers of all abilities.

Isaac is a 15.1hh tricoloured Irish cob born in 2005. He arrived at the sanctuary in 2014 with a reputation for being dangerous. Initially very full of himself, it quickly became clear he was actually an extremely sensitive horse. A model student, he worked his way through his problems, and he is now one of our trusted riding school horses. He hacks out on the road safely, works on therapy programmes, gives pony rides and leadrein lessons to beginners, and has even taken part in ridden displays, with piped music and audiences surrounding him. He will stay at Shy Lowen permanently.

Louis is a bright bay 16.2hh Thoroughbred cross Anglo-Arab gelding, born in 2000. He came to Shy Lowen together with Butler in spring 2016, as their owner became ill and could no longer look after them. When assessed, Louis proved to be a very safe and steady horse who made an ideal addition to our riding school for adults of all levels. Louis is available for sponsorship and to book riding lessons for teenagers and adults, as well as trail rides and hacks for intermediate and advanced riders.

Maizy is a 13hh chestnut pony born in 2005. She had been used as a brood mare then abandoned at a livery yard.

Maizy was brought to the sanctuary in spring 2014. Nervous at first, she

underwent some training and as an intelligent pony, was very quick to learn and settle down. She is now a

safe and fun riding pony who is good with children and works on our riding school.

Lulu is a skewbald Shetland pony who came to Shy Lowen in 2017. We are uncertain of her age, but it is estimated that she is in her twenties. She came to the sanctuary as a case of neglect, malnourished with badly overgrown hooves. Lulu is a lovely, brave, sweet and friendly pony and after her recovery, she began work on our therapy programs, she loves children and has the perfect temperament. 

Muffin is a 14.2hh blanket spot Appaloosa born in 2010. He came to Shy Lowen in early 2014 with a reputation for rearing. He also had a large tumour in his neck, close to his windpipe which he had an operation to remove. After his recovery, Muffin had some training, quickly stopped rearing and became a very safe riding horse. He gets involved in therapy programmes, as well as pony care sessions and pony rides on and off site. He is available to book for riding lessons for all levels.

Pagan is a Welsh section A gelding born in 1997. He is approximately 11.2hh and is chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail. He has been on loan as a child's riding pony but was eventually outgrown and returned to us in 2014. Pagan has been vetted and licensed as one of our riding school ponies since then. He is a very sweet and friendly boy who loves children and works on pony rides and riding lessons for beginners aged 4 upwards.

Rolo is a 14.2hh registered Welsh Section D pony, born 15th June 1991. He is good to handle and to ride, although he is now in semi-retirement and can only cope with light work. He is very good with children and gives pony rides and works on the Pony Care Sessions on Saturdays. Rolo’s good looks and cheeky character make him very popular, and he has become locally famous, appearing on TV and in newspapers many times. He is very friendly and a complete poser when a camera is pointed in his direction, he loves to dress up!

Rosie is a 14hh fleabitten grey mare born in 1994. Rosie worked at a local riding school, but suffered a fracture to her leg which meant that she could no longer keep up the level of ridden work required from her after she recovered. She was sold on, but her new owner quickly realized he was unable to look after her, and she came to Shy Lowen in 2014. Rosie is a very sweet and cooperative girl and a very safe ride,

although she is only capable of light work due to her age and past injury.

Shalom is a chestnut 13.3hh Welsh Section C mare, born in 1996. After being badly neglected she was severely malnourished and by the time she came to Shy Lowen in 2001 had become very aggressive in her dislike of people. It took many months to get Shalom back to a healthy condition but she gradually settled and gained enough trust to allow the braver volunteers to retrain her! She has been out to a couple of loan homes, but she is now in old age and prone to laminitis. Because of this, she will stay at Shy Lowen for the rest of her life.

Shelley is a 15.2hh grey Thoroughbred mare born in 2005. She came to Shy Lowen in 2016 after developing behavioural problems. Shelley was difficult to handle and in poor condition when she first arrived, but she eventually recovered and we found that she much preferred to live outside with the herd than in a stable. When she was well enough to be brought back into ridden work, Shelley quickly proved herself to be a lovely and willing ride. She was licensed to work on our riding school in summer 2016 and is available to book for lessons for teenage and adult riders of all abilities.

Shona is a 14.1hh Appaloosa mare born in 1995. She came to Shy Lowen in 2009 and after living a full life in a loan home she returned to us in 2017 to enjoy her retirement. Shona is a very sweet old lady and still in good health for her age. Although in semi-retirement she has also worked on our therapy programmes since her return, doing groundwork and grooming sessions with visiting schools and our regular group of military veterans. Her temperament is ideal for this and she loves people, especially children, and being made a fuss of.

Sovereign is a Carneddau Welsh Mountain pony born in 2008. He came to Shy Lowen as a colt in 2010 and was named by the Care Committee group of young volunteers.  He is very sweet and good to handle and is an excellent riding pony both on and off the lead rein. He has been out to two loan homes as a child’s first pony but due to his tiny size, has been sadly outgrown and returned both times. He last came back to the sanctuary in spring 2018 and now works in our riding school.

Thunder is a black pony born in 2006.

She came to Shy Lowen in 2014 and is a very strong character, loved by visiting children and volunteers for her funny antics. She is impossible to keep contained, and often breaks into the feed store to help herself to treats! She is best friends with Willis. Thunder is a very safe and steady riding pony who adapts to the level of her rider. She works on therapy programs, as well as giving pony rides at summer events. She has been licensed as a riding school pony since 2016 and is available to book for lessons.

Trinity is a 16.2hh Irish Draught X Thoroughbred born in 1997. She came to Shy Lowen in July 2013 along with Cherry the Shetland pony. Trinity has been a riding horse in the past, but suffered an injury before arriving at the sanctuary which led to her retirement from ridden work. Trinity is a very beautiful horse, good to handle and popular with horses and volunteers. She was initially rehomed, but after she was returned it was decided that Trinity should remain at Shy Lowen for the rest of her life due to her advancing age and health issues.

Willis is a 14hh piebald traditional cob born in 2012. He was signed over to Shy Lowen in 2015 after his owners were unsuccessful at training him. He took to his re-training very well, carried his first rider within a few weeks and later became an enthusiastic riding pony.  Willis is a very cheeky character and is popular with volunteers and visitors. He now takes part in therapy programmes, school visits and pony care sessions. He is available for riding lessons for intermediate and advanced riders.

Visitor favorite Tom Thumb is a skewbald miniature Shetland pony who narrowly escaped being put down by a horse dealer because of his front legs that had been deformed from birth. Thanks to a local hero who convinced the dealer to sign him over to her, he came to Shy Lowen as a yearling in 2005.  Our vet found his disability gave him no problems and he's been prancing about with the big boys since then!